Soccer is a challenging game to play, with each position presenting its own challenges. That being said, though, some positions are much more demanding and place a high level of pressure on the player or players playing there. So, let’s look at the hardest position in soccer and why this is the case.
Goalkeeper is the hardest position in soccer. They face intense pressure not to make a mistake, as any goal conceded makes the game harder to win. They also only have one or two chances to make their mark in the game, which raises the stakes. Goalkeepers don’t receive much recognition or praise.
There are multiple reasons why it is so tough being a goalkeeper. Beyond the pressure they face, they are expected to perform many challenging tasks and are often not recognized in individual awards. So, let’s see why this is the hardest position in soccer.
Table of Contents
- Why Is Goalkeeper The Hardest Position In Soccer?
- Hard Tasks Soccer Goalkeepers Must Do
- Accolades And Awards Received By Soccer Goalkeepers
- Conclusion:
Why Is Goalkeeper The Hardest Position In Soccer?
Goalkeeper is the hardest position in soccer because of the pressure placed on goalkeepers. They’re the only thing standing between the opposition team and the goal. We all know goals win games, making their contributions crucial. If they mess up, it has a massive impact on the game.
Unlike strikers, goalkeepers are often given few opportunities to make their mark on the game, meaning they need to get it right every time.
This is made even more complicated because they often only have split seconds to react to a shot, which is often flying towards them at a rapid speed, meaning they need to have lightning-fast reflexes and great bravery.
What Do The Stats Say?
For example, a penalty in a professional soccer match usually flies toward the goalkeeper at around 70 miles per hour. Given that the penalty spot is at least 10 yards (9.15m) away from the goalkeeper, the ball can reach the keeper in under half a second. This is 10 percent quicker than it takes a 90mph baseball fastball to reach the batter on the home run plate.
The reality is different for other positions. Strikers often get multiple opportunities to score a goal. In the Premier League, in the 2022/23 season, ten players averaged over three shots every match (at the time of writing), with the Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez taking, on average, 5.68 shots per game. This shows how many opportunities forwards get to make their mark.
In comparison, the goalkeepers for Arsenal and Manchester City, the top two teams in the Premier League, typically face around three shots on target per match. Some of these shots might be ones straight at them that are weak and easy to save.
As you can see, they might only have to make one or two top-quality saves per game. While it is better than facing a high volume of shots, it doesn’t give them much chance to impact the game, making every single contribution of theirs vital.
Hard Tasks Soccer Goalkeepers Must Do
Part of the reason goalkeeper is the hardest position in soccer is because of the number of tasks goalkeepers are expected to perform at a high level.
- Goalkeepers Have To Pass Well
- Goalkeepers Have To Claim Crosses
- Goalkeepers Have To Sweep Up Behind Their Defence
Throw in these tasks, with the intense pressure placed on them, and you can see why the position is so challenging.
In particular, modern goalkeepers are expected to be complete players and adept in various aspects of the game rather than just being good shot-stoppers. While saving shots is still the main job for keepers, there are other things they are now required to be good at.
It is important to note that no goalkeeper will be the best at all of these tasks, but what is essential is that they can perform all of them to a high level while still keeping shots out of the goal. Top goalkeepers often perform two of these tasks at an exceptional level while being above average in the third.
Goalkeepers Have To Pass Well
In high-level teams, goalkeepers are expected to be an 11th outfield player and be able to be the starting point for attacking plays. Coaches increasingly involve their goalkeepers in possession and require them to play pinpoint passes rather than just hoofing the ball upfield.
While this isn’t necessarily a requirement at youth levels yet, it will likely become more critical as more and more teams expect their goalkeeper to be as comfortable on the ball as the other outfield players.
Goalkeepers Have To Claim Crosses
A goalkeeper who can command their box is highly sought after. Not only does the ability to claim crosses actively prevent goalscoring opportunities, but it also increases the level of trust defenders have in their keepers.
If they know their keeper is happy to claim crosses, they can be much more comfortable defending in their box, as they know they have an extra helping hand.
Goalkeepers Have To Sweep Up Behind Their Defence
As pressing becomes more ingrained in many soccer teams, teams (particularly top teams) have begun to play high defensive lines. This is where their defensive line occupies the area around the halfway line to reduce the amount of space the opposition team has to play in, which makes pressing easier.
As a result, though, there is a large amount of open space between the goal and the defensive line, which presents an opportunity for the attacking team to play passes into this space that their pacey forwards can run onto. To try to reduce this threat, goalkeepers are expected to be able to quickly rush out of their boxes to clear the ball and prevent the opposition forward from reaching the pass.
But this is a challenging task, as it requires goalkeepers to have a good starting position, be quick off their line, and know when to rush out or drop back into their goal to prepare to make the save. This all has to be done quickly, making it a challenging task to do at a high level consistently.
Accolades And Awards Received By Soccer Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers are one of the most overlooked positions in soccer. Their contributions are vital, and they often win their team’s games singlehandedly (see Thibaut Courtois in the 2022 Champions League final). But because goals technically win games, their attacking colleagues almost always get all the praise.
This means that goalkeepers are only sometimes considered for individual awards, like player of the season trophies or the Ballon d’Or. In fact, only one goalkeeper has ever won the Ballon d’Or. This honor is held by Soviet shot-stopper Lev Yashin who claimed the award in 1963.
Thanks to his legendary abilities, Yashin, who was known as the “Black Spider,” is regarded by some as the greatest goalkeeper of all time. Whether or not that is the case, he pioneered the concept of a “sweeper keeper,” a goalkeeper who is quick off their line and able to claim the ball under intense pressure.
This is a similar case when it comes to the Premier League Player of the Season. Since the first award was handed out in 1995, only one goalkeeper has won it. This was the legendary Manchester United Keeper who was given the award for his performances in the 1995-96 Premier League season.
Conclusion:
Playing goalkeeper can be tough, but some people are better suited to it than others. Tall and slow soccer players can be more naturally suited to being goalkeepers than other people. Check out our articles on the best positions for tall soccer players and the best positions for slow soccer players.
