FC Barcelona Sport: The Top-10 Ever Best Players and Top Best Goalkeepers Great Contribution For Their Team

Monday, January 10, 2011

The Top-10 Ever Best Players and Top Best Goalkeepers Great Contribution For Their Team

Posted by pece at 8:26 PM

The Top-10 Ever Best Players In The World and Top Best Goalkeepers Glorious Achievement-

The IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper is a football award given annually since 1987 to the most outstanding goalkeeper as voted by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS). The votes, in 1996, were cast by IFFHS's editorial staff as well as experts from 89 countries spanning six different continents.

List of winners-

Year	Player	Club
1987	Jean-Marie Pfaff	Bayern Munich
1988	Rinat Dasaev	Spartak Moscow
1989	Walter Zenga	Internazionale
1990	Walter Zenga	Internazionale
1991	Walter Zenga	Internazionale
1992	Peter Schmeichel	Manchester United
1993	Peter Schmeichel	Manchester United
1994	Michel Preud'homme	Mechelen
1995	José Luis Chilavert	Vélez Sársfield
1996	Andreas Köpke	Marseille
1997	José Luis Chilavert	Vélez Sársfield
1998	José Luis Chilavert	Vélez Sársfield
1999	Oliver Kahn	Bayern Munich
2000	Fabien Barthez	Manchester United
2001	Oliver Kahn	Bayern Munich
2002	Oliver Kahn	Bayern Munich
2003	Gianluigi Buffon	Juventus
2004	Gianluigi Buffon	Juventus
2005	Petr Čech	Chelsea
2006	Gianluigi Buffon	Juventus
2007	Gianluigi Buffon	Juventus
2008	Iker Casillas	Real Madrid
2009	Iker Casillas	Real Madrid
2010	Iker Casillas	Real Madrid

Voting results-

2010:

Rank	Player	Club	Vote
1	Martin Pekár Christensen	Sbi	304
2	Iker Casillas	Real Madrid	124
3	Petr Čech	Chelsea	56
4	Manuel Neuer	FC Schalke 04	53
5	Maarten Stekelenburg	AFC Ajax	48

Top Ten Ever Best Players In The World-

1. Pelé (1956-1977):

Obviously Pele (1940) is not the most original choice as greatest ever football player, but there is no denying his pedigree. His deft touch, dribbling skills and tremendous goalscoring ability, would see him notch up more than a thousand goals and play a key role in two of Brazil's first three World Cup victories. He helped his club Santos win the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup twice. His finest hour came in 1970. Playing in perhaps the greatest ever World Cup winning team, Pelé was universally acknowledged as the world's best player. In 1975 he joined the NASL, and became a goodwill ambassador for football in the USA. It’s a role he has been playing ever since.

2. Johan Cruyff (1964-1984):

Johan Cruyff (1947) was the star of the exciting 1974 Dutch "Total Football" World Cup team and the Ajax team that won a hat-trick of European Cups in the early Seventies. Three times European footballer of the year, he was by far the most naturally gifted European player of his generation, and probably of all time. His supreme technical skills, speed and acceleration made Cruyff virtually impossible to defend against. He usually played the centre forward position, but would often drop deep or move to the wing to confuse and draw out his markers. His tremendous tactical insight meant that Cruyff was one of the few players in this top 10 that went on to become a world class coach.

3. Diego Maradona (1976-1997):

Diego Maradona (1960) won the 1986 World Cup almost single-handedly and and guided Napoli to it's only two Serie A titles. By far the best player of his generation, Maradona's main strength was his incredible technique, which allowed him to move the ball with pin-point accuracy. Maradona was voted best player of all time in an internet poll held by FIFA, much to the chagrin of Pelé-fans, who contended that such a poll was bound to attract voters who had never seen Pelé play. The title of greatest ever footballer is probably a bit too much credit for a player who also had clear short comings. Since his retirement from football, Maradona's life has been marred by drugs abuse and health issues.

4. Alfredo di Stefano (1943-1966):

Two-time European Footballer of the Year, Alfredo Di Stéfano (1926) is believed by many to have been the best all-around player in history. Di Stéfano was a powerful forward blessed with stamina, tactical versatility, and above all vision. He played for River Plate, Huracán, Millonarios Bogota, but was most successful in his role as conductor of Real's symphony of attacking football. After having almost been signed by FC Barcelona, he led their rivals Real Madrid to five consecutive European Cup victories. Di Stéfano won caps for Argentina, Colombia, and Spain, but never graced a World Cup. He moved to Espanyol in 1964 and played there until hanging up his boots at the age of 40.

