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The Premier League has produced and seen some of the best footballers in the world since its inception. Regarded widely as the most competitive league, the competition attracts players from all around the world.
A position of utmost importance which has never been short of brilliance and talent is the one right between the sticks, i.e., the goalkeeping one. A top goalkeeper guards the entire team and can at times single-handedly keep his side in the game.
A competent goalie is the cornerstone of a solid defense, which is a pre-requisite for lifting the titles. All title-winning teams have at least one thing in common - a world-class goalkeeper commanding the penalty box.
With that in mind, we have put together a tough list of the top five goalkeepers of the Premier League era.
Honorable Mentions:
Pepe Reina (297 appearances and 136 clean sheets)
David James (592 appearances and 169 clean sheets)
#5. David Seaman - Arsenal and Manchester City
David Seaman began his career a decade before the Premier League era was born in 1993. However, he did play his best football in the newly-formed breakaway league. Seaman's career was at its peak during his time as a shot-stopper for Arsenal and England.
Considered one of Arsenal's best players of all time, he made 325 appearances, keeping 138 clean sheets for the club. He kept 141 clean sheets in total, the other three coming for Manchester City.
Having won the Premier League twice under manager Arsene Wenger, the Englishman was named in the PFA 'Team of the Year' for the 1996-97 season.
A big man with great big hands, Seaman was just brilliant at the goalkeeping fundamentals. His former teammate of seven years at Arsenal, Ian Wright, once said:
"David Seaman made me a better striker just by training with him every day – you had to be at your best to beat him."
#4. David De Gea - Manchester United
It is a rather contentious choice to put him on the list. However, it would be fair to say that David de Gea has been one of the best goalkeepers to feature in the Premier League.
One could argue that De Gea has dented his legacy somewhat with too many subpar performances in recent seasons. But his best years can stand for themselves and there have been some incredible saves even in the last two or three years. An unorthodox stopper in some respects, the Spaniard has a particular penchant to use his feet to deny opponents.
Handpicked over Manuel Neuer by Sir Alex Ferguson as the successor to Edwin van der Sar in 2011, the 18-year-old looked lanky and a bit lost. Just 12 months later, he was a Premier League champion and in the first of his five PFA Team of the Years.
It was in the post-Ferguson era and Manchester United's rebuilding phase when De Gea played his best football. Without some truly superhuman performances by the Spanish international, the Red Devils could've easily spent two or three seasons outside the top six.
Since making his debut in the 2011-12 season, the 31-year-old has made 358 appearances for United, bagging 126 clean sheets at the time of writing.
The Spaniard has been key for Manchester United this season as well. He has made some crucial saves behind a faltering defense to keep United in games.
#3. Edwin van der Sar - Fulham and Manchester United
In terms of a safe, dependable and complete pair of hands, one couldn't wish for a better goalkeeper than Edwin van der Sar.
Perennially brilliant, van der Sar first arrived in the Premier League in 2001. He shook the footballing world by joining Fulham after being replaced by Gianluigi Buffon at Juventus. The move, however, brought the Dutchman closer to the observant eyes of Sir Alex Ferguson, who'd hope to capture him to replace retiring Peter Schmeichel.
The Red Devils boss pounced when van der Sar's Fulham deal came to an end in 2005.
The shot-stopper immediately brought calm and composure to United's backline. Both as tall and thin as he was brilliant, van der Sar had excellent positioning and reach. A first-class professional, the former Ajax keeper made 313 Premier League appearances and kept 132 clean sheets.
He retired at Manchester United in 2011.
#2. Petr Cech - Chelsea and Arsenal
Only Chelsea's second signing of the Jose Mourinho era, Petr Cech rapidly became one of the Chelsea boss' star men. He remains one of the Premier League's greatest goalkeepers of all time. Signed for £7.1 million from Rennes in 2004, Cech was then the most expensive goalkeeper in Chelsea's history.
In his debut campaign, Cech conceded just 15 league goals, the fewest any Premier club has ever conceded in a single campaign. Cech holds the record for keeping 24 clean sheets in one Premier League season when he did it in the 2004-05 title-winning season. He also held the record of not conceding for 1,025 minutes in the league which was broken by van der Sar.
A brilliant character, leader and above all else goalkeeper, the former Arsenal stopper really was a complete package.
Ending his last four seasons with the Gunners, Cech kept 202 clean sheets in his 443 Premier League matches, a record that he still holds.
#1. Peter Schmeichel - Manchester United and Manchester City
Petr Cech kept more clean sheets and Edwin van der Sar was better with the ball at his feet. But all round, in terms of what they brought to the team, Peter Schmeichel topped both of them. Capable of winning almost 10 points a season through his individual brilliance, it wasn't until Euro 1992 that people noticed the prowess of Schmeichel.
He made crucial saves in every round of the competition to help Denmark lift the title. IFFHS even gave him the title of "World's Best Goalkeeper of 1992".
Manchester United had signed Schmeichel in 1991 for a bargain fee of £505k from Brondby. Despite only being 6ft 3' tall, the great Dane commanded Manchester United's goal in seven Premier League seasons. He won the title in all but two of them, including two doubles and the legendary 1998-99 treble.
Keeping 128 clean sheets in 310 Premier League appearances, Schmeichel was, on his day, almost unbeatable. Liverpool legend John Barnes once cited Schmeichel as one of the 'greatest goalkeepers of all time' and said:
"There are goalkeepers with presence who aren’t much good, but Schmeichel had both presence and raw ability. He was a great shot-stopper and a fine taker of crosses, he read the game superbly, he commanded his box. Simply one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.”
