Date Of Birth : 12 June 1945
Nation : Northern Ireland
Height : 183 cm
Major Club : Tottenham, Arsenal
Caps : 119 Games
World Cup Participation : 1982, 1986 (7 Games)
Club Honours : 2 Times FA Cup
2 Times League Cup
1 Time UEFA Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1973 FWA Footballer Of The Year
1976 PFA Players’ Player Of The Year
1999 IFFHS Northern Ireland Goalkeeper of The Century
Pat Jennings is the most underrated goalkeeper ever to play the game because playing for Northern Ireland which has never success in any trophy. But still, His performance was very influenced to lead team qualify for world cup final and reaching second round in world cup 1982. He is also one of the most consistency and longevity keeper of all-time with over 1,000 career top level games played for 2 decades in both club and national level. Jennings had amazing handling ability and his high jumping helping him to reach saving high-corner ball. He is considered as one of the British’s best goalkeepers ever since 70s to present. Jennings totally kept 43 clean sheets in national level. He is rated as the greatest Goalkeeper in history of Arsenal and Tottenham Hot Spurs club. Jennings was voted 13th World’s best goalkeeper of the century by IFFHS’s poll.
9. Rinat Dasaev
Date Of Birth : 15 June 1957
Nation : Soviet Union
Height : 189 cm
Major Club : Spartak Moscow
Caps : 91 Games
World Cup Participation : 1982, 1986, 1990 (9 Games)
Club Honours : 2 Times Soviet Top Leagues
International Honours : 1988 European Championship Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1982 Soviet Union Footballer Of The Year
6 Times Soviet Union Goalkeeper Of The Year
4 Times European Goalkeeper Of The Year (1982, 1983, 1985, 1988)
1987 Second Place IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper of The Year
1988 IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper of The Year
1989 Third Place IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper of The Year
“The Iron Curtain Of The Soviet Union” Rinat Dasaev is considered by many as the greatest goalkeeper of the world during the 80’s despite there are so many world-class goalkeepers in that era. He was the main pillar of Soviet Union team through a decade. Dasaev was known for his coolness under pressure and fantastic reaction saves. He has a knack of always being in the right place at the right time and being one of the most consistency Goalkeepers in the world. In exception of winning 1982 Soviet Union footballer of the year, He also won second place two times in spite of being keeper. In the Euro 88 , the Soviet Union lost the final and Dasayev was powerless to stop Marco van Basten's legendary volley. All in all, He is supposed to be the best goalkeeper ever to come from Eastern Europe after Lev Yashin’s era.
8. Ricardo Zamora
Date Of Birth : 21 January 1901
Nation : Spain
Height : 194 cm
Major Club : Espanyol, Ral Madrid
Caps : 46 Games
World Cup Participation : 1934 ( 3 Games)
Club Honours : 4 Times Catalan Champions
2 Times Spanish Champions
5 Times Copa Del Rey
International Honours : 1920 Olympic Games Silver Medal
Individual Achievement : The Great Cross Of The Order Of Cisneros
1934 Order Of Republic Medal
1934 FIFA World Cup’s Best Goalkeeper
1999 IFFHS Spain Goalkeeper of The Century
“El Divino” Ricardo Zamora is an all-time greatest goalkeeper before World War II was happened and being among the best footballer ever of his country, becoming the most iconic player of Spain in his era. Zamora, was noted for wearing a cloth cap and a white polo-neck jumper on the field, a look later copied by several of his contemporaries. He claimed it was to protect him from both the sun and his opponents. He was also noted for his bravery. Zamora was also the subject of controversy throughout his career. He allegedly enjoyed drinking Cognac and smoking up to three packs of cigarettes a day, was arrested for his violent behavior in Olympic Game 1926. The award for goalkeeper who have gotten the fewest conceding goal in La Liga, The Ricardo Zamora trophy, is named in his honour. Additionally, He played for Catalan XI and helped them winning the Copa Princep De Asturies 3 times. Zamora won 20 clean sheets for his nation. IFFHS’s poll result shows him as World’s fifth greatest goalkeeper of the century.
