The Premier League is among the best football competitions globally, attracting die-hard supporters and in-play football betting lovers who like to visit sports books like Lottoland to place bets on live football matches, allowing them to wager on outcomes like next goal scorer, the number of goals, the final results, and other in-game outcomes.
The Premier League has witnessed countless talents between the sticks over the years, with goalkeepers playing a crucial role in determining the outcome of matches. This article delves into the careers of five exceptional shot-stoppers who have left an indelible mark on the Premier League. From their remarkable shot-stopping abilities to their leadership on and off the pitch, these goalkeepers have earned their place among the greatest in the Premier League’s history.
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Petr Cech
Petr Cech is one of the most decorated goalkeepers in the English Premier League history and attained many of his achievements at Chelsea. However, he portrayed his excellent skills even before while playing in the Czech League after going for 903 minutes without conceding a goal. After joining Chelsea, the club won 4 Premier Leagues, 3 League Cups, 4 FA Cups, the 2013 Europa League, and the 2012 Champions League. He also helped Arsenal win the FA Cup.
Petr Cech has been termed the most successful goalkeeper at Chelsea. He became the first player to attain 100 clean sheets with the least number of appearances (180). Additionally, Cech holds the highest number of clean sheets in one season, with 24 clean sheets during the 2004-2005 season.
Moreover, he’s the only player to win the Premier League Golden Glove four times with two separate clubs and the first goalkeeper in the Premier League to surpass 1,000 straight minutes without conceding a goal.
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David De Gea Quintana
David De Gea is undoubtedly one of the greatest goalkeepers of our time. He started his career at Atletico Madrid in 2009 and displayed exceptional goalkeeping skills, which helped Atletico Madrid bag the UEFA Europa League and UEFA super cup 2010. This earned him the award for UEFA U21 in 2011 and 2013.
David De Gea joined Manchester United in 2011 and has made 344 appearances and 141 clean sheets. He is famous for making saves with his feet, a move most goalkeepers struggle with. His skills have won him prestigious awards like the Premier League Golden Glove in the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons
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Edwin van der Sar
When Edwin moved to Fulham in 2001, fans were hopeful his slowing career would reignite. True to this, he made 127 appearances over four seasons and had 42 league clean sheets. He was signed by Manchester United in 2005 at 34 and became their first-choice goalkeeper for six years.
Edwin won the Premier League Golden Glove 2008-2009 and the Best European Goalkeeper Award 2009. He helped Manchester United win 11 titles, including the Champions League and four Premier League titles. After an exciting career with the Red Devils, Edwin van der Sar retired with 142 clean sheets.
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Peter Schmeichel
Peter Schmeichel started his career on a high note, with Sir Alex Ferguson calling him the bargain of the century. His infamous star jump save made him a force to be reckoned with. Schmeichel helped Manchester United win 5 Premier League titles, 1 League Cup, 3 FA Cups, and the 1999 Champions League.
Moreover, he was named the Player of the Season in 1996. At Old Trafford, he had 310 appearances and 128 clean sheets. Peter also played for the Danish national team and, in 1992, won the UEFA 1992. He also represented Denmark in the 1998 FIFA world cup and three more European Championships.
Schmeichel was voted the best goalkeeper in 2001 and put in the English Football Hall of Fame. He was also named among the 125 greatest footballers in 2004.
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Pepe Reina
Pepe Reina made his Premier League debut for Liverpool in the 2005 UEFA super cup, which Liverpool won, pushing the club to make him the first-choice goalkeeper. He made 297 appearances and 136 clean sheets. This made him win the Premier League Golden Glove from 2006-2008 consecutively, plus the FA Cup and a League Cup.
Reina holds the 4th highest number of appearances by a Spaniard in the Premier League. He also owns the record for the least goals conceded by a goalkeeper in the first 50 matches.
Outside of Liverpool, he played for the Spanish national team, where they won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 and the FIFA world cup in 2010.
Wrapping Up
The premier league is home to some of the greatest players in the world. The shot stoppers mentioned above have played a key role in reshaping the history of the Premier League, with Petr Cech being our best pick.
However, the list is long. Let us know who you think is missing from the list in the comment section.
