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Dean Henderson exclusive: Crystal Palace and England goalkeeper reflects on FA Cup Final, psychology of goalkeeping, and more

Whether it's saving spot-kicks, or joining the singalong, Crystal Palace’s number one has become a favourite at Selhurst Park, and knows what it takes to win. If Palace reach the Red Bull Arena for the Europa Conference League final, Dean Henderson will be ready.“I think it’s just togetherness. In my opinion, it is togetherness and confidence that make the group so successful,” he says, speaking exclusively to Goalkeeper.com at Crystal Palace’s training ground, recounting the secret behind previous trophy successes in the EFL Play-Offs and FA Cup. On 27th May, Palace will have another chance to lift silverware against Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League Final. “Obviously, momentum in football is such a big thing, and something I’ve noticed over my career is when things are going well, you’ve got to hold on to that moment and just keep rolling.” He does like a big occasion. The 2025 FA Cup Final was dominated by the England international, with a penalty save helping secure Palace’s superb 1-0 win over Manchester City and their first major trophy in 119 years.The Whitehaven lad, reflective, honest, and humble, may not claim to be the hero on that groundbreaking afternoon for the South London club, but he takes on the power dynamics of a goalkeeper where it really counts. “I woke up that morning, and I thought it was our opportunity to win something. So I had a choice that day to make sure it happened. And that was my mindset from moment one. Make it happen.” When Omar Marmoush took the ball from Erling Haaland, the Palace stopper knew where it was going.  “I knew he would hit it hard, so I thought I had to go early. I’ve seen the ball come towards me – well, I barely saw it, and it bounced off my hand. I am just like ‘Get up, quick. Get up.’ And the noise from behind was insane. That’s when I knew it was going to be our day.” The Crystal Palace goalkeeper is not backward in coming forward, as Guardiola will know. That is a priceless advantage when the nature of goalkeeping is all about filling the net with more than a body. It’s been a long journey and taken a huge amount of self-belief  on the snakes and ladders board that is pyramid football. There’s nothing like being a shooting board for older siblings to cement resilience from the beginning.“I think the earliest memory of goalkeeping was when my two brothers used to go to the park. I was the youngest, so I had to go in the net for their mates, and I enjoyed diving around in the mud and making saves against people older than me.” The 6ft 2in shot-stopper says he enjoyed “breaking hearts” even back then. Henderson has always stood up for himself, He was calling for a starting spot as a teenager on loan at League Two Grimsby, and determined to pursue a starting spot at different clubs. But the hardest step was a half-hour drive away from the Manchester United academy after joining them as a 14-year-old. “I think it would go back to my Stockport loan, to be honest, in the National League North on loan from United. I struggled with that transition period into men’s football in all honesty.” It was a reality check to go through the initiation of  direct football. “I got a rude awakening when I turned up, and the first game didn’t go well. But I think that was the best thing that ever happened to me, because it builds up mental resilience to come back from it. You’ve got to find a way to survive.” Now that the Premier League has become more physical with set-pieces and corners, those early experiences are so valuable now. The running thread through a career was playing above his station in age, from those early days in the park to training with the Carlisle first team at 13. The journey to Wembley (which also includes a penalty save for Shrewsbury in the 2018 League One Play-off Final, and Liverpool in the Community Shield shootout last August) shows a mentality to step up at the business end. The World Cup adventure this summer could bring a different vibe from the internal tribalism of the Premier League roundabout. “It’s a nice change of environment, a different style of play, possession-based”, he says of working with the national team. “We’ve got a good togetherness within the group as well. So, hopefully we can build that up until the summer and see where it takes us.” For all of the statistical analysis and deeper dives into modern 21st-century stat attacks, Henderson does value the original simplicity of his role. “There are a lot of things that don’t need to get so complicated. I think the bread and butter of defending the goal and making saves stays constant”, he explains.For a man who has worked with a plethora of great managers, including Sir Alex Ferguson, it's the value of his relationship with their goalkeeper coach relationship that Henderson deems central to success. “Your goalkeeper department is where you learn the most, especially in terms of different ideas, strategies and positions to take up. “It’s not black and white, especially when you build habits with one coach and then reverse or adapt them with another one who has a different view. It’s all about building connections rather than ‘you’ve got to do it this way’.”Now 29 and, the Englishman is centred by his family, albeit with the same presence of being in the moment. “Family comes first. I’m quite quiet off the pitch, really. As I’ve gotten older, I have become very mellow, very chilled out and just enjoy spending time with the kids, making them smile.”  It’s important to recharge, especially given the intensity that the number one position brings - both physically and psychologically. “I would say that the game is 80 per cent mental, I can tell you that, and I think every other goalkeeper would tell you that”, he states emphatically. With two Guinness World Records to his name and an accomplished track record batting and wicket keeping as a schoolboy, Henderson admits it’s the golf course rather than the crease that he’ll be visiting more often when the time comes to hang up the gloves. But looking backwards, what might he say to his younger self? “I was very young when Manchester United happened, and I wanted it all now. But I’m so grateful. I’ve come across so many goalkeepers who went on trial and have fallen away. I’m in such a fortunate position to be able to sit where I am today. I think you’ve ultimately got to enjoy it, because your career goes so fast.” A life in football is a whirlwind of success, failure, pressure and belief. But, above all, it’s a privilege. Dean Henderson is a man who revels in all of it. 

