It’s not uncommon for young footballers to start their careers outfield, on the wing or up front and eventually fall back down the pitch based on their ability – eventually moving into goal. This is why you’ll find a select few goalkeepers who actually have a good technical ability with sound distribution skills. In fact, in today’s game with more focus on technical ability it’s very important for goalkeepers to be comfortable with the ball at their feet and be capable of picking a long or short range pass. Here are some goalkeepers that started their career out of the goal posts!
Jose Manuel Pinto
Pinto has been known for a while for playing second fiddle at Barcelona, but who can complain with that? He has since left Barcelona but it’s not a well-known fact that Pinto started his playing career in defensive midfield. That might explain the goalkeepers smooth skills in this important match against El Classico rivals Real Madrid.
Joe Hart
Joe Hart was once a young man who wanted to be the next Alan Shearer. Obviously that didn’t work out, and now he’s just England number one and two time Premier League champion, I suppose that’s alright! We know Joe Hart likes to go a bit crazy sometimes when City or England score which may have spawned from his days scoring goals as a striker! We can see he likes to get stuck in the action here with a header that nearly went in…
Pepe Reina
Pepe Reina isn’t your typical lanky goalkeepers who provides intimidation the very second opponents look at him but he is quite a funny guy, and good with the ball at his feet. Reina started his career playing up front and was eventually moved back into goal. Despite his lack in height he does make up for it with quick reflexes and ability to pounce around the goal. He is well known for his composure with the ball at his feet and his quality distribution, something which Liverpool sorely miss. He is Reina pulling off a pretty neat trick against his Spanish compatriot Jose Enrique.
Peter Schmeichel
Not only a great goalkeepers but pretty mad too. Peter was prone to coming off his line at unexpected times and getting straight into the action which probably put a lot of strikers off! Sir Alex Ferguson was keen to rush The Great Dane up the pitch when the score was level and United needed a goal in ‘Fergie Time’. Check out this quality over head from Schmeichel.
John O’Shea
This last pick may come as a surprise because as we all know John O’Shea isn’t a goalkeeper. However, he has technically played there! We all know O’Shea as Mr. Versatility. Under Fergie he played in every position under the sun and always did a stellar job. There however was that one time that he had to truly live up to his reputation of being versatile. Against Tottenham, Man United were forced to switch a player in goal and up steps John O’Shea. He didn’t have to pull off too much, but to this day it’s still odd to watch!
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