There's no doubt about it: Neuer’s recent Champion’s League save was world class. But was it the best of all time?
Being a goalie isn’t easy. Thanks to receiving little thanks for cleaning up the rubbish of outfield players and only really being noticed when they don’t do their job, keepers are the binmen of the sporting world. Hell, some of them are even called sweeper keepers. Well, we think it’s time to praise some of the most epic actions of these unsung heroes (goalkeepers, not binmen. Sorry, guys.)
In no particular order, here are MH’s top five goalie-based miracles of all time.
Angelo Campos, 2012
You know that horrible feeling when you’ve made a terrible mistake at work? Peruvian U20 goalkeeper Angelo Campos does. After making a disastrous run outside the box, his tackle misses the enemy striker, who's now left with a clear shot on goal. Yet somehow Campos speeds it all the way back to the line and saves it. And the rebound. If they remade Apollo 13 with footballers, Campos would take the lead – closely followed by the entire Liverpool 2005 Champions League final squad, of course.
David Seaman, 2003
Although he spent most of his career looking like a discarded chuckle brother, this keeping legend knew how to produce a save when it mattered. The setting: Arsenal v Sheffield United FA Cup Semi-Final 2003. A cross flying into the Gunners' six-yard box is diverted goalwards at the last second. David Seaman, at nearly 40-years-old, pulls off the save of his career. Yes, although he’s caught out of position, he channels his inner Statham to find the agility and strength to claw the ball off the line. It’s a save almost worthy of forgiving that ponytail. Almost.
Peter Schmeichel, 1996
With his Spiderman-like agility and attacking approach to the game, it’s easy to say the Manchester United keeper was ahead of his time. In fact, as this save against Rapid Vienna shows, Schmeichel showed how to drop it like its hot a whole eight years before Snoop Dogg brought it to your attention. It's yet another reason why the great Dane is one of the all-time goalkeeping legends.
René Higuita, 1995
Despite often wearing what looked like a dyed judge’s wig with a Picasso painted shirt, René Higuita was a pretty unsual goalkeeper. Strong hands, quick reactions and a, let’s say, flamboyant playing style of play earned the Columbian the nickname “The Madman”. We want to say it’s an undeserved nickname. We can’t. Need proof? Look not further than his 1995 scorpion save against England.
Grégory Coupet, 2001
Doubtlessly you need intelligence to win a game, but this Lyon keeper showed an even better use of his noggin. Rather than taking on a risky back-pass from a defender, Coupet decides to head the ball against the crossbar and face a one-on-one with Barcelona legend Rivaldo. Which he of course does beautifully in a true double-decker of defending brilliance.
By: Thomas Ling
