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5 times outfield players had to play goalkeeper...

Posted by Christopher Smith on

What is it about outfield players having to go in goals that we love so much? Is it so we can laugh at their poor positioning & handling while between the sticks, or do we deep down hope they'll have an absolute blinder. 

Ultimately, it probably stems from the fact that (almost) everyone loves an underdog, and there's no greater example of that than asking an outfielder to put on a professional goalkeeper act.

Earlier this week, PSG's Brazilian right back Dani Alves had to pull on the gloves after the French champion's shot-stopper Kevin Trapp was dismissed. Sadly, it was so late in the game that all Alves had to do was line up a defensive wall for a free kick that didn't threaten.

Alves organising his wall (credit: Reuters)

But that got us thinking of other famous examples of outfielders playing goalie, here's 5 of our favourites...

   

5. Robbie Winters v Rangers (2000)

Robbie Winters had to in goals on one of Scottish football's biggest stages

Aberdeen fans might want to look away now, as this one did not end well. In the 2000 Scottish Cup Final legendary goalkeeper Jim Leighton lasted all of 3 minutes before a heavy collision with Ranger's Rod Wallace saw him unable to continue.

With only 3 substitutes allowed to be named back then, Aberdeen had (perhaps unwisely) neglected to name a backup goalkeeper on their bench. The result of this was all 5 foot & 9 inches of Robbie Winters having to play essentially 90 minutes as a goalkeeper on the biggest stage in Scottish football. 

We'd love to tell you Winters played a blinder, but Rangers took him to task & won the game 4-0 in what equated to a non-contest. Infamously Winters even appeared to cower away from one of the shots he let in, though to be fair it was from Jorg Albertz: who wouldn't want to get out of the way of that!?

    

4. Harry Kane v Asteras Tripolis (2014)

Harry Kane can do no wrong in front of goal it seems. Having recently bagged his 100th Premier League goal v Liverpool from the penalty spot. Put him in between the sticks however, and Kane quickly goes from superstar to an absolute liability.

Fair play to him for giving it a go, but in 2014's match vs Greek side Asteras Tripolis Kane let in the tamest of free kicks after Hugo Lloris had been sent off. 

In his defence, Kane had already scored a hat trick & Spurs were 5-0 up at this point.

    

3. Jan Koller v Bayern Munich (2002)

Koller playing keeper for Dortmund (skip to 1:03)

In a match v German giants Bayern Munich in 2002, the fiery-tempered Jens Lehmann managed to get himself sent off with 23 minutes left in the match. 

Cue the Czech giant Jan Koller (all 6 foot 7 of him) to don the goalkeeper jersey and play... bloody brilliantly. Koller looked assured in goals & was as brave as can be diving on the ball with strikers aplenty inbound. His handling was also extremely impressive; saving a thunderbolt of a strike from Michel Ballack as if it were a gentle headed backpass!

Sadly for Koller, the damage had been done & his Dortmund side lost 2-1. Still, the big target man will always have a clean sheet against Bayern Munich on his records.

     

2. Mladen Petric v Nancy (2006)

Back in 2006 a Europea League tie between FC Basle & French side Nancy was finely poised at 2-2 with only a few minutes of stoppage time left. Suddenly, a quick counter attack put Nancy through on goal & their forward attempted to round the keeper. Franco Contanzo, the Basle keeper, clattered into the Nancy player, giving away a late penalty & receiving a red card as well.

Contanzo gave his jersey to Croatian striker Mladen Petric, before also appearing to give him some expert advice before the penalty was taken. 

The advice clearly worked, as Petric pulled off an outstanding stop, diving low to his left to keep out the powerfully struck penalty. Cue cult hero status at FC Basle for all time! 

     

1. Phil Jagielka v Arsenal (2006)

(Skip to 3:12) 

Long before he ever got a game for England, Phil Jagielka was making a name for himself at Sheffield United as an excellent centre back. However, his versatility was tested against Arsenal in 2006 when keeper Paddy Kenny went down injured with 30 minutes to go & he took a turn in goals.

Jagielka excelled in this match, punching away dangerous crosses & pulling off an excellent close range save from Arsenal's Robin Van Persie. Sheffield United held on for a famous 1-0 victory, with the spectacular winning goal supplied by Hearts' cult hero Christian Nade


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