The impact of goalkeepers on a football team's results

The influence of goalkeepers on the team's result: What is the role of football goalkeepers?

They are part of the team, yet they are often alone. On the field, they run less, yet they often have the best overview of the game's progress. They perceive the mistakes of others, but their own error can be fatal for the team. What is the influence of goalkeepers on the course and outcome of the game? Which goalkeepers are among the world's elite? And which ones can not only save but also score? Let's shine a light on the kings between the posts.

On the soul of the team or What is the role of the goalkeeper in football?

"What is it about?"You just catch what comes at you, right? Just never say that to any goalkeeper. They know very well that the last line of defense has to be capable of so much more.

Besides basic skills like speed, agility, and excellent reflexes, they also need great communication skills to coordinate the defense. The goalkeeper usually has a better overview of what's happening on the field than individual players, so they can coordinate the defense and give instructions to teammates. They instruct defenders to position themselves correctly and ensure optimal coverage. They also continuously adjust the tactics.

A goalkeeper must be agile, nimble, and ready to face various risky situations, such as corners or direct and penalty kicks. Their ability to read the game and decide whether to step out of the goal or stay put is crucial for the success of the defense.

They also play an important role in initiating plays. Thanks to precise and quick throws or plays, the team can swiftly transition from defense to attack. Or they can kick it a greater distance to teammates who are positioned forward.

Skilled goalkeepers often overshadow offensive players. For example, Tom King, a goalkeeper from the 4th English league, kicked the ball from the small box all the way to the opponent's goal in 2021. A goal from a distance of 96.01 meters made its mark in football history and even in the Guinness World Records.

The goalkeeper also has an irreplaceable psychological influence. They are often the soul of the team and affect its morale. Their calmness and self-confidence encourage teammates in tough times and give them the determination to keep fighting. Conversely, their frustration can negatively impact the entire team.

So no, it really isn't just about catching a flying ball.

Even in the 19th century, any player could touch the ball with their hands. The game resembled rugby in many ways. You could tackle opponents hard, and using both feet and hands was allowed. It wasn't until 1863 that the Football Association banned hand play, with the exception of one player – the goalkeeper.

A successful goalkeeper = a successful team. What is considered a successful save in football?

From the jungle league to the World Cup – football rules must be followed everywhere. A successful save means that the goalkeeper managed to neutralize the opponent's attempt to score. Statistics, such as the success rate of saved shots and saves at different heights of the ball, then provide a measure of the goalkeeper's effectiveness.

Goalkeeper saves are crucial for the outcome of the match and can mean the difference between victory and defeat. They vary depending on the situation and the technique the goalkeeper uses. Basic types of successful saves include:

1. Catching: The goalkeeper tries to catch the ball with their hands at the moment when it is safest. For example, for low shots.
2. Punching: If the ball is heading high or towards the top of the goal, the goalkeeper can punch the ball away with their fists.
3. Body blocking: This can include jumping on the ball or deflecting it off their body so it doesn't cross the goal line.
4. Reflex saves: These are quick reactions to close-range shots or rebounds from defenders. Here, the goalkeeper relies primarily on their lightning-fast instincts and reflexes.
5. Saves with feet and head: The goalkeeper can deflect low-flying balls with their feet or head away from the goal.

A goalkeeper can also creatively neutralize a shot. Especially when their name is José René Higuita Zapata. But more on that in a moment.

Do you know the 7 best goalkeepers in the world?

The list of the best football goalkeepers can change depending on current performance and the season. Still, there are some goalkeepers who rightfully consider themselves among the best:

• Lev Ivanovich Yashin: The Black Panther, the Spider, the Octopus. The legendary Soviet goalkeeper, who is one of the most respected goalkeepers in football history. During his career, he managed to save 150 penalty kicks and kept a clean sheet in 270 matches. That's 65% of all the matches he played.
• Gordon Banks: An incredibly agile English goalkeeper, who became famous mainly for his save against Pelé during the 1970 World Cup. Many still consider it the "save of the century."In 1970, he also received the Order of the British Empire.
• Dino Zoff: One of the most successful captains of the Italian national team. A goalkeeper par excellence, who matured like Italian wine. If you want to know more about him, read our article The Best Goalkeepers in History – Dino Zoff.
• Peter Schmeichel: The Great Dane had a brilliant record in European championships and played a key role in the Danish national team as well as Manchester United. Most of us remember him primarily from Denmark's victorious run in the European tournament in 1992. The surname Schmeichel continues to live on in the football world – he passed his goalkeeper gloves to his son Kasper.
• Oliver Kahn: Tough, tenacious, charismatic – simply "King Kahn" or "The Titan."The German powerhouse between the posts has also achieved countless successes. He won the Bundesliga 8 times, the German Cup 6 times, the Champions League once, and was named the best German footballer of the year twice.
• Iker Casillas: His name is associated with the greatest successes of Spanish football. He spent most of his career in the jersey of Real Madrid, which he first donned at the age of 9. “San Iker” was the king of spectacular saves with outstanding agility, quick reflexes, and great concentration.
• Gianluigi Buffon: The phenomenal goalkeeper with 176 appearances for the Italian national team is also Gigi. He has played over 1100 matches at the professional level and set a historic record in Serie A with Juventus.

