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The Premier League is considered by many to be the best league in the world. The fast nature of the game, the unpredictability, the physical competitiveness and the crafty counter-attacks makes the English game highly competitive and beautiful. The job of a goalkeeper is never easy, especially in Premier League but there have been a few players who have excelled in that position. The only player in the side who can actually use his hand, he issues the solid assist in defense. We have seen some of the most dynamic keepers of the Premier League era in the recent past, who served their teams as a mounted soldier in armor. One cannot take part in the genuine build up with the ball, but is charged with the most important responsibility. Here is a list of the top 5 goalkeepers of the Premier League era(based on the number of clean sheets managed)
#5 Joe Hart
The Manchester City and England number one makes the list and has two Premier League titles under his belt. The 28-year-old has appeared 281 times in the Premier League and has kept 111 clean sheets so far with an average of 0.39 clean sheets per appearance.
The Englishman has the most number of Golden Gloves in Premier League history after he won his fourth award last season. Among his 111 clean sheets, 10 were kept for former club Birmingham City and the rest for Manchester City.
#4 David Seaman
Undoubtedly one of the best ever goalkeepers from England, he has won two Premier League titles with Arsenal. The Gunner’s Legend has kept 142 clean sheets in 344 appearances. He averages 0.41 clean sheets per appearance.
Working behind the most recognized back four in the league's history, Seaman could always be relied upon if the defense in front of him was breached. No English goalkeeper could get close to Seaman when he was in his prime. The tall Englishman was one of the most dominant shot-stoppers of the English game.
#3 Peter Schmeichel
He was arguably the best goalkeeper in Manchester United’s long and prosperous history and has five Premier League titles under his belt. The Danish shot-stopper had kept 129 clean sheets in 310 Premier League matches with an average of 0.42 clean sheets per appearance. In 1992, he was awarded with the best goalkeeper of the season award.
His sheer presence between the sticks will surely never be matched and there is no keeper in the history of the game that could organize a defense like Schmeichel could.
#2 Edwin van der Sar
Undoubtedly the best goalkeeper ever from the Netherlands, Van der Sar has won four Premier League titles in his career. The Dutch goalkeeper has kept 134 clean sheets in 314 appearances. He averages 0.43 clean sheets per appearance. He was also IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper twice in 1998 and in 2008.
The Dutch shot-stopper became the second oldest player to appear in a UEFA Champions League Final. Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had repeatedly praised the Dutchman’s "magnificence and calmness”. He is regarded by many as the best Premier League goalkeeper in one on one situations.
#1 Petr ech
He is one of the best goalkeepers of the Premier League era without any doubts. Cech’s records speak for itself – The 33-year-old has kept a staggering 169 Premier League clean sheets in only 349 appearances so far. He averages 0.48 clean sheets per appearance. The Czech shot-stopper has won the Premier League Golden Glove three times in his career so far.
He also became IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper in 2005. Not to forget he has won five Premier League titles with Chelsea. Cech moved to Arsenal last summer, following the move Chelsea captain John Terry commented “Cech can win Arsenal an extra 15 points”. He is just one clean sheet away from creating a new Premier League record which makes us wonder if there has ever been anyone better than the Czech in Premier League?