Tim Ellis · 8 May 2026

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Jake Eastwood Interview: Cambridge goalkeeper behind EFL's best defence on promotion, pressure, and what being a 'proper goalkeeper' means

Cambridge United's promotion-winning goalkeeper discusses defensive records and looking forward to League One football.As Jake Eastwood puts it, Cambridge United’s final day contest against Crewe Alexandra was “a real emotional rollercoaster.”With a team performance that he admits was “horrendous” and his side seeing a penalty saved, the 29-year-old tells Goalkeeper.com that he remembers thinking “this is gonna be one of those days.” Thankfully for him and the U’s, it was a day that would end up living long in the memory for the right reasons, as their goalless draw was enough to see off Salford City to take third place and promotion to League One. It’s also a very different set of circumstances to how both the club and player entered last summer.Eastwood had been sad to leave “a great club” in Grimsby Town which had “one of the best groups of lads I’ve been a part of,” having come close to reaching the Play-Offs in the previous campaign.That made the former Sheffield United man a free agent for the first time in his career, and admits that “It's difficult not knowing where your future lies. You don't know if there is going to be another club.” Even so, he was helped mentally by taking part in the PFA’s pre-season camp. He wasn’t there for long, though, training with Salford before joining up with the U’s. “I went in and trained at Cambridge, and I remember that was a Monday, and then I played in one of their preseason friendlies away at Northampton the following day. Straight after the game, the manager said they'd love to sign me,” Eastwood recalls. We are pleased to announce the signing of Jake Eastwood, who signs with the Club on a one-year deal. ✍️— Cambridge United FC (@CambridgeUtdFC) July 10, 2025 He explains that “it was almost too good to be true” how well of a fit Cambridge was for him. “It's a very strong club for the division, but also somewhere that I know I'll be playing every week, that's a big thing,” he says. “It's a couple of hours away from home, and at the time we were a couple of months away from expecting our first baby, so that meant a lot for me to be in a position where I can get home.”Coming in as part of a squad overhaul after relegation, results have proven that he was also the perfect fit for the club. The 29-year-old finished the campaign with the EFL’s best defensive record having just 33 goals in 46 matches, while he also kept a joint-highest tally of 19 clean sheets.That record “means a lot” to Eastwood and is the result of a career of varying experiences. “I've had plenty of setbacks, injuries, been dropped, sat on the bench. I've not been allowed to go out on loans. I've had the frustrating side of it,” he says.“I've played in a relatively successful team and then I've also not played, but been part of a group, that's achieved promotion, and then another promotion, and then just missed out on Europe in the Premier League. Being able to use all of those experiences this season has been vital.”Even so, he continues: “I've had to figure out how to put it all together and maintain it in performances, because that's only half of the battle because I've still got to do the work on the pitch.”Another important factor was developing an understanding with the defenders in front of him. That includes Kell Watts, who would go on to feature in League Two’s Team of the Season, and his tendency to knee the ball back to his goalkeeper. “At first, I didn't know, and then he started doing it, and the goalkeeper coach said to me ‘he's known for that, so just be ready’,” Eastwood says. “So I can adjust where I start in the goal because if I see the ball bouncing towards Kell, I know I can get quite close to it.”The U's' goalkeeper has also been meeting Neil Harris’ expectation from when he was signed, as the manager referred to him as “a real Cambridge United goalkeeper”. Both player and manager would describe that as being “a proper goalkeeper.”Nobody else we'd want between the sticks. 