We've heard of some weird pre-game rituals among professional footballers. There's Kolo Toure, who had to be the last player to leave the locker room at Arsenal. There's Thibaut Courtois, who takes a picture of himself on the toilet and sends it to four friends in Belgium before every match. But Roman Burki's pre-game ritual might be the most entertaining to watch.
With only three matches remaining in the regular season, the Seattle Sounders are looking to gain a bit of momentum heading into the 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs — the same formula that saw them lift the 2016 MLS Cup. Seattle has dropped only one of their past 13 games, but they’ve also drawn five over that period.
The list for the players with the most official appearances in the history of soccer stretches from players who played in the 1940s to the present day. Goalkeepers like Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon have both entered the top 20, but there are still many players ahead of the two active legends.
According to Footballdatabase.eu, English goalkeeper Peter Shilton has accumulated the most official appearances with 1,390.
There’s a fine line between great goalkeeping and bad shooting. ADO Den Haag and Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper Roy Kortsmit toed that line on Saturday. Four times Den Haag sent shots toward Kortsmit’s goal, four times the Dutch keeper knocked the shot away, a Kortsmit quadruple save.
But was it great goalkeeping or poor shooting? Both? Neither? Decide for yourself.
Bayern Munich goalkeeper and Germany No. 1 Manuel Neuer is out until January after undergoing foot surgery recently. While Neuer is considered one of the best goalies in the world, most assumed Bayern would have the strength and depth to maintain its high standars without him. That was until a Sven Ulreich howler cost the German giants two points on Friday.
Goalkeeper assists are an extremely rare commodity. In fact, in the history of the Premier League, goalkeepers have registered less than 60 assists in total. While keepers can play wonderful roles in the buildup to goals (see Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen), it’s uncommon to see a goal scored directly after the goalie relinquishes possession.
Bayern Munich will be without the best goalkeeper in the world until at least January 2018 after Manuel Neuer underwent surgery for a broken foot earlier this week.
Update: @Manuel_Neuer has suffered a hairline metatarsal fracture in his left foot & has had successful surgery.
Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper Roy Kortsmit had to work a bit of overtime on Friday night. After a questionable penalty was awarded to AZ Alkmaar, Kortsmit saved it not once but twice.
Although it’s easy to see why the referee called for a foul in the box, slow-motion replay shows Sparta defender Sheral Floranus poked the ball away before taking down Thomas Ouwejan.