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Betway takes a look at 11 goalkeepers who could be very useful in enforcing lockdown regulations!
The importance of a world class goalkeeper to any successful team is well documented and over the last 30 years the following 11 shot-stoppers played an integral role in achieving success for their respective national and club teams.
Here follows the 11 most decorated/ successful goalkeepers of the last 30 years:
Oleksandr Shovkovskiy (Ukraine - Dynamo Kiev)
Undoubtedly the least known goalkeeper on our list, Shovkovskiy spent the entirety of his 23-year professional career on the books of Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kiev. During his time at the club, he won an incredible 34 trophies including 14 Ukrainian Premier League titles while he was nominated for the famed Ballon d'Or in 1999.
Vitor Baia (Portugal - Porto, Barcelona)
The legendary Portuguese goalkeeper won 30 trophies during his professional career, including 10 Primeira Liga titles and one UEFA Champions League crown. He also enjoyed success in his two seasons at Barcelona, winning five trophies while he was named as the Portuguese Footballer of the Year on two occasions.
Victor Valdes (Spain - Barcelona, Manchester United, Standard Liege, Middlesbrough)
Largely overshadowed during the course of his playing career by a certain Iker Casillas, Valdes hardly gets the plaudits he deserves. A key member of the all-dominating Barcelona team with whom he won 21 trophies, Valdes was also named the LaLiga Best Goalkeeper on two occasions while he was part of Spain's FIFA World Cup winning team.
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Fabian Barthez (France - Toulouse, Marseille, Monaco, Manchester United, Nantes)
Although most will remember him for his less than convincing time at Manchester United, where he still helped the club to two Premier League titles, Barthez was undoubtedly one of, if not the best goalkeeper in the world between 1998-2000 during which time he helped France to FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro glory. He also played an important part in the
Les Bleus run to the 2006 FIFA World Cup final while he won the UEFA Champions League with Marseille in 1993.
Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands - Ajax, Juventus, Fulham, Manchester United)
Regarded as one of the most complete goalkeepers of his generation, Van der Sar enjoyed success throughout his two decade-long career. After winning all there is to win with Ajax Amsterdam, the Dutch shot-stopper enjoyed limited success at both Juventus and Fulham before shooting to stardom once more during his time at Manchester United where he played a key part in their success from 2005-2011: winning 10 trophies while being named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year on three occasions.
Petr Cech (Czech Republic - Chmel Blšany, Sparta Prague, Rennes, Chelsea, Arsenal)
While his time at Arsenal didn't prove as successful as he would've wished, there is no doubt that Cech was amongst the best goalkeepers in the world during his time at Chelsea. He was particularly impressive in the 2004/05 Premier League season in which the Blues conceded just 15 goals while he made crucial saves during the club's run to UEFA Champions League glory in 2012. Cech currently holds the record for the most Premier League clean sheets with 202.
Manuel Neuer (Germany - Schalke, Bayern Munich)
His form might have suffered a dip in recent seasons, but Neuer is still considered to be amongst the best goalkeepers in world football. From 2013-2016 he was undoubtedly the world's best shot-stopper and played an integral role in Germany's 2014 FIFA World Cup triumph. Regarded by some as the best 'modern' goalkeeper, Neuer has also enjoyed huge success at club level and has thus far helped Bayern Munich to 18 trophies over the last nine years.
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Gianluigi Buffon (Italy - Parma, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain)
Another goalkeeper who has enjoyed a long and fruitful career, Buffon is still playing top-flight football at the age of 42. While the UEFA Champions League has evaded him over the course of his career, Buffon has enjoyed considerable success at Juventus where he has won nine Serie A titles while he was the man in goal during Italy's run to the 2006 FIFA World Cup crown. A superb shot-stopper, Buffon will go down as one of he all-time greats once he finally decides to hang up his gloves.
Oliver Kahn (Germany - Karlsruher SC, Bayern Munich)
The best goalkeeper in world football during the early 2000's, Khan was almost unbeatable when at his peak. While his mistake in the 2002 FIFA World Cup final will forever haunt him, it shouldn't take away from heroics during that tournament in which he won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball ahead of Brazil's Ronaldo. A colossus between the sticks, Khan also enjoyed huge success at club level with Bayern Munich while he was also part of the German side that won the 1996 UEFA European Championship.
Peter Schmeichel (Denmark - Gladsaxe-Hero, Hvidovre, Brondby, Manchester United, Sporting CP, Aston Villa, Manchester City).
Undoubtedly the best goalkeeper in English Premier League history, Schmeichel was famously part of the Denmark side that won the 1992 UEFA European Championship. He enjoyed his most success at club level at Manchester United where he won 15 trophies during his eight-year spell at Old Trafford. He also played a key role in United's treble winning 1998/99 season in which they famously beat Bayern Munich in Barcelona. Largely credited for revolutionising the goalkeeping position, Schmeichel - like Khan - pumped fear into opposition strikers.
Iker Casillas (Spain - Real Madrid, Porto)
The man who led Spain to glory, 'Saint Iker' is both a Real Madrid and Spanish football legend and will forever be remembered as the man that captained
La Roja to their first and thus far only FIFA World Cup title. On either side of their 2010 success in South Africa, Casillas also captained Spain to Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 glory while he won everything there is to win in his 16 years at Real Madrid. Having officially retired earlier this year, Casillas can now reflect on a hugely successful career while he will go down as one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the history of the beautiful game and arguably the best of his generation.
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