💪Jake Eastwood is your @GolfGirton Player of the Month for November. pic.twitter.com/sV1lhYb1Ls— Cambridge United FC (@CambridgeUtdFC) December 8, 2025 As Eastwood puts it: “I think that's someone who commands the area and keeps the ball out of the net, and that's it. Catch it and kick it, which is as basic as it comes, but it's brought so much success.”He continues to reminisce on his manager’s instructions at times, saying: “We've had games where he's literally said to me, ‘You get the ball and you kick it as far as you can, and that'll do, because the opposition won't defend properly, and we'll get after them.’”That approach has been paired with the attention to detail of goalkeeper coach Martin Davies, who Eastwood refers to as “one of, if not the best I've worked with at this level.”“If you look at most goalkeepers, if not all professional goalkeepers from Premier League down to League Two, they're all good. Everyone knows how to catch a ball and save a shot, and the positioning is all good enough. The techniques are fine,” he says. “The small details are where you can find improvements. And he's very good at finding the small details and implementing them into your game. I'd say I've come out of this season a better goalkeeper.”He points to home matches against MK Dons and Barnet as examples of his strong performances, even if they both ended in draws. The point earned from each of those turned out to be vital, though, and Eastwood is more focused on maintaining a high level throughout the campaign.“It's been a season where there's been a lot of good performances, but it's hard to pick any standout ones because the results haven't always been on my side,” he declares. “I personally wanted to work on making sure I keep that consistency through the season and I've achieved that, so I'm happy with that.”The Cambridge goalkeeper's performances have also benefited from his work with mental performance coach Jayson Leutwiler. “Being able to take any sort of problems to him or any areas where I need to improve mentally, or what my thoughts might be after I've made a mistake or when I'm doing well, and just keeping on track and keeping a level head throughout the season has been very good,” he shares.Even so, Eastwood can be forgiven for not knowing quite what to think as the final whistle approached against Crewe. “Both sets of fans were cheering, Crewe saying we're staying down, our ones are saying we're going up,” he recalls. “The manager is telling me to hurry up the free-kick, the lads are telling me to slow it down. I'm thinking, ‘I've got no idea what's going on here.’”Proper geezers. pic.twitter.com/meXQQ2I9G1— Cambridge United FC (@CambridgeUtdFC) May 4, 2026 He continues: “Final whistle goes, I just fell to the floor. Just felt sick thinking we've done all this work, and we watched the Rochdale and York match, seeing what happened there, I'm thinking 'Something's going to happen, someone's going to score. We're not going up.'“I was around their goalkeeper Ian Lawlor talking to him, and everyone just sort of runs on the pitch. Our lads were like, 'Oh my God, it's done'. There was a sense of relief but the whole experience, that whole day was overwhelming.”The result means the goalkeeper will now be playing League One football for the first time in his career. “I'm there to sort of prove a point and prove I'm a good goalkeeper, as I had to do last season, whether it be League Two, League One, wherever I'm playing. So that work carries on the same,” he says.After admitting it will be “tougher than this season was” he concludes: “We've got nothing to fear. There are some big clubs, so I'm excited for it.”