7. Oliver Kahn
Date Of Birth : 15 June 1969
Nation : Germany
Height : 188 cm
Major Club : Bayern Munich
Caps : 86 Games
World Cup Participation : 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 ( 7 Games )
Club Honours : 8 Times Bundesliga
6 Times German Cup
6 Times DFB-Pokal
1 Time UEFA Cup
1999 UEFA Champion League Runner-Up
2001 UEFA Champion League Winners
International Honours : 2002 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 2 Times German Footballer Of The Year (2000, 2001)
7 Times Bundesliga Goalkeeper Of The Year
3 Times IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper Of The Year (1999, 2001, 2002)
2000 Second Place IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper of The Year
2003 Third Place IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper of The Year
4 Times UEFA Club Goalkeeper Of The Year (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
2 Times Bronze Ball European Footballer Of The Year (2001, 2002)
2002 Yashin Award
2002 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
“King Kahn” or “The Titan” is his nickname due to his formidable presence and influence. He is the only goalkeeper in history of world cup to win golden ball award. Kicker magazine ranked him in 4 world-class seasons and 11 seasons of international-class. This led him to be the greatest goalkeeper in history of Bundesliga game. To support this point, He is an all-time clean sheet leader in history of the Bundesliga with 197 from overall 557 matches or 35 percent. However, He was the starter of Germany in only world cup in 2002 because there are many Germany’s great keepers in his era such as Andreas Kopke, Bodo Illgner or Jens Lehmann. Kahn is also known for his aggressive style and his Leadership characteristic. He was the best goalkeeper of the world during lately 90’s to early 00’s. He totally played 781 career matches. Kahn kept 29 clean sheets in international appearances.
6. Sepp Maier
Date Of Birth : 28 February 1944
Nation : West Germany
Height : 183 cm
Major Club : Bayern Munich
Caps : 95 Games
World Cup Participation : 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978 ( 18 Games )
Club Honours : 4 Times German Champion
3 Times German Cup
3 Times European Cup
1 Time UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup
International Honours : 1974 FIFA World Cup Winners
1972 European Championship
Individual Achievement : 3 Times German Footballer Of The Year (1975, 1977, 1978)
1975 European Goalkeeper Of The Year
1999 IFFHS Germany Goalkeeper of The Century
“The Cat from Anzing” is his nickname due to incredible reflexes. Maier is the most achievement goalkeeper as he won every major trophies both club and national level and this greatness is the most important factor pushing him very high place in all-time legendary goalkeeper despite his ability might not be among the best ever. Kicker magazine ranked Maier in 3 seasons of world-class and 11 seasons of international-class for his performance in Bundesliga and major national tournament. As well as his goalkeeping exploits, Maier was famous for his overlong shorts and outsize gloves, and, despite his undoubted talent, was seen in some circles as somewhat of a clown Maier is chosen starting first 11 in Bayern Munich’s team of century and considered by many as the greatest German goalkeeper of all-time. Maier made 38 clean sheets for West Germany national team. He was voted 4th World’s best goalkeeper of the century by IFFHS’spoll.
5. Gianluigi Buffon
Date Of Birth : 28 January 1978
Nation : Italy
Height : 191 cm
Major Club : Juventus
Caps : 99 Games
World Cup Participation : 2002, 2006 (10 Games )
Club Honours : 2 Times Italian Series A
1999 UEFA Cup
1 Time Coppa Italia
International Honours : 2006 FIFA World Cup Winners
Individual Achievement : 2003 UEFA Champion League Most Valuable Player
2006 Yashin Award
7 Times Series A Goalkeeper Of The Year
3 Times European Goalkeeper Of The Year ( 2003, 2004, 2007)
4 Times IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007)
2 Times Second Place IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper (2005, 2008)
2006 Silver Ball European Footballer Of The Year
1999 Bravo Award
Gigi Buffon is the greatest goalkeeper in current decade and considered by many journalists in www.channel4.com as the greatest goalkeeper ever in history of Italian series A even above the great legend like Dino Zoff. Buffon have gotten very good shape for being goalkeeper, very agile, perfectly reading the game and becoming one of the most consistency keepers ever. He unbelievably became the long-period first choice GK of Parma since 1995 which he was just 17 year olds. He still holds the most expensive goalkeeper record with 51.5 million pound for moving to Juventus. He had to play in Italian Series B for A season because punishment to Juventus from their guilty. In world cup 2006, He kept consecutive five matches clean sheets in addition to 453 minute scoreless. He has already won 43 clean sheets for Italy national team. All in all, He has already been regarded among the best goalkeeper of all-time.
