Top Ten Goalkeepers List

By: Kieran Dunne

Number 10: David De Gea

Despite both Sir Alex Ferguson and David De Gea denying that a deal has already been agreed for the 20-year-old, the Spaniard is reportedly heading to Old Trafford for £20 million. While De Gea is no doubt a fantastic keeper, at 20, it is a big move for a player partial to a major error or two a season.

Number 9: Maarten Stekelenburg

The Dutch number one is one of the most consistent keepers in the game. At 28, he needs a big move to project his name to a higher standing in world football. A product of the Ajax youth system, it is thought that Stekelenburg, similar to Neuer, will seek a move abroad this summer.

Number 8: Julio Cesar

Julio Cesar Soares Espindola is Inter Milan’s 31 year-old brazilian shot stopper. Often excluded from such lists as this, Cesar has more than 50 caps for brazil and was named the third best keeper in the world in 2009 by IFFHS. He is also one of the few goalkeepers ever to be nominated for the coveted Ballon D’Or. He was also a key member of the Jose Mourinho side who won the Champions League in 2010. He’s also regarded as one of the best shot-stoppers in the game.

Number 7: Petr Cech

The Czech Republic international has been at Chelsea since 2004 where he’s won three Premier League titles, three FA cups, two League Cups and two Community Shields. He currently holds the Premier League record for fewest appearances required to reach 100 clean sheets, having done so in 180 league appearances. He was also victim of a horrific injury on 14 October 2006 when Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt colllided with the shot stopper at the Madejski. He suffered a derpressed skull fracture needing urgent head surgery to rectify the problem.

Number 6: Pepe Reina

Jose Manuel Reina Paez is a Spanish goalkeeper with English side Liverpool. He is regarded as the best peno stopper in the world and hailed for his distribution of the ball with record assists recorded throughout his career. It is arguable that if Reina was at a top European club he’d be regarded as one of the best around.

Number 5: Victor Valdes

The Barcelona goalkeeper looks set for another Champions League medal providing the Catalans oversee Real Madrid in tonight’s second leg of the semi-final. Valdes started his career with Barca in ’92 where he advanced through the ranks to Barca’s B team before making his full-team debut in the 2002/2003 season. He’s the most successful keeper in Barcelona’s history with  four La Liga titles, two Champions League  titles, and one Copa Del Rey title.

Number 4: Edwin Van Der Sar

The former Dutch number one is set to retire this year following a glittering career between the posts. Aged 40, he’s the Netherland’s most capped player of all time with 130 appearances for the Oranje. He has one everything at club level with Manchester United, four league titles in Holland, an Intertoto Cup with Juventus and a host of individual awards including Best European Goalkeeper in 1995, 2008, 2009, 2010.

Number 3: Gianluigi Buffon

The World Cup winner is regarded as one of the most sucessful keepers in history. He was declared by Pele to be one of the 125 greatest living footballers in the world, and has also been named the Serie A goalkeeper of the year a record eight times. He joined Juventus in 2001 for a record breaking fee of £32.6 million, a record yet to be broken today.

Number 2: Manuel Neuer

Linked with a £7.5 million a-year move to Bayern Munich, Neuer has captivated the world of football this year with sensational performances which have resulted in Schalke 04’s progession to the Champions League semi-final. Also linked with United, Franz Beckenbauer has exclaimed that Munich should pay €50 million to capture the 6ft 4″ German. Football’s hottest property at the moment.

Number 1: Iker Casillas

Iker Casillas Fernandez is the World Cup winning Spanish goalkeeper who is one of select few to have won everything in club and international football. Captain of both Real Madrid and Spain, the 29-year-old led the national side to their first European Championship in 44years in 2006. Two years later he led Spain to their first ever World Cup victory seeing of Holland 1-0 in extra-time. He’s the Champions League’s most capped goalkeeper of all time.