Biography Of Lev Yashin

LEV YASHIN

Lev Yashin as the “Black Spider” or simply “The Man in Black”, Lev Yashin has a good claim to be considered the greatest goalkeeper the world has ever seen. Sent to work in a munitions factory at the age of 12 he was discovered by Dynamo Moscow playing in goal for the factory team. He joined Dynamo in 1949 but did not establish himself in the first team until 1953 and for a while he was more successful playing in goal for Dynamo’s hockey section. He played the first of his 78 games for the Soviet Union in 1954. and was well established as first choice for the national team by 1956 when Yashin conceded just two goals in the Olympic tournament as the Soviets took gold against a depleted field. After an outstanding performance at the 1958 World Cup where the USSR were quarter –finalists, Yashin anchored his nation to victory in the first edition of the European Championships in 1960 but hampered by a series of concussions was less impressive in the 1962 World Cup. His USSR team reached the final of the 1964 European Championships and the semi-finals of both the 1966 World Cup and 1968 European Championships but his 1956 Olympic victory was his only appearance at the Games. The Soviet Union surprisingly were defeated in the qualifying stages in 1960, 64 and 68. Lev played his entire career with Dynamo Moscow winning five national titles and three Soviet Cups. He was voted European Footballer of the Year in 1963 and remains the only goalkeeper to have won this award. A Recipient of the Olympic Order in Silver in 1986 he was named “Goalkeeper of the Century” by FIFA in 2000.

