Question about goalies
 

So forgive what may be a stupid question, but why is it that on the lists one sees of greatest 10 or 15 or 20 all time players, one rarely (except maybe Yashin gets mentioned here and there) sees goalies? Obviously a goalie is a huge part of any team, yet (at least in my household) the names of the great goalies and surely there must be several aren't household words like Pele, Maradona, Cruyff etc. Any thoughts as to why?

It’s because footballers are evaluated based on touch, dribbling, goal scoring ability, passing ability, free kicks, speed, strength, etc. In that sense, keepers are not normal footballers. They only handle the ball a few times per match and - although they may be critical - they are not the sort of touches a field player makes.

When you play small sided games there usually isn’t even a goalie. And if there is no one really wants to play there.

I hear you, but take hockey -- same general concept, goalies don't shoot or skate, but Roy, Plante, Sawchuk, Tretiak, Dryden, and others are right up there in the pantheon.

Yes, but football is not hockey. There are tons more scoring chances in hockey and much less possesion; football could be played without goalies but hockey could not.

Hockey players are also evaluated largely on statistics as opposed to optics.

There has also only been one goalie to win the Balon D’Or (Yashin) while several goalies (Hasek twice) have won MVP’s.

However, I think that reflects the perceived differences in importance of the positions in the respective sports as opposed to the relative greatness of the players.

Ok
 

Outside of Pele and (maybe Maradona) I think that few people can name any soccer players of the past. To me goalie is super important and I collect a bunch of them. A partial list includes Zamora, Beara, Yashin, Buffon and many more. I think that they are super under appreciated as a group. I just picked up a Julio César rookie as well. I can help you with a more complete list, but a good goalie can absolutely win you games... this is as true now as it was “back in the day”.

soccer goalies
 

I think Anish has a good point on this subject. While I see the appreciation for hockey goalies, there isn't quite the same allocates for soccer goalies.

I collect pre war goalies (mostly World Cup).

While there are probably a list if the best (FIFA, ISSH), I'd love to compare personal lists.

Collect vintage soccer
Collect vintage horse racing
Collecting pre war sports memorabilia

Pat Jennings is a goalkeeping hero - he won his 119th international cap for Northern Ireland on his 41st birthday during the 1986 World Cup Finals in Mexico. This was a dual record at the time as the most capped international footballer and the oldest player to participate in the World Cup Finals.


Dino Zoff captained the Italian team that won the 1982 World Cup. Conversely, the “villain” of the 1992 World Cup Finals was also undoubtedly a goalkeeper - Harold Schumacher of West Germany whose, at best, reckless challenge in the semi-final left Battiston of France in a coma.


If soccer goalkeepers are underrated globally, it may be in part historical due to the fact the Brazil were able to win the 1970 World Cup with Félix as their number 1. He was viewed as the one particular weak link in what was otherwise perceived as a great team.

soccer goalies
 

Here is a short list of goalkeepers that I've collected:

5 pre war (1900-1939)
1. Ricardo Zamora - Spain
2. Heinrich Stuhlfath - Germany
3. Fatty Foulkes - England
4. Gianpero Combo - Italy
5. Alex Thepot - France

5 20th Century (1940-1999)
1. Lev Yashin - USSR
2. Gordon Banks - England
3. Sepp Meier - West Germany
4. Dino Zoff - Italy
5. Peter Shilton - England

I would consider to have at least one card of these netminders in your soccer collection.
An affordable issue should not be hard to find on any one of them.

I could go to a 20 player list but having just 5 might bring a nice variety from other collectors. Keep in mind, there are several harder to find players I omitted from the list.

Maybe next post I'll make the rare lists.....

Does anyone know what Casillas' first card is? 1999 Mundichromo maybe?

Famous goalies
 

The rarest of all are Famous Scottish Goalkeepers,in fact the smallest book in the world is between Famous Scottish Goalkeepers and Famous Swedish Cricketers 😄😄😄

Show the goods
 

I’d love to see some of either rookies or rare vintage cards for these players. Can you show us some?