We know, we know. We are missing many other legends here – like Manuel Neuer, Alisson Becker, Jan Oblak, Edwin Van der Sar, David de Gea, Hugo Lloris, Thibaut Courtois, Édouard Mendy, Mike Maignan, or Ederson. We will focus on them maybe next time.

The first one that comes to mind is the record holder for the most matches in the Premier League with a clean sheet. Petr Čech is only the second goalkeeper in the English Premier League Hall of Fame and does not rule out a return to the field.

Besides him, the Czech Republic can boast a nice line-up of other goalkeeping stars, including Tomáš Vaclík, Aleš Mandous, Jiří Pavlenka, Ondřej Kolář, and Tomáš Koubek.

And we must not forget one of the greatest goalkeepers of the pre-war era, who was undoubtedly František Plánička. He even played barehanded, as goalkeeper gloves only made their way onto the field in the early 70s.

5 TOP goalkeepers who not only save goals but also score them

Although goalkeepers are known primarily for their ability to prevent goals, some have become heroes by scoring themselves. Let's remember the goalkeepers who became famous for scoring particularly significant goals or for scoring the most:

• Rogério Ceni: Let's start with a bang. The Brazilian football goalkeeper didn't score goals from free kicks or penalties by chance, but regularly. He has more than 130 goals to his name.
• José Luis Chilavert: The second record holder is the Paraguayan goalkeeper known for his excellent kicking technique. During his career, he scored 8 international goals as well.
• René Higuita: El Loco, a legend, the Colombian football demon, who was as lively on the field as his hairstyle. He initiated plays, attacked, and calmly saved balls flying towards the goal with his famous scorpion kick. If you haven't seen him in action yet, definitely check out the highlights.
• Jimmy Glass: Yes, that's the English goalkeeper who scored the decisive goal in the last minute of the match, saving Carlisle United from relegation.
• Hans-Jörg Butt: This German goalkeeper scored 27 goals in the Bundesliga, playing for Bayer, Leverkusen, and Hamburg. He also became famous as an excellent executor of free kicks.

Are we missing a few more names here? Definitely. Like Alisson Becker, Asmir Begović, or Jorge Campos. It seems that there are quite a few goalkeepers who are connected not only by their ability to defend but also to score.

Did you know that a football goalkeeper should be at least 185 cm tall? This gives them an advantage when dealing with crosses into the penalty area and shots to the upper half of the goal.

So what is the goalkeeper's influence on the team's result?

For a goalkeeper, everything usually starts and ends here. Various analyses, research, and studies show that the goalkeeper is one of the most important players in the entire team. Yet, their influence on the outcome of matches is often underestimated. A great goalkeeper can make key saves that keep the team in the game or even decide the team's victory. History is full of examples where goalkeepers influenced the outcome. Sometimes even in the last minutes.

Those who remember might recall Gordon Banks at the 1970 World Cup, where he saved a shot from Pelé in the match against Brazil. From more recent history, we can mention Oliver Kahn at the 2002 World Cup or Tim Howard at the 2014 World Cup. These examples prove that goalkeepers can significantly influence the outcome of a game. Their saves, communication, and ability to keep the team in the game at crucial moments are factors that often determine victory, a draw, or defeat.

The goalkeeper is not only the protector of the goal but also the strategic brain of the team. Their ability to lead the defense, give instructions, and maintain calm in crisis situations is irreplaceable. It is often said that the goalkeeper position is the most mentally challenging. And it is also a somewhat thankless position. Because as Iker Casillas said: "It doesn't matter how many shots you save, people will always remember what you didn't save."