Danny Lewis · 6 May 2026

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Jed Steer interview: Aston Villa hero on the Premier League dream, improving with the ball and retiring with 'no regrets'

Steer reflects on the nature of retirement from football and ending a career with 'no regrets.Header image: via Shutterstock Those of us who spend our lives around football but not inside it can develop a keen sense of its internal norms as we see them. Players should conduct themselves in a certain way, following the careers we imagine for them and making the decisions we’d make. We love them when they’re ours and the regard in which they’re held after that depends on whether their choices are acceptable to our absurdly overinflated opinions of what matters. What’s abstract to outsiders is intensely personal for professional players and there’s one daunting career milestone they must deal with that supporters seldom consider. Former Norwich City, Aston Villa and Peterborough United goalkeeper Jed Steer retired from playing at the age of 33, months after coming to an agreement to leave Peterborough a year ahead of schedule. Steer’s departure from London Road revealed a player with his own grasp of the right thing to do. Optimistic by nature but committed to the highest standards, Steer took the end of his career as seriously as any other part of it. “I love training, I love working hard, I love trying to improve every day,” Steer tells Goalkeeper.com. “It just got to a stage where I couldn’t do that. I’d suffered with bad injuries throughout my career and I just couldn’t play or train or prepare the way I wanted to. I didn’t have that same drive to keep improving.Jed Steer has today announced his retirement from professional football 👋In his own words, ‘Three Wembley final wins, promotion to the Premier League and both Achilles ruptured!’ 🤣🏆Congrats, @JedSteer 👏AVFC 📹 @AVFCOfficial pic.twitter.com/DA25MH1XKE— Goalkeeper.com (@goalkeepercom) October 28, 2025 “It became just trying to stay fit, doing the minimum possible before the weekend, and it took a large chunk of the enjoyment out of it for me, mainly because of the physical side and not being able to work every single day to keep improving.” Steer is beloved at Villa Park, where he was employed for a decade but found his time limited by injuries, circumstance and competition in the goalkeeping department. He speaks in glowing terms about Neil Cutler, with whom he worked as Villa’s goalkeeping coach, and former Villa manager Dean Smith. It was under Smith that Steer achieved a career highlight by performing a starring role in the club’s return to the Premier League. It was a case of needs must for Villa but it’s why Steer is held in such esteem by supporters. “So many top footballers don’t play in the Premier League,” says Steer. “I grew up dreaming of playing in the Premier League and I was fortunate to do that. When we got promoted, I signed a new contract at Villa and I was one injury away from playing in the Premier League. “You hope for more opportunities but it wasn’t to be. I have no regrets over trying to challenge myself to go and play in the Premier League. Steer was a young goalkeeper at Norwich when Canaries boss Paul Lambert moved to Villa in 2012 and soon followed him to the West Midlands. The game changed significantly in the years he spent there or on loan with Doncaster Rovers, Yeovil Town, Huddersfield Town, Charlton Athletic, and Luton Town.Find someone who looks at you the way Jed Steer looks at penalty takers Valentine2020 pic.twitter.com/8rTdXTXA13— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 14, 2020 “There was a lot less emphasis on having the ball at your feet when I started out,” he says. “It was more about kicking it long. If there was a short pass on then you did it, but you weren’t playing in the tight spaces and breaking lines like goalkeepers are asked to do now. “It’s an area all goalkeepers had to work on. It depends on the manager you play for and under Dean Smith, when he came into Villa, that’s what he wanted, so that’s what we’d work on with [Cutler]. “I think it became quite a strength of mine. When I moved to Peterborough that was the way Darren Ferguson wanted to play, to build up from the back, and we had the players to do that. “I felt as if I fitted in quite nicely there. When you’ve got players who will take the ball anywhere on the pitch and have confidence in themselves and their ability, our life becomes easier because we can give the ball, they make angles, they move quickly, and they’ll play forward when they can rather than just giving it straight back to you.” Steer is tactically minded, a trait that comes through loud and clear in the media work he does for Villa or for local radio in Norfolk. He credits the managers he played under with infusing him with knowledge almost by osmosis. “Because of the way those teams played, the goalkeeper’s always involved in building the play, so you’re always switched on in analysis meetings and everything you do. “Unai Emery was great to work with. I was injured at the time with him but he was massive on having everyone involved in the squad in the meetings so we all knew how his tactics worked. Dean Smith as well, and Darren Ferguson is a very good tactician who knows how he wants to play.”Relive Jed Steer’s spot-kick heroics that took @AVFCOfficial to Wembley back in 2019! 🤩Congratulations on an excellent career, Jed! 🙌EFL | SkyBetChampionship pic.twitter.com/pN6PYyNvZL— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) October 27, 2025 Already blessed with a sharp eye for the tactical side of the game from the unique perspective of the goalkeeper, Steer is proving an engaging communicator when it comes to offering insight from the gantry too. Stripping complexities in chaos back to meaningful revelations is a balance few pundits manage. Steer brings to his new work the same attitude to improvement that he had as a player, necessarily watching a lot of football and absorbing the strategic angles quite naturally. It’s been a more straightforward switch of focus than it is for some players. “A lot of people really struggle to watch football for a while after they retire but I knew the time was right,” he says. “I was fortunate. At one stage, I wondered if I’d be able to retire on my own terms. It can be difficult when you’re forced to step away from what you love. But I knew the time was right “I had a right blast at it, loved it, achieved what I wanted to achieve. I played in the Premier League. I have no regrets.”

Chris Nee · 13 Apr 2026

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How does Germany produce such good goalkeepers?