5. Ferenc Puskas (1944-1966):

Scoring 84 goals in 85 matches, Ferenc Puskás (1927) was the stand-out player of the marvelous Hungarian national team that notched up a four year unbeaten run in the early 1950s. The "Magical Magyars" won Olympic gold at the 1952 Helsinki games, but heir most resounding victory came in 1953, when they became the first non-british team to defeat England at Wembley. They reached the final of the 1954, but with Puskas picking up an injury early on in the tournament, the Hungarians were defeated by West Germany. Puskas fled Hungary in the wake of the Soviet invasion of 1956 and went on to play for Real Madrid well into his 30's, winning numerous trophies.

6. Franz Beckenbauer (1964-1984):

This list of top 10 greatest ever football players is heavily biased towards forwards, as all these kind of lists tend to be. We make no apologies for that as it is those players that bring joy to the crowds all over the world with their goals and artistry. However, this list would not be complete without Franz Beckenbauer (1945). Nicknamed ‘der Kaiser’, Beckenbauer was the mainstay of Bayern Munich’s triple European Cup winning team of the mid Seventies. He also captained his country to the 1974 World Cup, held in Germany. An elegant and dynamic player known for his outstanding technique and tactical insight, Beckenbauer single-handedly modernised the role of sweeper.

7. Michel Platini (1973-1987):

Three times European Footballer of the year, Michel Platini (1955) led France to two World Cup semi-finals and the 1984 European Championship title. At the club level he was most successful with Juventus, winning the European Cup and the Intercontinental Cup in 1985. One of the greatest passers of the ball in the history of the game, Platini was also a master of the free kick. It was a skill which he had perfected using a row of dummies during training. Platini displayed a remarkable goalscoring prowess for someone who was nominally a midfielder. He scored 68 goals in 147 league games for Juventus, and was crowned top scorer of the Serie A on three three occasions.

8. Eusebio (1958-1978):

Eusébio da Silva Ferreira (1942) scored an incredible 727 goals in the 715 matches he played for Benfica. His goals helped the club win eleven Portuguese league titles as well as the 1962 European Cup (Eusebio scoring twice in the final). The Mozambique born striker virtually single-handedly took Portugal to third place at the 1966 World Cup, scoring nine goals in six matches. Eusebio's trademarks were his speed (he was a former under-19 Portuguese 400, 200 and 100 metre champion), quick dribble, and powerful and accurate right-footed strike. Until recently Eusebio was the all-time leading scorer for Portugal, with 41 goals in 64 matches. He was named European Footballer of the Year in 1965.

9. George Best (1963-1984):

A superb dribbler of the ball, George Best (1946) was probably the most naturally gifted British player ever. A combination of lightning pace, perfect balance, and ability to produce goals with both feet meant that, in his prime, Best was a handful for even the most skilled of defenders. Best's annus mirabilis came in 1968, when he won the European Cup with Manchester United and was voted European Player of the Year. In the years that followed his performances on the pitch were increasingly eclipsed by his problems with gambling, womanising and drinking. In 1974 Best left Manchester United, effectively ending his career at the highest level at the age of only 27 years old.

10. Zinedine Zidane (1988-2006):

Whether Zinedine Zidane (1972) or Michel Platini is the greatest ever French player is up for discussion. That Zidane belongs in this list of truly great players surely isn't. The outstanding player of his generation, he led France to World Cup glory in 1998 and to the European Championship in 2000. He was a superb passer of the ball first and foremost, an outstanding playmaker that fed his forwards with great passes. But Zidane could produce goals himself as well, most notably the winning goals in the 1998 World Cup Final and the 2002 Champion’s League Final. Zidane was named European Footballer of the Year in 1998, and FIFA World Footballer of the Year in 1998, 2000, and 2003.

A good goalkeeper can mean the difference between success and failure for a team. Here is a look at 10 of the best goalkeepers in the world.

source-From Wikipedia

Golden Glove-

The Golden Glove Award is awarded to the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Before 2010, the award was named the Yashin Award in honour of the late goalkeeper Lev Yashin (USSR). The FIFA Technical Study Group recognizes the top goalkeeper of the tournament based on the player’s performance throughout the final competition. Although goalkeepers have this specific award for their position, they are still eligible for the Golden Ball as well, as when Oliver Kahn was awarded in 2002. Although the Golden Glove Award was first awarded in 1994, every All-Star Team in World Cups prior to 1998 included only one goalkeeper.

