Down the years, goalkeepers have always held a special place in footballing history. Perhaps, it was because of their ability to turn a match on the face of it.While they may not have much to do on the field, their off-field musings have certainly not reduced. Lets take a look at 5 quotes by goalkeepers that still hold a special place:
#6 Dino Zoff
I played until the age of 41 just because I believe that its always possible to make improvements.
Recently, Ryan Giggs announced his retirement from football. Thereby, ending one of the most decorated careers in football. There was another man whose career surpassed even that of Ryan Giggs for this man led his team to World Cup glory at the ripe age of 40.
Dino Zoff was one of Italys greatest players and was the oldest player to win the World Cup. This quote was testament to the fact that he loved football and is a mark of what we miss since his retirement.
#5 Lev Yashin
"The joy of seeing YuriGargarinflying in space is only superseded by the joy of a good penalty save."
This quote defines the importance of football throughout the course of human history. Lev yashin, arguably the greatest goalkeeper of all time worded to us what a feeling it is to save a penalty.
Obviously, Russias first trip to space was deemed mans greatest accomplishment but the footballing world would disagree, wouldnt it Lev?
#4 Bryan King
As you get to 38, 39 and 40, you know you can't cover the ground to get to crosses anymore and you don't fancy getting knocked about. I call it Peter Shilton syndrome: blaming everyone else for what you can no longer do
The first word that comes to my mind as I see this is Lol. What a way to express your opinion on Peter Shilton. Former Milwall goalkeeper, Bryan King who wasnt happy with Peter Shilton came out with these when Shilton failed to take responsibility for his mistakes.
#3 Harald Schumacher
"If that's all that's wrong with him, I'll pay him thecrowns."
When you tackle a player and snare him out of his senses in a World Cup final, the best you can do is apologize for the mistake and take the blame. When you escape without punishment from such an incident, it would do better if you could just walk away.
Germanys Harald Schumacher performed one of the most infamous tackles on Patrick Battiston, sent him into coma, escaped unscathed and had the audacity to utter these words saying he would fund Battistons treatment, after it was revealed he had lost three of his teeth.
Although he later apologized for this, it remains a mark of disrespect and guilt by Harald Schumacher.
#2 Jose Luis Chilavert
Pressure? This is just a football match. When you do not know how tofeed your children, that is pressure.
When you are a goalkeeper, your job to is stop goals. This guy played as a goalkeeper but perhaps, was secretly paid to work at both ends. He scored 67 goals in his career from set pieces and was awarded the best goalkeeper of the year thrice.
Hailing from Paraguay, his devil-may-care attitude certainly raised a few eyebrows during the 1998 World Cup. These two lines certainly capped it off.
#1 Moacir Barbosa
"The maximum punishment in Brazil is 30 years imprisonment, but I have been paying, for something I am not even responsible for, by now, for 50 years.
Perhaps, no other group of words resonates through history like this. Certain times, being the Worlds best comes with an added disadvantage. You make a mistake and you are blacklisted for life.
And Moacir Barbosa, who was held suspect for Uruguays second goal in the infamous World Cup match at the Maracana in 1950 suffered from fate far worse than anyone else.
With that mistake, the country turned against him and he was insulted ever since till the day he died.