Germany has produced generations of great goalkeepers. How do they keep doing it?Which country produces the best footballers in respective positions? Your first thought might go to the preternaturally gifted attackers of Brazil, the bullish but elegant numbers tens of Argentina, or the technically superb midfielders of Spain. A historian might suggest the dribbling wizardry of old school English wingers, while the more defensively minded will plump for the elegant composure and tactical supremacy of Italy’s vaunted centre backs.  When it comes to goalkeepers, nobody quite does it like Germany. From the earliest days of Die Mannschaft’s presence in the international game, their shotstoppers have commanded their area, and in turn, the football world’s respect.  “I think we have always had this idea of Germany as a nation which produces great goalkeepers, because we’ve had people who lead by example” says Uli Hesse, author of Tor! The Story of German Football. “We have players that young people could look up to as an example and say, ‘I want to go in goal’, which is probably not something you would say in Brazil, for example.”  Let’s list off some of those storied names. Manuel Neuer re-defined modern keeping by becoming an auxiliary outfielder, covering huge distances as a sweeper. Before him was the pugnacious Oliver Kahn; the only goalkeeper to win the Golden Ball at a World Cup as Die Mannschaft fell in the Final of the 2002 tournament. Andreas Kopke won the European Championship in 1996 and went on to coach Germany’s goalkeepers under Joachim Low. Game recognizes game ⚽️🧤Bayern Munich legend Oliver Kahn has nothing but praise for Manuel Neuer after his masterful performance against Real Madrid."Der Titan" is still the goalkeeper with the most Bundesliga games (557), with Neuer in second spot chasing his record (543). pic.twitter.com/jqQJp1Ny1i— DW Sports (@dwsports) April 8, 2026 Before him, Harald Schumacher’s challenge on Jerome Battison at the 1982 World Cup may have clouded his legacy, but again, he was a standard bearer. Sepp Maier remains many people’s pick for the greatest German goalkeeper of all time, thanks to his heroics for Bayern and his crucial role in West Germany’s victory in the 1974 World Cup. Crucially, all of these greats have not only been brilliant players, but they have often played with a discernible style and a distinct personality, or in the case of Maier, Kahn, and Neuer, been captains for both their clubs and country.  “Neuer has been inspired by Kahn. Kahn has been inspired by Maier, or maybe Schumacher,” says Frederik Gössling, RB Leipzig’s goalkeeping coach. “Kids want to see idols, they want to see role models. They want to act like them.  “Without idols, that are not only strong goalkeepers, but with personality and a strong character, this is what attracts young kids and brings them to start training and playing a position. I’m really convinced of that.”  Apart from the better known national team goalkeepers of the past few decades, Hesse also points to the trailblazers of early German football in his writing. Heiner Stuhlfauth was widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world in the 1920s, alongside Spain’s Ricardo Zamora. The Nurnberg number one made 20 appearances for the German national team, and was famed for his comfort with the ball at his feet. Of his performance in a friendly victory over Italy in Turin in 1929, Hesse writes: “the crowd yelled he was ‘The Devil’, as his saves began to demoralise the home side.” Heute vor 5⃣8⃣ Jahren verstarb FCN-Torhüterlegende Heiner Stuhlfauth. Du bist bis heute unvergessen. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/nVryw71pYp— 1. FC Nürnberg (@1fcnuernberg) September 12, 2024 Hesse also runs through a list of less heralded goalkeepers, both of foreign origin and native Germans, that have had both a cultural and sporting impact.  “Peter Redkanovic, the Yugoslavian keeper for 1860 Munich was literally a popstar,” Hesse tells Goalkeeper.com. ‘Radi’ as he was known in his adopted homeland, released a record which sold more than 400,000 copies in West Germany in 1965. “He was also amazing with his feet. There’s incredible footage of him dribbling up a snowy, icy field. I guess that was just part of his ‘act’.  “And of course there is also Toni Turek, who was the keeper in the 1954 World Cup win, where so much of German football’s tradition starts.” Turek played the game of his life in the final, as the unfancied West German team overturned their chastening 8-3 group stage defeat at the hands of the brilliant Hungarian side of Ferenc Puskas. Die Mannschaft beat the Marvellous Magyar 3-2 in the final, thanks in part to the Schalke stopper’s heroics. Turek was not even widely viewed as the best goalkeeper in the country at the time, as Bert Trautmann had been ostracized from coach Sepp Herberger’s setup after accepting a lucrative contract in English football, while German football remained staunchly amateur.  