Top 5 most underrated goalkeepers of all time

Top 5 most underrated goalkeepers of all time

The goalkeeping position is, most of the time, rated less in comparison to other positions, despite them being a fundamental piece in any setup. However, many goalkeepers have gotten recognition over the years, from Manuel Neuer to Iker Casillas. But still, a few goalkeepers went under the radar and never got the praise that they deserved. Apart from blocking shots, goalkeepers nowadays start counters, provide long balls and are a pivotal piece in “playing from the back” style.

Let us find out the top 5 most underrated keepers of all time:

Sepp Maier

Sepp Maier, nicknamed “Die Katze von Anzing” (the cat from Anzing) because of his exceptional reflexes, was a key member of the all-conquering Bayern Munich and West Germany squads of the 1970s.

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He won nearly everything in the game, notably four Bundesliga titles, three consecutive European Cups, the European Championship, and the World Cup. Furthermore, the three-time German Footballer of the Year still retains the Bundesliga milestone for the most consecutive matches played ever, with 422 matches.

David Seaman

David Seaman’s prime appeared during his playtime at Arsenal, and he is undoubtedly one of the greatest British keepers over the last 25 years. He had a spectacular season for the London outfit in 1990-91, allowing only 18 goals in 38 league games as they won the first divisions, one of three league titles he achieved with the Gunners.

On the international scene, though, the player, who was selected 75 times by England, had his highs and lows. One of his most memorable outings came at Euro 96, when he helped the hosts reach the semi-finals. Seaman was named the competition’s best goalkeeper.

Keylor Navas

Definitely one of the most underrated keepers of all time, Navas does not get enough credit for his efforts with the three-peat winning team. The spotlight came at him, when he captained the Costa Rica team in the 2014 World Cup, and was acquired by Real Madrid right away. And it helped even more as he got first team football after the failed transfer of De Gea.

Keylor Navas went on to be pivotal in one of the greatest teams ever, as Real Madrid lifted three Champions Leagues in a row, and also added a La Liga. The Costa Rican also has a Ligue 1 in his records as he was acquired by PSG just after the third UCL win.

Petr Cech

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One of the most reliable and excellent goalkeepers of the post-2000s was the big Chelsea and Czech Republic goalie, Petr Cech. After his arrival in London, Cech caught everyone’s eye right away. He’s been a constant presence at Stamford Bridge, capturing three Premierships and the Champions League, as well as 98 appearances for the nation, the second most in Czech Republic ever.

Unfortunately, after suffering a horrifying cracked skull while playing in the english premier league against Reading in October 2006, the guy who once lasted 928 mins without giving up a goal during his Sparta Prague in 2001-02 may have lost a little of his mojo in goal. However, his outstanding performances in goal and penalty saves made Chelsea win their first-ever Champion’s League in 2011-12.

Fabian Barthez

Fabian Barthez had a tremendously satisfying, remarkable, and at times, spotlight-ful career with Marseille, Monaco, and most notably, France, despite somewhat less effective tenure at Manchester United when his game was plainly in fall.

History will recognize his heroics between the posts for les Bleus, whom he served 87 times between 1994 and 2006 the most. He was undoubtedly the finest goalie in the world over a two-year span of 1998-2000, when his country won the World Cup in 1998 and Euro 2000. He also inspired France return to the 2006 World Cup final, where they were defeated by Italy.

However, the Frenchman’s unorthodox goalkeeping technique should not obscure the reality that, at his best, he was a formidable shot-stopper who preferred to dictate his area while also being extremely confident on the ball at his feet.

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