Biography Of Oliver Kahn

BIOGRAPHY OF OLIVER KAHN

Oliver Kahn is one of the most successful German goalkeepers in recent history.
He is known for his bulky frame, impressive presence in his team's defense and his strength of character to become the leader on the field which separates him from many other great goalkeepers.
Oliver Kahn biography shows him winning eight German Championships, Six German Cups, UEFA Cup in 1996, UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup (both in 2001).
His presence on the field earned him four consecutive UEFA Best European Gaolkeeper awards, Two German Footballer of the Year awards and three IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper awards.
Oliver Kahn biography shows him winning the Golden Ball after the 2002 FIFA World Cup becoming the only goalkeeper in the history of the tournament to do so.
When he was only 6 years old, Oliver Kahn biography shows him joining local youth team Karlsruher SC.
Kahn started playing field before he found out that his skills are a lot better as a goalkeeper.
He trained and moved through the ranks of Karlsruher SC until 1987-88 season when he signed his first professional contract playing a backup keeper behind Alexander Famulla.
His first team debut came on November 27th, 1987 in a 4-0 win against FC Koln.
This was just a taste of playing time for Kahn because the manager Winfried Schafer preferred to have Famulla in the goalkeeper position up until 1990's.
The following years Kahn established his first team place in goal becoming a leader on the team with his strong personality as well as their key player in reaching the 1993-94 UEFA Cup semi finals where they were eliminated.
After great performances for Karlsruher SC, Bayern Munich showed interest in acquiring Oliver Kahn which they did at the beginning of 1994-95 season as a replacement for Raimond Aumann.
Oliver Kahn biography shows that his move to Bayern cost about 4.6 million DM / €2.5 million / $3.5 million, which was also a record transfer for Goalkeeper position at that time.
Biography of Oliver Kahn shows that he was named best Goalkeeper of the Year during his first season with Bayern.
Right away he was established as Bayern Munich starting goalkeeper and would go on to win his first title after defeating Bordeaux in the 1996 UEFA Cup Final.
His first League Championship with Bayern Munich came in 1996-97 season.
Kahn was also named Goalkeeper of the Year this season for the second time in his career.
I think that 1999 Champions League Final against Manchester United is worth mentioning in this Oliver Kahn Biography as it was the biggest and most surprising loss for Bayern in the history of soccer I think.
Bayern Munich had an early lead 1-0 and held on to it until stoppage time.
Anyone watching this game witnessed that anything can happen in the game of soccer.
Bayern Munich lost the match in the last 3 minutes of the stoppage time when Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shook the net twice just minutes before the referee ended the game to steal the 1999 UEFA Champions League title from Bayern Munich and Oliver Kahn.
His first Champions League Title with Bayern Munich came after beating Valencia in the final game of 2001 UEFA Champions League.
Kahn was the key player with his 3 saves after the game ended 1-1 and went to penalties.
After the match Kahn received the UEFA Fair Play Award. He walked up to Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares and attempted to comfort him.
This same year Kahn won the International Cupat Tokyo's National Stadium beating Argentine team Boca Juniors in the final.
Oliver Kahn biography shows a rapid decline during the 2002-03 season with Kahn being at the end of some harsh criticism from the media for letting in some of the easiest goals.
As of 2011, Oliver Kahn biography shows that he is the all time clean sheet leader in the history of Bundesliga, with 197 matches played without conceding a goal.
His last match played in European Competition was against Zenit Saint Petersburg in the UEFA Cup semi-final on May 1st, 2008.
His last Bundesliga match was on May 17th, 2008 in a 4-1 victory against Hertha Berlin.
After 14 years with Bayern Munich Oliver Kahn biography as a professional soccer player comes to an end in a farewell match against Germany XI on September 2nd, 2008.
The match ended 1-1.
Oliver Kahn biography shows that he was called up for the 1994 FIFA World Cup as a back up goalkeeper but would not get a chance to play until June 23th, 1995 when he made his international debut for Germany in a 2-1 win against Switzerland.
He was the reserve goalkeeper when Germany won the 1996 UEFA European Football Championship in England.
History of Oliver Kahn international career shows that he would also be on the bench as a reserve goalkeeper to great German goalie Andreas Kopke during the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
After the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Andreas Kopke announced his retirement from international soccer making room for Oliver Kahn to become Germany's first choice in goal.
Oliver Kahn biography shows that he became the captain of the German squad in 2002.
Kahn had one of his worst international performances during the qualifying rounds of 2002 FIFA World Cup when Germany lost 5-1 against England.
This loss cost Germany a direct qualifying place in the 2002 FIFA World Cup but they would secure their spot in the World Cup after beating Ukraine in the playoff.
Oliver Kahn led Germany to the 2002 FIFA World Cup and although Germany had low expectations for this tournament, they managed to advance all the way to the finals.
Kahn came into the final match against Brazil with a torn ligament in his right ring finger and fumbled a weak shot from Rivaldo allowing an easy tap in for Brazilian Ronaldo.
\Germany lost the final match 2-0 however later on in the interviews Kahn refused to blame his injury for his fumble and his gift of a goal to Ronaldo.
After the tournament was over, Oliver Kahn received the Lev Yashin Award for the best goalkeeper of the tournament conceding only 3 goals, 2 of them in the final match against Brazil.
Oliver Kahn bio shows that he was the first goalkeeper in the history of this competition to also win the Golden Ball for best individual performance after the 2002 FIFA World Cup was over.
Oliver Kahn remained the first choice for Germany during the 2004 UEFA European Football Championship but Germany could not get past the group stage.
After the 2004 UEFA European Championship, Kahn gave up his captaincy to Michael Ballack.
Oliver Kahn biography shows that he lost his number one spot to his longtime competitor Jens Lehmann of Arsenal during the 2006 World Cup.
He still stayed on as a backup keeper for Germany offering full support to his teammate Jens Lehmann.
After getting beaten by Italy during the semi final stage of the tournament, Kahn was given the start for the 3th place against Portugal which Germany won 3-1, he was also the Germany captain after Ballack picked up an injury and could not play.
After this match, Oliver Kahn bio for German National Team comes to an end as he announced his retirement from International soccer.
Kahn made 86 appearances for Germany, including 49 as team captain.
He never won the World Cup title but did finish 2nd in 2002 and 3th in 2006.

