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When it comes to top football teams, one could argue that the attackers and the goalscorers get most of the credit. You often hear about strikers and forwards such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, while goalkeepers don't get as much credit.
However, all pundits would agree that the goalkeeper is an integral part of any football side. As fans and managers have learned across the years, the quality of a goalie can easily decide not just the outcome of a game, but also set the tone for an entire season.
5 greatest shot-stoppers the Premier League has seen
#5. Ederson - Manchester City
Ederson Moraes joined Manchester City in 2017 for a reported £35 million, becoming the second-most expensive goalkeeper of all time. Since his arrival, Ederson's time in the Premier League has been filled with silverware.
In four years at the Etihad, Ederson has won three Premier League titles with Manchester City. He has also won the Carabao Cup four times, in addition to an FA Cup triumph in 2019. He has been awarded the Golden Glove twice, keeping 35 clean sheets between 2019 and 2021.
Replacing Chilean veteran Claudio Bravo, the Brazilian transitioned into his role at City seamlessly. In addition to his excellent shot-stopping ability, Ederson is widely admired for his ball distribution. Adept at managing play with his back line, Ederson also has an eye for a killer pass. He can frequently be seen spraying long balls for attackers to reach, often catching opposition defenders by surprise. He has registered two assists in the Premier League already, a feat that is unheard of for most goalkeepers.
Still only 27, the Brazilian has a long career ahead of him. Considering his remarkable success within a relatively short span of time, it is safe to say Ederson's chances of continuing to win trophies in England are very high.
#4. Edwin van der Sar - Fulham, Manchester United
Edwin van der Sar spent ten long years in England. Signing for Fulham in a shock move in 2001, the Dutchman quickly impressed the rest of the Premier League. He spent four years at Craven Cottage, before Manchester United signed the goalkeeper for a reported £2 million in a deal that can only be described as a bargain.
Widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers to play for Manchester United, Van der Sar won four Premier League titles in his six years with the Red Devils. In addition to that, he won the Champions League in 2007, as well as the Football League Cup in 2006.
His penalty save from Nicolas Anelka in the Champions League was the decider, and will be fondly remembered in the hearts of United fans worldwide.
Known for his composure and intelligence, Van der Sar was one of the first "sweeper-keepers" to play in England. He broke numerous records with the club, winning the Golden Glove in the 2008-09 season after keeping 21 clean sheets. He also went 1311 minutes without conceding a goal in the same season, setting a new world record.
Edwin van der Sar is undoubtedly a Manchester United legend, and will go down in history as one of the best keepers in Premier League history.
#3. David Seaman - Arsenal, Manchester City
David Seaman was signed from Queens Park Rangers in 1990 for a reported £1.3 million, a record fee at the time. The Englishman spent 13 successful years with Arsenal before moving to Manchester City in 2003. He made a mammoth 405 Premier League appearances and won 12 trophies, including two Premier League titles.
Known for his unique ponytail and moustache, Seaman was a key figure in the Arsenal squad. In his debut season, Seaman conceded only 18 goals in 38 appearances, immediately setting high standards. He then went on to win the league twice as well as the FA Cup on four different occasions.
Highly rated by the managers he played under, Seaman drew admiration from far and wide for his outstanding technique and vocal nature. He was blessed with quick thinking on his feet, and earned a reputation for being a penalty specialist. Seaman played for Arsenal until 2003, when he joined Manchester City for a year before his retirement. He is fondly remembered as a legend for both Arsenal and the England football team.
#2. Peter Schmeichel - Manchester United, Aston Villa, Manchester City
Manchester United signed Peter Schmeichel in 1991 for a reported £505,000 in a bargain deal from Brondby. The Dane spent eight seasons at Old Trafford, winning an impressive five Premier League titles. Schmeichel also won the Champions League and three FA Cups with the Red Devils.
Schmeichel was signed just a year prior to the emergence of the fabled class of 92. He proved to be the glue between the pieces, keeping 22 clean sheets during United's Premier League winning run of 1992-93. Often touted as a "complete goalkeeper," Schmeichel is widely applauded for his athleticism and physical strength.
A former handball player, Schmeichel built a reputation for being notoriously difficult to score against. His trademark "star-jumps" caused many attackers to flinch, a technique he had picked up from his handball days. He was immensely courageous, never backing away from one-on-ones and coming off his line to make clearances.
A bonafide United legend, his style of play has been emulated through the years. Several modern day goalkeepers still cite Schmeichel as their hero and inspiration, showing that class truly is permanent.
#1. Petr Cech - Chelsea, Arsenal
Petr Cech joined Chelsea in 2004 for a club-record £7 million from Rennes. He spent 11 years with Chelsea, winning 16 major trophies. He won the Premier League and the FA Cup four times each and the League Cup three times.
Cech also won the Champions League in 2011-12 with Chelsea, becoming one of only a few goalkeepers to win every club-level competition with an English club.
His arrival at Chelsea coincided with the appointment of Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, with whom Cech would go on to win trophies across different competitions. Cech was the center point of Chelsea's defensive metamorphosis under Mourinho during the 2004-05 season, which saw the Blues win the Premier League title while breaking numerous defensive records in the process.
The Chelsea side of 2004-05 conceded only 15 goals all season, an absolutely mind-blowing feat. Cech kept a massive 24 clean sheets and won the Golden Glove, a record that still stands to this day. The keeper was impressive the following year as well, conceding only 22 times in a season that saw Chelsea win the league title.
Cech was an influential part of Chelsea's UEFA Champions League success as well. He saved a penalty during extra time and two in the eventual penalty shootout, handing Chelsea victory against Bayern Munich in 2012. Cech won the Europa league the following season when Chelsea beat Benfica 2-1 in the final.
He continued to add personal accolades to his locker, winning two more Golden Gloves with Chelsea before his move to Arsenal. The Czech Republic keeper signed for Arsenal in 2015 and spent four years playing for Chelsea's Premier League rivals across London.
Although his stint at Arsenal wasn't quite as successful, one could argue that he had already set ridiculously high standards at Chelsea. Cech won an FA Cup with Arsenal in 2017 while also picking up the Golden Glove award the year prior.
He holds the joint-highest record for the most Golden Glove awards of any goalkeeper in the Premier League era. He is also the only shot-stopper in the history of the Premier League to keep 200 clean sheets.
Cech is a modern-day legend of the game and an inspiration to many goalkeepers to this day. He is also regarded as highly intelligent, and returned to Chelsea in 2019 to occupy the role of technical advisor.
