The Best Goalkeepers of 2008
Gigi Buffon - the king of goalkeepers
With the holiday’s over, and the New Year upon us. We at Soccerlens want to provide you, the readers, with the top Goalkeepers of 2008. Without further delay, here you go:
Gigi Buffon
The Juventus number one has long been received in the world as one of the best to currently play the game. In some circles he is one of the best to ever play the position, however in 2008 he had a great year.
With the current campaign added with the campaign from the 2007/08 season, he has managed to start 38 matches and recorded 101 saves with Juventus alone. His work as the Italian number one is an entirely different body of work, just as impressive.
Petr Cech
No one in the world can question Cech’s toughness after coming back from a horrific head injury. But what he has done in the short span the EPL has played this year, it is obvious he has not lost anything. Thus far he has played in 17 games, recorded 43 saves and maintained 11 clean sheets. Not bad for the beginning of the EPL campaign. Cech is one of the world’s top keepers, and had a great year in 2008.
Edwin van der Sar
With 10 clean sheets in 16 games, Edwin van der Sar has defied time and age to stay as the #1 at Manchester United. His stats in the 2008/09 season speak for themselves. Add the 2007/08 season stats of 43 games started and 166 saves is just as impressive.
Iker Casillas
Spain’s top keeper, a role shared with Real Madrid, had a great 2008. His stats speak for themselves when you combine the 2007/08 La Liga campaign with the early portion of the 2008/09 season. 65 games started with Real Madrid and a save count of 213. Those are just the stats for Real Madrid, his Spain body of work is just as impressive leading his home nation to the Euro 2008 title.
Brad Friedel
Having been a mainstay in the EPL, this American surpassed the record of straight appearances in 2008. Appearing in 167 matches without missing one is a phenomenal achievement, and one that needs to be recognized. In typical Brad Friedel fashion, he is glad for the recognition, but preferred the win on the day he broke the record instead of the tie. This is the main reason Brad Friedel had a great 2008!
Who is your best keeper of 2008?
Shay Given is the best goalkeeper in the world! If it hadn’t been for him Newcastle United would be in the second division by now.
true speak
shay given might not be the best but he’s up there… he isnt the only one that doesn’t get enough credit. steve harper the second goalie is easily as good as shay, they really are the reason for keeping them in the top flight
if shay played for a top club,he would be recognised as one of the current greats.but because the defenders ahead of him are f*cking useless,his stats arent as impressive as those mentioned
Shay is number 1 in the UK if not the World but i would also say if Steve Harper was playing week in week out then he would be England number 1. Easily
oh yeh and why would Shay leave one team and go to another crap team that newcastle just beat lol. its a really dumb rumour
Agree on Given.
No Pepe Reina?
Emanual Almunia is good i agree him but is not the best anyways
Undoubtly Buffon and Chech are the best with Green and Given next best. Casilias had a terrible year.
Jasklianen from Bolton is vastly underrated.
All the others are far below them, either they cannot consistently catch the ball in the air or are too scared to dive at feet.
@#8: “Casilias had a terrible year.”
Really? He didn’t concede a single goal in the knock-out stages at Euro 2008 and made 2 vital penalty saves in the shoot-out against Italy.
He is also the top keeper choice on a whole range of “teams of the year” published recently.
If Given and Boruc where in bigger teams they woud be recongnised among the best.
From this list I’d have to say CASILLAS! Without a doubt.
First of all casillas didn’t had a terrible year at all an who’s shay he prolly sucks I have never hear of tht “kepper” obviously he prolly sucks to not b recognized. What about guillermo ochoa the best kepper in mexico I knw u guys hear of it an you know the mexican league is not tht well noticed but youtube his name an you will c what his capable of doing. One thing I say is buffon is prolly the best right now.
Yip Given is a great.
Also Reina, Jaaskelainen, Valdes and James although James isn’t having a great 08-09 season but towards the end of the 07-08 season he was one of the best goalkeepers in the world
Not Just being biased but in 2 or 3 years time i think Craig Gordon will establish himslef as won of the best keepers in the world. He had shown signs already and he is still only 26 young for a keeper
one of the best i mean’t not won
the best keeper in da world wud hav 2 b jussi jaskeleinen. hes performed brilliantly 4 bolton an hes da only reeson their still in da prem. remember da 06-07 season against aston villa. every1 thought gary cahill shot was goin in top coner but jaskeleinen got his fingertips 2 it and just pushed it over da bar. i think dat is da best save in da world-hes underrated as a keeper. nd remember da 2 penalty saves in 2 minuts vs blackburn? dat was top clas goalkeeping and he deserves 2 b goalie of da year