4. Peter Schmeichel
Date Of Birth : 18 November 1963
Nation : Denmark
Height : 193 cm
Major Club : Manchester United
Caps : 129 Games
World Cup Participation : 1998 (5 Games )
Club Honours : 5 Times English Premier League
3 Times FA Cup
1 Time League Cup
1999 UEFA Champion League Winners
International Honours : 1992 European Championship Winners
Individual Achievement : 3 Times Danish Footballer of the year
UEFA Club Goalkeeper Of The Year (1992, 1993, 1998)
4 Times European Goalkeeper Of The Year (1992, 1993, 1997, 1999)
2 Times IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper (1992, 1993)
2 Times Second Place IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper (1995,1999)
1997 Third Place IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper
1992 European Championship Team of The Tournament
Second non-British inductee into English Football Hall Of Fame
Danish Football Hall Of Fame
3 Time PFA Team Of The Year (1993, 1995, 1996)
Premier League Team of The Decade
1999 IFFHS Denmark Goalkeeper of The Century
“The Great Dens” is among the all-time greatest footballers in history of Scandinavian football. He is known for his trademark shouts at defense to command them. Schmeichel was first rate shot-stopper, Large but agile and quick on his line becoming one of the best reflex savers the world has ever produced. He was just a famous world-class goalkeeper in his 29 year olds of age from his performance in EURO 92, was one of the most influenced players for both Denmark and Manchester United and helping them to surprisingly win that top European trophies. In 2001, Reuter’s poll indicates that he was chosen as the best keeper ever of the world. He holds the record for the best clean sheet-to-games ratio in the premier league with 42 percent of all matches played. Schemeichel kept 56 clean sheets for Denmark national team. He holds the record with other five players most EURO tournaments play with four, was voted 7th World’s best goalkeeper of the century by IFFHS’s poll.
3. Gordon Banks
Date Of Birth : 30 December 1937
Nation : England
Height : 185 cm
Major Club : Leicester City, Stoke City
Caps : 73 Games
World Cup Participation : 1962, 1966, 1970 (9 Games )
Club Honours : 2 Times League Cup
International Honours : 1966 FIFA World Cup Winners
Individual Achievement : 1966 FIFA World Cup’s Best Goalkeeper
1970 Order Of British Empire
1972 FWA Footballer Of The Year
2 Times European Footballer Of The Year (1970, 1972)
1999 IFFHS England Goalkeeper of The Century
Banks is widely regarded the greatest goalkeeper in British football history. His consistent performances in goal led to the re-wording of a common English idiom used in everyday speech to "Safe as the Banks of England. His best performance for memories of football fan around the world was happened in world cup 1970 which he did the incredibly wonderful reflex save against the powerful and directly heading of Pele. That save is known as “The save of the century”. Banks is average-sized but quick and agile and his strongest asset is his football knowledge and positional play. An unshakable to build a team around, He was instrumental in helping England win their only world cup. He totally kept 35 clean sheets and conceded only 57 goals in 73 international matches of play. Banks won 35 clean sheets for England national team. IFFHS’s poll showed him as the second best goalkeeper ever behind only Lev Yashin.
2. Dino Zoff
Date Of Birth : 28 February 1942
Nation : Italy
Height : 183 cm
Major Club : Juventus
Caps : 112 Games
World Cup Participation : 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982 ( 17 Games )
Club Honours : 6 Times Italian Series A
2 Times Coppa Italia
1977 UEFA Cup
2 Times European Cup Runner-Up (1973, 1983)
International Honours : 1968 European Championship Winners
1982 FIFA World Cup Winners
Individual Achievement : 1973 Silver Ball European Football Of The Year
2000 FIFA World Goalkeeper Of Century
UEFA Jubilee Award (Golden Player Of Italy)
1982 FIFA World Cup’s Best Goalkeeper
2 Times European Goalkeeper Of The Year (1980, 1981)
2 Times EURO ’s Best Goalkeeper Of Tournament (1968, 1980)
1999 IFFHS Italy Goalkeeper of The Century
Dino Zoff is one of the best goalkeepers the world has ever seen. He has set lots of records in Italian and world football. For instance he is the oldest player to win the World Cup. In 1982 at the age of 40 he could collect the trophy as captain of Italy's team. And he is also the goalkeeper to have kept a clean sheet the longest time, from September 1972 to June 1974 (consecutive 1142 minutes or 12 Matches) was unbeaten. According to being main pillar of Italy national team over decade, He became the most iconic player of his nation. Zoff was medium in stature but quick on his feet and excellent positioning and shot-stopping skills. He was a level-headed goalkeeper, capable of staying calm during the toughest and the most exhilarating moments. He always held back both out of modesty and respect for his opponents. In 1973, He was chosen the second best as European footballer of the year. Zoff kept 55 clean sheets from 112 games for Italy. Zoff was finished 5th in UEFA Jubilee Poll as the best European footballer in the last 50 years. Also, IFFHS’s poll result show him as the third greatest goalkeeper in the world of the century.