Biography Of Peter Schmeichel

PETER SCHMEICHEL

Peter Schmeichel was born in Gladaxe, Denmark on 18 November 1963.
His father, Tolek, was a well-known pianist in Denmark.
Peter Schmeichel played for Hvidovre Idraets Forening, where, in spite of being goalkeeper, he scored seven penalties (he was later to buy the struggling Hvidovre IF), and then had five years at Brondby.
However, it was with Manchester United, whom he joined in August 1991 for £550,000 that he established his reputation as a world-class goalkeeper.
Schemichel's honours under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, included five league championships (1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999), three FA Cups (1994, 1996 & 1999), the League Cup (1992), the UEFA Cup (1992) and the Champions League (1999).
Peter Schmeichel captained Manchester United when they won their 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich in Barcelona. A win, which also gave the club the treble.
Schmeichel was capped for Denmark 128 times, and was part of the Danish side that won Euro 92 in spite of originally not qualifying.
In 1999 Peter Schmeichel joined Sporting Lisbon and they won the Champions League.
He returned to England when he joined Aston Villa in 2001 and then went to Manchester City the following season. However, in 2003, Schmeichel retired from playing, aged 39.
Since then Peter Schmeichel has been a pundit and presenter on television.
In 2001, Peter Schmeichel was awarded the honorary MBE for services to football.
In Strictly Come Dancing, Peter Schmeichel danced with Erin Boag. They improved through the series but were voted off in the seventh show.
Peter's son, Kasper Schmeichel also became a top-class goalkeeper.

Biography Of Petr Cech

PETR CECH

Petr Cech is a goalkeeper for the Czech Republic and Chelsea in the English Premier League. He is easily recognised because of his protective headgear which he has worn for every match he has played in since fracturing his skull in 2006. His acrobatics between the sticks, and his good understanding with the defence, have made him officially the best goalie in the Premier League – setting a club record of 1025 minutes without conceding.
Petr was born on 20th May 1982 in Plzen, Czech Republic. He was born into a poor family who made the most of everything they had – encouraging Petr to push himself at whatever he did. He played as a striker up until he was 10 years old, when he suffered a fall and damaged to his spinal cord. As an impatient youngster, he couldn’t wait until he had fully recovered to play football, so instead opted to go in goal – a position he has stayed in ever since!
Petr worked his way up through the youth teams at Viktoria Plzen in the lower Czech Leagues, before signed professional forms for Blsany. A number of good performances saw him move for £500,000 to Sparta Prague, helping them to compete for the Czech League title with a contribution that included a run of 10 consecutive shut-outs.
After just one season with Sparta, Cech made his big money move to Stade Rennes, costing the French club £5m. He instantly became the Rennes first-team keeper, aged just 21, and was ever-present in his two seasons at Rennes, helping them to finish comfortably in the top half in his first year. With some of Europe’s biggest clubs watching from the sidelines, Petr Cech decided to stay a second season, though only on the condition that he could move in the next summer.
In February 2004, Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri agreed a £10m fee for Petr Cech, with the talented goalkeeper joining the club officially at the end of the season. Cech was initially brought in as the understudy to Carlo Cudicini, but an injury to Carlo saw Petr given his chance in the Premier League, and he has retained the first-team spot ever since.
Jose Mourinho took over in 2005 but saw fit to leave Cech in the first-team, and later claiming that Cech was one of his ‘untouchables’. With Mourinho in charge, Chelsea won two Premier League titles and the FA Cup – Cech became one of the first goalkeepers to keep a clean sheet in new Wembley (Manchester United’s Van der Sar did on the same day).
In October 2006, Petr Cech was knocked unconscious by a dangerous challenge whilst playing against Reading. He was rushed to hospital, with doctors doing all they could to relive a depressed skull fracture. Thankfully, Cech made a full recovery and was back in training within a week, although he couldn’t play competitively because his skull needed time to heal.
Cech was back to his best in January 2007, and helped Chelsea to win the Premier League. The following season, Chelsea finished as runners up in both the Premiership and the Champions League.

