7 Outfield Players who put in heroic performances as Goalkeepers

#3 Michael Tarnat - Bayern Munich

Michael Tarnat yelling orders to his defence in a comically oversized goalkeeper’s jersey

Date – September, 1999

Opposition – Eintracht Frankfurt

The Tale – Having an extra goalkeeper on the bench may not be enough protection either as German giants Bayern Munich would find out on chilly autumn day in the Bundesliga. Already 1-0 down, they suffered a major blow when their inspirational goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn, collided with teammate Samuel Kuffour in a veritable clash of the titans. Kahn came off the worse for wear and had to be substituted.

His replacement, Bernd Dreher, would go on to spend less than two minutes on the field before suffering a horrible twisted knee after an awkward landing, forcing the medical staff to carry him off the pitch. This meant Micheal Tarnat, the young left wing-back (with the trademark thunderous shot that made him one of the finest free kick takers in the nation) would now have to tend the goal for the better part of thirty minutes.

Standing there in a comically oversized goalkeeper’s jersey meant for a man twice his size, Tarnat kept Eintracht at bay with a brave display, as Bayern went in search of answers at the other end. The Bavarians managed to score two, but they may well have had to settle for a draw if it weren’t for their stand-in goalie’s heroics - a Frankfurt shot got through the panicky Munich defence, and when it took a last second deflection, it looked destined to go in.

The wrong footed Tarnat, who had already started moving to his right, spun around with remarkable agility and showing incredible presence of mind and great speed, dived back to his left to claw the ball back right off the line. He had ensured his team’s victory with a save that the great Oliver Kahn himself would have been proud to call his own.

Bayern would go on to win the match 2-1.