1. Lev Yashin
Date Of Birth : 22 October 1929
Nation : Soviet Union
Height : 189 cm
Major Club : Dynamo Moscow
Caps : 78 Games
World Cup Participation : 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 ( 12 Games )
Club Honours : 5 Times Soviet Championship
3 Times Soviet Cup
International Honours : 1960 European Nation’s Cup Winners
Individual Achievement : 1963 European Footballer Of The Year
2000 FIFA World Goalkeeper Of Century
IFFHS World’s Goalkeeper of Century
UEFA Jubilee Award (Golden Player Of Russia)
1967 Order Of Lenin
1956 Olympic Gold Medal Football
8 Times European Goalkeeper Of The Year
2 Times EURO ’s Best Goalkeeper Of Tournament ( 1960, 1964)
1994 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
1998 FIFA World Team of The Century
1999 IFFHS Soviet Union Goalkeeper of The Century
2002 FIFA Dream Team
“Black Octopus” Lev Yashin is the greatest goalkeeper ever in history of the game and regarded as Soviet Union ‘s greatest footballer ever. He is the only goalkeeper to win European footballer of the year award. Yashin is known for his superior athleticism, imposing stature, routine amazing reflex saves and inventing the idea of goalkeeper sweeping. During his career, He had stopped around 150 penalty kick which is the best record of all-time. Moreover, Yashin won 480 clean sheets from 812 career games played or almost 60 percent. He is one of the few footballers in history of the game to reach world-class performance for a decade. He was also voted as 5th in Ballon d’Or in 1956 and 1960. In 1994, FIFA established the Lev Yashin Award for the best goalkeeper in world cup final tournament. Yashin was finished 8th in UEFA Jubilee Poll as the best European footballer in the last 50 years. For his outstanding service to the people and to his country, Yashin was awarded the Order of Lenin in 1967, the highest award of the USSR. After retiring from playing Yashin spent almost 20 years in various administrative positions at Dynamo Moscow. A Bronze statue of Lev Yashin was erected at the Dynamo Stadium in Moscow.
Lists Category in Top 50
By Nations / Continent
Eastern Europe : 9 (Czecho 4, Soviet 2, Yugo 1, Poland 1, Hungary 1 )
Latin America : 8 ( Brazil 2, Argentina 2, Uruguay 2,Paraguay 1, Mexico 1)
Germany : 7
Italy : 7
Spain : 7
Great Britain : 5
Scandinavia : 3
Belgium : 2
Holland : 2
Austria : 1
By Decades
1930s : 4
1950s : 8
1960s : 6
1970s : 9
1980s : 11
1990s : 8
2000s : 4
CLASSIFICATION
Class : Crown
Lev Yashin
Class : King Gold
Dino Zoff, Gordon Banks, Peter Schmeichel, Gianluigi Buffon
Class : King Silver
Sepp Maier, Oliver Kahn
Class : King Bronze
Rinat Dasaev, Ricardo Zamora
Class : Queen Gold
Peter Shilton, Pat Jennings, Ubaldo Fillol, Toni Schumaccher, Frantisek Planicka, Gilmar, Ladislao Mazurkiewicz, Vladimir Beara, Bert Trauitmann, Jean Marie Pfaff
Class : Queen Silver
