Thursday 18th Mar 2010

FIVE OF THE BEST

The Premier League is blessed with a number of top class goalkeepers, but we take a look at five of the very best...

Five of the best Premier League goalkeepers

Petr Cech (Chelsea)

Cech has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world since signing for Chelsea in 2004 from French club Rennes. He is now widely recognised by the headguard he wears, as a result of a skull fracture he suffered in a collision with then Reading winger Stephen Hunt while playing for Chelsea. During the 2004/05 season, he went 1,025 minutes with conceding a goal, a then Premier League record, and also set the record for the most clean sheets in a single Premier League season with 25, as he helped Chelsea win the title. He has won the league, the FA Cup and the Carling Cup twice during his time at Stamford Bridge.

Brad Friedel (Aston Villa)

The American international has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League over the past decade. After struggling to make a name for himself at Liverpool, where he made just 25 appearances in a three year spell, he moved on to Blackburn where he enhanced his reputation with some excellent displays, making 287 appearances and even scoring a goal for Rovers, before moving to Aston Villa ahead of the 2008/09 season. He holds the record for most consecutive appearances in the Premier League with 215, and could represent the USA at his fourth World Cup this summer in South Africa.

Shay Given (Manchester City)

Republic of Ireland's joint most-capped player, alongside Kevin Kilbane, Given has been one of the most highly rated goalkeepers in the top flight for the past decade. He often starred for underachieving Newcastle in a 12 year spell at the club, before leaving the Toon Army in their relegation season to join ambitious Manchester City. He made more than 350 appearances for Newcastle having originally spent time on the north east with their rivals Sunderland, during a loan Spell. Spent his youth at Celtic, but left without making a first team appearance, and began his professional career with two appearances for Blackburn, before loan moves to Swindon and then Sunderland, which proved the catalyst for his move to the top flight.

Jose Reina (Liverpool)

One of Rafa Benitez's best signings at Anfield, Reina followed Spanish compatriots Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia to Merseyside and soon established himself as a dependable number one. Despite being prone to the odd mishap, Reina is a good shotstopper, and backstopped Liverpool to the 2006 FA Cup. He started his career with Barcelona, before catching the eye with his displays for Villarreal. He has been unfortunate not to play more times for Spain, but finds himself behind Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas in the pecking order. Reina won the Premier League Golden Gloves award for most clean sheets in a season for three consecutive seasons, and became the quickest goalkeeper in Liverpool history to keep 100 clean sheets in all competitions (197 appearances).

Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United)

Began his Premier League career with Fulham in 2001 before Sir Alex Ferguson lured him to Old Trafford in 2005, to end United's quest for a long term successor to Peter Schmeichel. Van der Sar holds the record for most caps for the Netherlands, with 130, and last season went 1,311 minutes without conceding a league goal. He has enjoyed five trophy laden seasons at United, winning three Premeir League titles, two Carling Cups and the Champions League. He previously won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995, making him part of an elite clutch of players to have won the competition with more than one club, and also spent two seasons in Italy with Juventus.