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Since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, a number of top goalkeepers from around the world have plied their trade in England's top flight. While a host of keepers have played in the Premier League, only a few of the top shot-stoppers have managed to stamp their authority between the sticks in England.
Considered widely to be one of the quickest leagues in the world, the Premier League bears witness to a number of penalties conceded by teams very frequently. As a result, the importance of a good shot-stopping keeper is immense.
Goalkeepers around the world bask in the opportunity to save a penalty with the success rate for keepers steadily on the rise. Here, we take a look at the top 5 keepers with the most penalty saves in Premier League history:
#5 Jussi Jääskeläinen
Former Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United and Wigan Athletic goalkeeper, Jussi Jaaskelainen enjoyed a long 20-year career in England. The Finnish stop-stopper began his career in 1992 in Finland, five years before he moved to England.
Jaaskelainen signed for Bolton in 1997, and quickly cemented his place in the starting eleven and went on to make over 450 appearances for the club. After a 15-year stint with the club, the Finnish stop-stopper opted to join the Hammers and stayed with the club for the next three seasons.
In 2015, the experienced keeper joined Wigan for two seasons before moving to India. A veteran keeper with immense experience and knowledge of the game, Jaaskelainen is also fifth on the list of keepers with the most number of penalty saves in Premier League history with 7, during his long career in England.
Aged 42, Jaaskelainen has still not retired from the game as he currently plays for ISL club, ATK.
#4 Tim Howard
Former Manchester United and Everton shot-stopper Tim Howard joined the Premier League in 2003, after Sir Alex Ferguson signed the American. After four years at United, Everton came calling and Howard went on to spend a year on loan before the move was made permanent.
During his 10 years at the blue half of Merseyside, the American went on to make over 300 appearances for the club. In 2016, the veteran keeper decided to move back to the MLS and joined the Colorado Rapids.
He began his career in 1997, at the same time the MLS was created and spent 6 years developing his career before moving to England.
The 38-year-old is fourth on the list of Premier League keepers with the most number of penalty saves to his name with 7. Since Howard made fewer appearances than Jaaskelainen, and as they both have the same number of saves, the American edges the Finnish keeper to the fourth spot.
#3 Simon Mignolet
Belgian and Liverpool goalkeeper, Simon Mignolet is third on the list of keepers with the most number of penalty saves with 8 during his time in the Premier League. Mignolet began his career in 2006 playing for Sint-Truiden and developed his skills during his four years at the club.
Sunderland signed the Belgian in 2010 and he then began his spell in England's top-flight. He spent three seasons at the club before making his big move to Liverpool in 2013. A strong keeper with great ability and dedication, Mignolet has established himself as one of the top keepers in the league.
The Belgian has also made 20 appearances for his country but might not be the top pick for his nation at the World Cup, as he battles it out with compatriot Thibaut Courtois for the starting berth.
#2 Robert Green
Former England goalkeeper and Premier League veteran, Robert Green began his career in 1999 with Norwich City and spent seven seasons at the club, after which, he secured a move to West Ham United where he spent six seasons with the Hammers.
In 2012, Green moved and opted to join QPR before joining Leeds United in 2016 for a single season. A veteran, experienced goalkeeper with more than 300 top-flight appearances, Green is second on the list of keepers with the most number of penalty saves with 9 to his name.
The former England number 1, currently plays for Huddersfield Town in the Premier League, although he hasn't made a single appearance this campaign with Jonas Lossl dominating the position at the club.
However, the experience and knowledge Green has accumulated could definitely help players at the newly-promoted club.
#1 Heurelho Gomes
Premier League veteran and former Brazilian goalkeeper, Heurelho Gomes currently plies his trade for Watford in the Premier League. He joined the club in 2014 after moving from Tottenham Hotspur.
Gomes spent six seasons at Spurs and enjoyed a fruitful stint with the North London club but opted to join Watford in 2014 and has established himself as the club's number 1 over the past couple of seasons.
The 36-year old began his career in 2002 with Brazilian club Cruzeiro and then joined PSV Eindhoven in 2004 and moved to the Netherlands.
After four seasons in the Netherlands, Spurs came calling and Gomes quickly established himself as a Premier League player, and tops the list with the most number of penalty saves in PL history with 9.
