da blaze casino： It's extremely rare to see an outfielder step in between the sticks – but emergency shot-stoppers always bring box-office entertainment
da spicy bet： Goalkeepers have the toughest job in football. As the last line of defence, they are trusted to win one-on-one battles against strikers, save penalties, and pluck crosses out of the air, while maintaining the highest possible level of concentration for a full 90 minutes.
A gravity-defying save can turn them into an instant hero, but it only takes one mistake or lapse in judgement for their status to change to villain. The very best shot-stoppers have to be able to cope with that pressure and transmit confidence to the rest of their backline.
That is why any outfield player with the courage to don goalkeeper gloves when their team has no other options has to be commended. It doesn't happen often, but sometimes managers do not have a back-up shot-stopper on the bench to step in after their No.1 picks up an injury or a red card.
A number of top players have put themselves forward in those cases and performed admirably in an alien role, while others have looked completely out of their depth – but all of them should be celebrated.
As such, GOAL is here to run down the top 10 outfield players to fill in between the sticks, starting with a former Arsenal and Chelsea favourite…
GettyOlivier Giroud – AC Milan (2023)
AC Milan stayed on top of the early 2023-24 Serie A standings after a smash-and-grab victory at Genoa, which saw United States star Christian Pulisic grab the winning goal in the 87th minute.
It was his former Chelsea team-mate Giroud that stole all the headlines, though, as the World Cup-winner went in goal after Mike Maignan was sent off deep into stoppage-time.
Giroud, who had initially been introduced as a second-half substitute, put on Maignan's No.16 shirt with his mismatched No.9 shorts and made sure that Milan held on for a clean sheet. He produced a brilliant flying save to deny George Puscas as he raced through on goal for Genoa in the dying seconds, and was subsequently mobbed by his team-mates.
Incredibly, Serie A included Giroud as a goalkeeper in their Team of the Week, and Milan made special No.9 goalkeeping jerseys available to supporters as a tribute to their fearless Frenchman.
AdvertisementGettyKyle Walker – Man City (2019)
Walker volunteered to mind the net for Manchester City after Claudio Bravo became the first substitute goalkeeper to receive a red card in Champions League history – having come on at half-time for Ederson in their group-stage clash with Atalanta.
The England full-back only made one save, but that was more than Bravo or Ederson managed in the game, which eventually ended in a 1-1 draw as Walker was congratulated by City boss Pep Guardiola after the game.
GettyPele – Santos (1964)
Brazil icon Pele is widely regarded as one of the best footballers to ever grace a pitch, but he was also pretty handy in goal. After scoring a hat-trick for Santos in the second leg of their Taca Brasil semi-final clash against Gremio, Pele went in the net for the final six minutes of the match after first-choice 'keeper Gilmar was sent off.
His performance was summed up by team-mate Pepe, who also scored in Santos' 4-3 victory. "He [Pele] was a great goalkeeper," he said. "Lithe, as if he could fly."
GettyRio Ferdinand – Man Utd (2008)
Portsmouth shocked the football world with their unlikely run to FA Cup glory in 2007-08, which included a dramatic 1-0 win over Manchester United in their quarter-final tie at Old Trafford.
The defining moment in the game came when Tomasz Kuszczak, who had come on for Edwin van der Sar at the interval, was shown a red card for taking out Milan Baros 12 minutes from time.
Ferdinand gallantly filled in to face Sully Muntari from the penalty spot and dived the right way, but failed to keep out the Portsmouth star's powerful effort – despite the ball sitting up at a nice height.