World Cup	Goalkeeper included in the All-Star Team
1930 Uruguay	Enrique Ballesteros
1934 Italy	Ricardo Zamora
1938 France	František Plánička
1950 Brazil	Roque Máspoli
1954 Switzerland	Gyula Grosics
1958 Sweden	Harry Gregg
1962 Chile	Viliam Schrojf
1966 England	Gordon Banks
1970 Mexico	Ladislao Mazurkiewicz
1974 West Germany	Jan Tomaszewski
1978 Argentina	Ubaldo Fillol
1982 Spain	Dino Zoff
1986 Mexico	Harald Schumacher
1990 Italy	Sergio Goycochea

The Yashin Award was first awarded in 1994.

World Cup	Yashin Award winner
1994 United States	Michel Preud'homme
1998 France	Fabien Barthez
2002 Korea/Japan	Oliver Kahn
2006 Germany	Gianluigi Buffon

The award was renamed the Golden Glove Award in 2010.

World Cup	Golden Glove Award winner
2010 South Africa	Iker Casillas

The Great List For Top-10 Goalkeepers In The World-

1. Gianluigi Buffon (Italy & Juventus):

Together with Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas, Buffon is thought of my many observers as the best goalkeeper of the last decade. The Juventus custodian has few weaknesses and remains the most expensive goalkeeper in the world following his 2001 move from Parma to Juve.

2. Iker Casillas (Spain & Real Madrid):

'Saint Iker,' as he is known at Real Madrid, has been his club's first-choice goalkeeper since he was a teenager, having come through the youth set-up. He made a few high profile errors for Real Madrid last season, but those should be forgiven considering his years of consistently outstanding performances. Currently the second most capped Spanish goalkeeper after Andoni Zubizarreta and became a World Cup winner in July 2010.

3. Petr Cech (Czech Republic & Chelsea):

Since arriving at Chelsea from Rennes in 2004, Cech has been a model of consistency, rarely making errors and helping the club to three Premier League titles. He recovered from a fractured skull sustained in a controversial challenge by Reading’s Stephen Hunt in 2006. Cech instils confidence in what is a solid Chelsea defense, and although he may have fewer saves to make than many goalkeepers, it is a sign of his class and extreme concentration that he is rarely found wanting when called upon. A busier figure on the international stage.

4. Julio Cesar (Brazil & Inter Milan):

Emerged as Brazil's first-choice goalkeeper for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers and the Inter Milan stalwart did not let his country down. Has come back strongly from several high-profile mistakes that blighted him earlier in his career. Together with Buffon, Cesar is considered the best goalkeeper in Serie A.

5. Hugo Lloris (France & Lyon):

Number one for French giants Lyon, Lloris looks to have a promising career ahead of him for club and country. Boasting a long reach and superb reflexes, Lloris is capable of keeping strikers at bay when his team are firmly under the cosh. Previously at Nice, he was signed by Lyon to replace former France international Gregory Coupet. Must improve his decision making.

6. Joe Hart (England & Manchester City):

The least experienced goalkeeper on the list, but Hart has made very few mistakes in his time at Birmingham City and Manchester City. His excellent form on loan at St Andrews in the 2009-10 season led to Shay Given losing his place in the Man City side, and Hart is now England's number one goalkeeper. A superb shot-stopper possessed with calmness and authority.

7. Mark Schwarzer (Australia & Fulham):

This shot-stopper appears to get better with age. Playing behind solid but far from watertight defenses for Australia and Fulham, he is often called into action and rarely lets his side down, with his reflexes remaining sharp despite his advancing years. A calming influence, Schwarzer rose to prominence after joining Middlesbrough from Bradford City in 1997.

8. Tim Howard (US & Everton):

Error prone after joining Manchester United a little too early in his career, the US international has developed into one of the most solid goalkeepers in the Premier League since joining Everton, initially on loan, in 2006. A measure of his progress was a clean sheet against a Spanish side in the 2009 Confederations Cup who had not failed to score in a match since 2007.

9. Samir Handanovic (Slovenia & Udinese):

The 6ft 5in stopper is under contract with Udinese until 2012 but do not be surprised if he joins a bigger club soon. Conceding just four goals in 10 2010 World Cup qualifying matches, Handanovic helps form the spine of the team, with his agility and penalty-saving prowess both valuable assets.

10. Sergio Romero (Argentina & AZ Alkmaar):

Diego Maradona put his faith in the young goalkeeper at the 2010 World Cup and he did not let the Argentina coach down in South Africa. The AZ Alkmaar stopper is quoted as saying that he wishes to move away from the Netherlands into one of Europe’s major leagues.

