The traditional goalkeeper was a shot-stopper, a player judged on his ability to keep a clean sheet. In the First Division, the predecessor of the Premier League, hoofing it for the long ball was enough to be considered a cultured keeper.
In modern football, however, the keeper is the first outfield player. We think of Modrić, Kroos, and Ødegaard as the playmakers and goalkeepers as an extension of the defensive line. And while he’s certainly that, he’s simultaneously a vital part of build-up play, a defensive organiser, and an option for the defender under pressure. The ‘sweeper keeper’, as he’s called, is a necessity for the top team, not a luxury.
Uncomfortable Truth: The Boring World Cup
Italy 90 is celebrated as one of the vintage World Cups, adored for the brilliance of Maradona, the dancing of Roger Milla, and, of course, Gazza’s tears.
But here’s something that most people forget, or choose to: the 1990 World Cup was a little, well, boring. Much of that can be attributed to the low number of goals per game, a paltry 2.21 (still the record for the lowest average for a World Cup).
The game had slowly adopted a more defensive style, and it could be protected by the back pass. Whenever a player felt a bit of pressure, he always had the outlet of the goalkeeper. It looks strange now, but back then he was allowed to pick up the ball, which slowed the game down immensely.
In the midst of a bit of an identity crisis, the leaders of world football made the wise decision of banning the back pass. It meant that goalkeepers no longer had their cushion, and had to evolve to keep up. Now, play was expected to start with the keeper, a new era in football.
Johan Cruyff, Menzo, and Ajax
Even before the rules changed, Johan Cruyff saw the future. His keeper, Stanley Menzo, was expected to play a long way from goal, taking part in the Ajax style of controlling the ball and the tempo of the game. Following his departure, the club would continue his legacy.
Edwin van der Sar is perhaps one of the first iterations of the modern keeper, equally good on the line as with his feet. Louis van Gaal replaced Menzo with the keeper from Voorhout, and he did not look back. He was known for building attacks using either foot, able to quickly read the passage of play to set up play, but also launch counter-attacks with deadly precision.
The ex-Manchester United goalkeeper was unique in his era, but he would soon become the prototype for the modern version of the position. And the evolution didn’t just come from the keeper, but from the change in how managers approach the game.
Coaching the Modern Goalkeeper
With the evolution of the game and what’s expected from a goalkeeper, so too did we witness a change in elite-level managers. The new style, based on possession, technical ability, and tactical acumen, changed how managers approach positions on the pitch.
The new breed of manager demands much from the modern goalkeeper. Pep Guardiola, Jürgen Klopp, Julian Nagelsmann, and Roberto De Zerbi, all demand a proactive goalkeeper, insisting they are just as comfortable with their feet as they are with their hands.
In their goalkeeper training and preparation, it goes beyond the standard fare of individual training to improve their shot stopping capabilities. Instead, they learn to deal with pressing scenarios, able to quickly distribute play, read the game to start the build-up, and become another outfield player.
All of the top clubs have their goalkeeper as the first playmaker. Neuer built on the definition of the sweeper keeper, Andre Onana, despite his clear deficiencies, is known for his passing ability. Without Unai Simón, Spain would not be able to manage their matches in their uniquely mesmerising way.
The modern goalkeeper is no longer a bystander, on standby until he is called into action. He is an active player, expected to set up a new attacking move, read complex positional situations, and hold the ball under immense pressure from attacking players.
Brilliant goalkeepers from the past, Petr Čech, David Seaman, and Oliver Kahn, all legends of the game, would probably be dropped by a ruthless Guardiola in 2025. It’s no longer 1 keeper and 10 outfield players, but truly 11 v 11.