We’ll just say it, Goalkeeper is the most mentally challenging position on the soccer field. As the last line of defense, a goalkeeper will get criticism more than praise (just ask Robert Green), but that’s no where near the toughest part for most goalkeepers.
College and professional soccer teams don’t just have 1 goalkeeper on their roster, they have at least 3 goalkeepers. Only one goalkeeper can play at once, and since the goalie’s responsibility to control the pace of the game and organize their team’s shape, they’re seldom subbed off the field. That being said, you’ll find most goalkeepers on the bench. Backup goalkeepers are usually not in the spotlight as their games are on the practice field with the main goals of staying fit and challenging the starting keeper to play better. This breeds a different personality for goalkeepers and creates the “team within the team” atmosphere.
The Chelsea goalkeepers, Petr Cech, Henrique Hilário and Ross
Turnbull recently spoke out against how the EPL doesn’t give credit to backup goalkeepers. Chelsea won The Premier League in 2009, but the two back up goalkeepers will not get credit. If a player has not appeared in at least 10 matches, they will not receive a medal. We agree with Cech, “have a look at every club in the world, and try to find a second-choice goalkeeper playing more than 10 league games. You’re not going to find it. If you are the young sub, you can come on 10 times for 30 seconds and you get the medal but the goalkeeper plays one game and saves the game, wins the three points and he doesn’t get the medal. I think this is not right.” Shutout Central agrees, this is not right. A backup goalkeeper’s role is one of the most challenging and thankless tasks out there. You have to train harder than the starting goalkeeper to make up for playing time and you have to be alert 24/7 just in case an injury to the starting goalkeeper occurs, which is very unlikely. If you do get called up, you’ll have to prove yourself so you’re not constantly compared to the starting goalkeeper. Yes, this is a very tough task.
You can find the top #2 and #3 goalkeepers on the Spanish National team. If you think backing up Iker Casillas calls for patience, what about playing behind Casillas’s backup who just happens to be Liverpool’s Pepe Reina? This is what Barcelona’s #1 Victor Valdes deals with on his country’s team. We’re sure Spain’s coach, Vicente del Bosque is thrilled to have three world class goalkeepers on his squad, but it’s different experience for the net minders. But, as far as we know, FIFA recognizes Reina and Valdes as 2010 World Cup Champions.