MOT forum best goalkeeper poll round 3
Jean Marie Pfaff
As is becoming clear with this category German giants Bayern Munich have a thing for great goalkeepers, Belgium icon Jean Marie Pfaff was one of them. The 1986 World Cup saw him named both the goalkeeper of the tournament and IFFHS Best Goalkeeper winner. He was a charismatic and eccentric figure but also a nice guy as his nickname El Simpático attested (Mr Nice Guy). His shot stopping abilities were legendary as were his penalty saving skills which saw him the undisputed number 1 for 6 seasons for the German giants winning 6 trophies in the process. He was also a member of the 1980 European Championship runner up Belgium squad. A ballon d'Or nominee in 3 separate seasons and a double European Goalkeeper of the year winner he was one of the most decorated goalkeepers of the 1980s
Lev Yashin
Quite simply the only goalkeeper ever to win the Ballon d'Or. To put that into further context only 3 goalkeepers have placed in the top 3 for that award in the last 25 years. At a time when the balls where heavier and the pitches tougher the Soviet Union icon stood out for his athleticism and his innovation. At a time when most goalkeepers stayed rooted to the line Yashin was regularly sweeping up decades before it became popular. He saved over 100 penalties and kept over 200 clean sheets. He was posthumously named in the Ballon d'Or dream team an award he not only won but was nominated for 9 other times. A successful player as well he was a 5 time league winner and a European Championship winner and Olympic gold medal winner with Soviet Union. Such is his legacy the best goalkeeper award at the World Cup is named after him as is the "Yashin Award" which is a part of the Ballon d'Or ceremony and given to the best goalkeeper of the year.
Oliver Kahn
Before Manuel Neuer there was Oliver Kahn, a ferocious and intimidating presence he was known to have full on rows with his defenders if they displeased him. But the German was more than a big noise he was one of the finest goalkeepers of his time and one of the best around. 4 consecutive best European Goalkeeper awards show the levels he achieved but also maintained as he held down the number 1 shirt at Bayern Munich for 14 years. A successful international for Germany he was a World Cup runner up and European Championship winner in 1996. 22 trophies for Bayern Munich including a Champions League and 8 league titles. He was a winner of the aforementioned Yashin award at the 2002 World Cup. Before the Ballon d'Or merged with the Fifa World player of the year Kahn was the only goalkeeper ever to earn a place in the top 3 of that award in 19 seasons. Furthermore only on 3 separate occasions has a goalkeeper made the top 3 of the Ballon d'Or list in the last 25 seasons, 2 of those were Oliver Kahn
As is becoming clear with this category German giants Bayern Munich have a thing for great goalkeepers, Belgium icon Jean Marie Pfaff was one of them. The 1986 World Cup saw him named both the goalkeeper of the tournament and IFFHS Best Goalkeeper winner. He was a charismatic and eccentric figure but also a nice guy as his nickname El Simpático attested (Mr Nice Guy). His shot stopping abilities were legendary as were his penalty saving skills which saw him the undisputed number 1 for 6 seasons for the German giants winning 6 trophies in the process. He was also a member of the 1980 European Championship runner up Belgium squad. A ballon d'Or nominee in 3 separate seasons and a double European Goalkeeper of the year winner he was one of the most decorated goalkeepers of the 1980s
Lev Yashin
Quite simply the only goalkeeper ever to win the Ballon d'Or. To put that into further context only 3 goalkeepers have placed in the top 3 for that award in the last 25 years. At a time when the balls where heavier and the pitches tougher the Soviet Union icon stood out for his athleticism and his innovation. At a time when most goalkeepers stayed rooted to the line Yashin was regularly sweeping up decades before it became popular. He saved over 100 penalties and kept over 200 clean sheets. He was posthumously named in the Ballon d'Or dream team an award he not only won but was nominated for 9 other times. A successful player as well he was a 5 time league winner and a European Championship winner and Olympic gold medal winner with Soviet Union. Such is his legacy the best goalkeeper award at the World Cup is named after him as is the "Yashin Award" which is a part of the Ballon d'Or ceremony and given to the best goalkeeper of the year.
Oliver Kahn
Before Manuel Neuer there was Oliver Kahn, a ferocious and intimidating presence he was known to have full on rows with his defenders if they displeased him. But the German was more than a big noise he was one of the finest goalkeepers of his time and one of the best around. 4 consecutive best European Goalkeeper awards show the levels he achieved but also maintained as he held down the number 1 shirt at Bayern Munich for 14 years. A successful international for Germany he was a World Cup runner up and European Championship winner in 1996. 22 trophies for Bayern Munich including a Champions League and 8 league titles. He was a winner of the aforementioned Yashin award at the 2002 World Cup. Before the Ballon d'Or merged with the Fifa World player of the year Kahn was the only goalkeeper ever to earn a place in the top 3 of that award in 19 seasons. Furthermore only on 3 separate occasions has a goalkeeper made the top 3 of the Ballon d'Or list in the last 25 seasons, 2 of those were Oliver Kahn