Amadao Carrizo, Jurgen Croy, Gyula Grosics, Giampiero Combi, Edwin Van Der Sar, Michael Preud’Homme, Walter Zenga, Antonio Carbajal, Jan Tomaszewski, Rudolph Hiden
Class : Queen Bronze
Andreas Kopke, Hans Tilkowski, Iker Casillas, Jose Angel Iribar, Ivo Viktor, Gianluca Pagliuca, Jose Luis Chilavert, Ray Clemence, Villiam Schrojf, Andoni Zubizarreta, Thomas Ravelli
Class : Prince Gold
Nevile Southall, Ronnie Hellstrom, Hans Van Breukelen, Roque Maspoli, Peter Cech, Antonio Ramallets, Luis Arconada, Luciano Castellini, Lorenzo Buffon
Uli Stein : Germany/ 80's
Juan Valdivieso : Peru/ 30's
Fabio Cudicini : Italy/ 60's
Angelo Peruzzi : Italy/ 90's
Fabien Barthez : France/ lately 90's to Early 2000s
Emerson Leao : Brazil/ 70's
Harry Gregg : Northern Ireland/ 50's
Francesco Toldo : Italy/ Late 90’s to Early 2000s
David Seaman : England/ 90’s
Jan Van Beveren : Holland/ 70’s
Evhen Rudakov : Soviet Union/ Late 60’s to Early 70’s
Josef Mlynalcyzk : Poland/ 80’s
Frank Swift : England/ 40’s
Mocair Barbosa : Brazil, 40’s to Early 50’s
Walter Zeman : Austria/ 50’s
Rustu Recber : Turkey/ 2000s
Julien Darui : France/ Lately 30’s to 40’s
Costa Parreira : Portugal/ 60’s
Joel Bats : France/ 80’s
Eike Immel : Germany/ 80's
Sergio Goychochea : Argentina/ 90's
Jack Kelsey : Wales/ 50’s
Rogelio Dominguez : Argentina/ 50's to 60's
Manuel Bento : Portugal/ 80’s
Georgi Naydenov : Bulgaria/ 50’s
Giueliano Sarti : Italy/ Late 50’s to 60s
Milutin Soskic : Yugoslavia/ 50's
Ivan Curkovic : Yugoslavia/ lately 60s to 70's
Top Goalkeeper In Each Era
Before The World War II
1. Ricardo Zamora
2. Frantisek Planicka
3. Giampiero Combi
4. Rudi Hiden
5. Julein Darui
The 1940s
1. Roque Maspoli
2. Frank Swift
3. Moacir Barbosa
The Early 1950s
1. Amadeo Carrizo
2. Bert Trautmann
3. Vladimir Beara
4. Gyula Grosics
5. Antonio Ramallets
The Late 1950s
1. Lev Yashin
2. Gilmar
3. Vladimir Beara
4. Bert Trautmann
5. Gyula Grosics
The Early 1960s
1. Lev Yashin
2. Gordon Banks
3. Gilmar
4. Hans Tilkowski
5. Harry Gregg
The Late 1960s
1. Gordon Banks
2. Jose Angel Iribar
3. Antonio Carbajal
4. Dino Zoff
5. Sepp Maier
The Early 1970s
1. Dino Zoff
2. Jan Tomaszewski
3. Sepp Maier
4. Pat Jennings
5. Ladislao Mazurkiewicz
The Late 1970s
1. Dino Zoff
2. Sepp Maier
3. Ubaldo Fillol
4. Peter Shilton
5. Pat Jennings
The Early 1980s
1. Rinat Dasaev
2. Harald Schumaccher
3. Ubaldo Fillol
4. Peter Shilton
5. Pat Jennnings
The Late 1980s
1. Rinat Dasaev
2. Jean Marie Pfaff
3. Walter Zenga
4. Peter Shilton
5. Hans Van Breukelen
The Early 1990s
1. Peter Schmeichel
2. Michael Preud’Homme
3. Andreas Kopke
4. Gianluca Pagluica
5. Thomas Ravelli
The Late 1990s
1. Oliver Kahn
2. Jose Luis Chilavert
3. Edwin Van Der Sar
4. Gianluca Pagluica
5. Fabien Barthez
The Early 2000s
1. Gianluigi Buffon
2. Oliver Kahn
3. Iker Casillas
4. Francesco Toldo
5. Rustu Recber
The Late 2000s
1. Gianluigi Buffon
2. Iker Casillas
3. Peter Cech
4. Edwin Van Der Sar
5. Julio Cesar