Biography Of Gianluigi Buffon

GIANLUIGI BUFFON

Gianluigi "Gigi" Buffon, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI born on January 28, 1978 in Carrara  is an Italian FIFA World Cup-winning goalkeeper who currently plays for Italian Serie A club Juventus F.C. and the Italian national team.
Gianluigi Buffon was born into an athletic family: his mother Maria Stella was a discus thrower, his father Adriano a weightlifter, his two sisters Veronica and Guendalina volleyball players, and his uncle Angelo Masocco a basketball player. He is also a nephew of goalkeeping legend Lorenzo Buffon (a cousin of Gianluigi's grandfather). Buffon is engaged to Czech model Alena Seredova; the couple are expecting a son in February of 2008.
In 1995, at the age of 17, Buffon was signed by Parma A.C. , and made his Serie A debut against A.C. Milan. In his fourth season with the club, he won the UEFA Cup. He transferred from Parma to Juventus F.C. in 2001, for a world-record goalkeeper's fee of around £32 million. In 2003, he received the UEFA Most Valuable Player and Best Goalkeeper awards, and was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004. During the annual Luigi Berlusconi Trophy match against Milan in August 2005, Buffon collided with Milan midfielder Kaká while chasing a loose ball, and suffered a dislocated shoulder that required surgery. His operation was successful and he returned to the pitch in November, but played only once as another injury returned him to the sidelines until January. He recovered in time to help lead Juventus to their second consecutive Scudetto and his fourth overall with the club.
On May 12, 2006, Buffon, along with former Juventus goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti and many other players, were implicated as participants in illegal betting on Serie A matches while with Parma. The following day, he voluntarily allowed himself to be questioned by Turin magistrates in an attempt to clear his name. While admitting that he did bet on sports (until regulations went into effect in late 2005, banning players from doing so), he vehemently denied placing wagers on Italian football matches. Fears arose that he had jeopardized his chance of playing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but he was officially named Italy's starting goalkeeper on May 15. The players were cleared of all charges by the FIGC on June 27, 2007.
Juventus were relegated to Serie B on July 14, 2006, and deducted thirty points as part of the verdict of the Italian match-fixing scandal; the deduction was later reduced to 17 and then to 9 under appeal, but their last two Scudetti were erased from the record books. Rumors about a transfer for Buffon subsequently spread, and many teams became interested in his services. However, no deals ever materialized as Buffon elected to remain with Juventus; his agent said, "Serie B is a division he has never won and he wants to try to do this." A.C. Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani stated in April 2007 that Buffon's decision to stay proved a catalyst in re-signing incumbent Dida.
After Juventus won the Cadetti and were promoted back into the top flight, Buffon signed a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2012.
On September 21, 2007, Football Italia reported that Buffon nearly signed with A.S. Roma in 2001 following his departure from Parma, but team president Franco Sensi instead opted for Atalanta B.C. keeper Ivan Pelizzoli, who averaged less than fifteen appearances in five seasons with Roma. Buffon also claimed that he wouldn't have signed with Roma had he left Juventus in 2006. “That was never a possibility really...I don’t think that Roma had the finances to make an investment of such a nature.”
Buffon was awarded his first cap for Italy when he was only 19 years old, as an injury replacement for Gianluca Pagliuca during a 1998 FIFA World Cup play-off against Russia. He was called up for the 1998 World Cup finals, but did not play a single game as Pagliuca remained first choice. He was a member of the Italy squad at the 1996 Summer Olympics, the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.
He kept seven clean sheets in addition to a 453-minute scoreless streak during the 2006 World Cup finals; the only goals conceded were an own goal from teammate Cristian Zaccardo against the United States, and a Zinedine Zidane penalty in the final against France, which ended scoreless in extra time and led to a penalty shootout in which neither Buffon or Fabien Barthez could make a save. The lone miss was David Trezeguet's effort that clanged off the bottom of the crossbar and failed to cross the line, which enabled Italy to emerge victorious. Buffon received the Yashin Award for his accomplishments throughout the competition.