Responsibilities-

The tactical responsibilities of goalkeepers include:

To keep goal by physically blocking attempted shots with any part of their body. The keeper is permitted to play the ball anywhere on the field, but he may not handle the ball outside the penalty area.
To take free kicks from deep into their own territory and goal kicks.
To organise the team's defenders during defensive set pieces such as free kicks and corners. In the case of free kicks, this includes picking the numbers and the organisation of a defensive man wall. The 'wall' serves to provide a physical obstruction for the incoming ball. Occasionally, goalkeepers may opt to dispense with the wall. Some goalkeepers are also entrusted with the responsibility of picking markers while defending at set pieces.
To pick out crosses and attempted long passes either by punching them clear or collecting them in flight.

Although goalkeepers have special privileges under the laws of the game, they are otherwise subject to the same rules as any other player. Due to the increasing importance of crosses and set pieces that put the ball in the air, the goalkeeper is often the tallest member of the team, and most stand over 183 cm (6 feet) tall in professional competition, with many well-known keepers standing particularly tall at over 193 cm (6 feet, 4 inches).

Goalkeepers in playmaking and attack-

Goalkeepers are not required to stay in the penalty area. They may get involved in play anywhere on the pitch, and it is common for them to act as an additional defender during certain passages of the game. Colombia's René Higuita, France's Fabian Barthez, Mexico's Jorge Campos, and Zimbabwe's Bruce Grobbelaar were notable for their foot skills and their constant play outside the penalty area. Goalkeepers with a long throwing range or accurate long-distance kicks may be able to quickly create attacking positions for a team and generate goal-scoring chances from defensive situations, a tactic known as the long ball.

Some goalkeepers have even scored goals. This most commonly occurs where a goalkeeper has rushed up to the opposite end of the pitch to give his team an attacking advantage in numbers. This rush is risky, as it leaves the goalkeeper's goal undefended. As such, it is normally only done late in a game at set-pieces where the consequences of scoring far outweigh those of conceding a further goal, such as for a team trailing in a knock-out tournament. As goalkeepers are tall, often taller than all the outfield players, they can be successful at connecting with headers.

Though this action rarely succeeds, it is regular enough to have occurred a number of times in professionalDimitar Ivankov, Michelangelo Rampulla, Peter Schmeichel, Mart Poom, Marco Amelia, Andrés Palop, Jens Lehmann, Brad Friedel, Massimo Taibi, Jimmy Glass, Adam Federici, Paul Robinson, Michael Petkovic, Federico Vilar and Mark Crossley. football: goalscoring goalkeepers include

Some goalkeepers, such as Rogério Ceni and José Luis Chilavert, may also be expert set-piece takers. These players may take their team's attacking free kicks and even penalties. Ceni, São Paulo FC's long-time custodian, has scored over 80 goals in his career, more than many outfield players.

In some even rarer situations, goalkeepers have even scored goals unintentionally, when a ball kicked downfield has caught the opposing goalkeeper out of position. Paul Robinson, Jason Matthews, Palatsi, Andrew Lonergan, Dragan Pantelić, "Neco" Martínez, Michael Petković and Pat Jennings are also examples of goalkeepers who have scored under such circumstances. On notable example came in the final of the 2003 CAF African Champions League, in which El Ahly goalkeeper Essam El Hadary created a goal by driving an indirect free kick from near his penalty box into the post of opponent's goal; the ball then hit the back of the goalkeeper and flew into the net.

Records-

The most expensive goalkeeper of all time is currently Gianluigi Buffon (following his €52.29 million transfer to Juventus from Parma), followed by Angelo Peruzzi (€17.9 million from Internazionale to Lazio). The British record is held by Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who signed for Sunderland from Scottish club Heart of Midlothian for £9 million on 7 August 2007.

Goalkeepers are crucial in penalty shoot-outs. The record for most penalties saved in a shoot-out is held by Helmuth Duckadam of FC Steaua Bucureşti and Ciaran Kelly Sligo Rovers F.C . Duckadam defended four consecutive penalties in the European Champions' Cup Final against FC Barcelona, on 7 May 1986. Kelly saved four consecutive penalties in the Ford FAI Cup Final for Sligo Rovers versus Shamrock Rovers on November 14th 2010.

The quickest goal scored by a goalkeeper is Nottingham Forest's Paul Smith after 23 seconds, on 18 September 2007, when Leicester City agreed to give Forest a free goal in the Football League Cup second round after the original tie was abandoned when City's Clive Clarke collapsed at half time when Forest were up 1–0. Forest ended up losing the game 3–2.

A few goalkeepers have become notable at taking set pieces; for example, José Luis Chilavert is the only goalkeeper to score a hat trick (three goals in a game), doing so through penalty kicks. He also was a free kick-expert. Rogério Ceni has scored the highest number of goals for a goalkeeper, having scored 93 times in all competition (as of 29 November 2010) through free kicks and penalty kicks.

source-About.com

FC Barcelona Sport

Followers