Biography Of Iker Casillas

IKER CASILLAS

Iker Casillas Fernandez (born May 20, 1981 in Mastoles, Madrid) is a Spanish football goalkeeper. He is currently the first choice goalkeeper for Real Madrid and the Spanish national team. He is also the first vice-captain of Spain.
Still only a youngster in goalkeeping terms, Iker Casillas has nonetheless gained a huge reputation in European football. A shot-stopper par excellence, the Real Madrid player is gradually developing the commanding presence in his area which could yet see him become an all-time great.
Because he was too young to have a driver’s license, Casillas was the only Madrid player to use public transport to get to training sessions in the 1999/00 season.
He is currently dating Spanish model Eva Gonzalez. She comes from Seville and has appeared in TV programmes and done numerous photo shoots for magazines. She was recently voted the prettiest footballers’ partner in Spain.
Born in Madrid in 1981, Casillas’ entire career has been spent with his hometown club Real Madrid, which he joined as an eight-year old. He first hit the limelight at 17 when he was pulled out of a high school art class to be told he would be on the bench for a Champions League match. His breakthrough came during the 1999-2000 season, when he replaced the injured Bodo Illgner and played in Madrid’s UEFA Champions League triumph in an all-Spanish final against Valencia CF where his senior team mates Raúl González, Fernando Morientes and Steve McManaman scored in a 3-0 win.
Loss of form subsequently allowed Ceasar Sanchez to take the starting position as goalkeeper, but Casillas reclaimed the limelight after coming on as substitute for the veteran in the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final against Bayer Leverkusen and preserving Madrid’s 2-1 lead with a series of fine saves.Casillas came on to replace the injured Cesar with 22 minutes remaining at Hampden Park and produced a series of outstanding saves to ensure Real held on to their lead. At one point Leverkusen appeared to be queuing up to score but Casillas was at his best, his efforts to deny Yildiray Basturk and Dimitar Berbatov particularly brilliant.
Again the Real Madrid first choice in the 2002-03 season, an injury-free season saw Casillas play in 15 of his side’s Champions League games as well as all 38 Primera Division matches as Madrid reclaimed the Spanish championship. In the 2003-04 season, Casillas was virtually ever-present as Madrid relinquished their crown and lost the Spanish Cup final, missing just one league game.
Despite Casillas’ stellar performances every week, Real Madrid suffered two trophyless seasons in the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons. Although Casillas was widely considered the team’s most consistent performer during this lean patch, there was much gossip and speculation regarding a possible transfer to another club. Manchester United was the name that regularly cropped up in newspapers. It was speculated that Casillas was unhappy with his salary, which was paltry in comparison to the amounts earned by some of the team’s bigger stars. However, the saga ended when the player signed a contract extension on the November 30, 2005, tying him to the club till 2011.
Casillas was a member of the Spanish teams which won the UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup and FIFA World Youth Championship in 1999. Following his full international debut against Sweden, Casillas was an unused substitute at Euro 2000.
He was the first choice goalkeeper at the 2002 FIFA World Cup held in South Korea and Japan later that year, and enjoyed hero status after Spain knocked out the Republic of Ireland in a penalty shoot-out to advance to the quarter-finals. Before the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he was almost unknown to most football fans because he was only a substitute player. After the FIFA World Cup and his performances against the Republic of Ireland and South Korea, he was finally the leading goal keeper in the national team.
Casillas played in all eight Group 6 fixtures during Euro 2004 qualifying, conceding just four goals. He then kept goal in both legs of the play-off victory against Norway, keeping a clean sheet in Oslo. He then backstopped his country at the Euro 2004 finals.
Casillas was his country’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Biography Of Edwin Van Der Sar

EDWIN VAN DER SAR

Edwin Van der Sar was born on October 29,1970 in Voorhout,Netherlands.He is a Dutch retired footballer.He played for Club like Ajax,Juventus,Fulham,and Manchester United as a Goalkeeper.He is one of the greatest player in the history of International team of Netherlands.Currently he is interested in coaching.He moved to Italian club named Juventus and then went to England.He won UEFA Champions League while staying in Ajax in 1995 and Manchester United in 2008.He was one of the finest great footballer in the world.In UEFA mathces he named as Man of the match.He winner of UEFA Cup in 1992.After that he scored many goals,won gold medals and trophies.He also made some records in the history.He has won biggest titles like Best European Goalkeeper and UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year 2009.He started his career from a hometown club named Foreholte and after that he moved to VV Noordwijk.In 1999,He got fame in Manchester United and named the best goalkeeper.In 2001 Edwin Van der Sar signed a 4 years contract with Fulham.In 2005 he signed for Manchester United.The team manager Sir Alex Ferguson really appreciated his work and skills.He impressed manager with his brilliant performance.In a Radio interview Edwin Van der Sar announced and talked about his retirement from International Football Euro 2008.His wife name is Annemarie Van Kesteren.The get married at the Beurs Van Berlage in Amsterdam on 2006.They have two children.The son name is Joe and daughter name is Lynn.