These historic and cultural touchpoints demonstrate a reverence for the position that is maybe lacking in other football cultures. A goalkeeper has won the ‘German Footballer of the Year’ award ten times since its introduction in 1960. Maier, Neuer, Kahn, and Schumacher were all multiple time recipients of the prestigious gong, with Borussia Dortmund legend Hans Tillowski and Kopke also earning the honour. In that same window, just three shot-stoppers have scooped the Football Writers Award in English football, with a fourth winner, the German Trautmann, lifting the award in the 1950s.  Michael Gspurning, an Austrian that finished his globe-spanning career playing in the German league system for Schalke and Union Berlin, before spending the best part of a decade as Die Eisernen’s goalkeeper coach suggests that German culture itself does lend something to the needs of playing the position at a high level.  “Germans come from a culture, and an education system, where they’re eager to have a clear structure,” Gspurning tells Goalkeeper.com. 😱 Oliver Kahn reflexes...@FCBayernEN | @OliverKahn | UCL pic.twitter.com/mt1hCf0TKj— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 14, 2022 Does that cultural influence lend itself to a specific style on the pitch? Gössling and Gspurning have slightly diverging opinions in this regard. Both point towards the ‘long block’ technique often preferred by German shot-stoppers, where the goalkeeper either spreads their frame or forms a barrier with their legs to quell advancing attackers in one-on-one situations. Gössling believes however, the difference between nationalities is largely negligible with the influence of international coaching and the integration of different football cultures.  “If you have ten German goalkeepers in the same situation, or ten Italian goalkeepers facing the same scenario, you might find one or two more Germans using their legs,” says the RB Leipzig coach. “And yes, the Italians may go for a parried save instead because of their history of coaching.” Gspurning, however, does still see some differences in the styles of different countries. He refers to Union’s Danish number one, Frederik Ronnow’s catching style as uniquely Danish. Similarly to his compatriot Kasper Schmeichel, the Eisernen keeper cradles the ball against his chest with upturned forearms, rather than cushioning incoming shots or crosses with his palms.  Gspurning suggests that the influence of other popular sports in Germany have had an impact on the country’s keepers. For example, Neuer played handball in his youth, and his spreadeagled approach to one-one-ones has all the hallmarks of a handball keeper.  “I’ve read many studies that say it’s beneficial to have a broad approach to sports at a young age, to not overly specialise. Kids in Germany play football, or tennis, they ski,” says the Austrian. “Why not bring in those techniques from other sports, as long as it’s helpful?” For all of the success of the German gtalent pipeline, the nation is at something of a crossroads. Neuer’s international retirement has opened the door for the next generation to stake their claim, but even beyond the top level, there’s a sense that perhaps the well is running dry.  “Why does it seem there’s a lack of talent? I think the cancellation of the U23 league means a lot of Bundesliga clubs don’t have a competitive youth team,” says Gossling. “That means at the age of 18 you’re forced either to make your way as a number one, which is very tough at that level, or you go on loan, and that comes with all of the challenges you might expect.”  The push for a new youth league by leading figures including Jurgen Klopp and Sami Khedira should improve the pathways. And it’s not like the cupboard is completely bare. Gossling points to Freiburg’s Noah Atabolu, who has nailed down a starting position at perennial top table finishers Freiburg, while Gspurning heralds the development of Stuttgart’s Alexander Nubel. The high level of competition and attacking style of the Bundesliga will always make top level native keepers a premium in German football, it just remains to be seen which of the current crop can carry on the traditions of Neuer, Khan, Maier, Turek, and Stuhlfarth.

Tom Ritchie · 9 Apr 2026

Weekly News Roundup

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The Week In Goalkeeping 41: TWIG #41: Raya foul controversy, bizarre own goal, and more

The top goalkeeper news stories from 3rd May - 10th May 2026.Raya involved in disallowed goal controversySunday's clash between Arsenal and West Ham resulted in a 1-0 win for the Gunners as they moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League table. The win didn't come without controversy. In injury time, VAR ruled out a West Ham equaliser, deeming that David Raya was fouled by West Ham's Pablo from a ball into the box. 🗣️ "There are a lot who aren't fans of VAR, and maybe rightly so, but it could have just made Arsenal champions"Gary Neville believes the decision to overturn West Ham's equaliser against Arsenal is the biggest in Premier League history 📺 pic.twitter.com/1IdTOJZs1B— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 11, 2026 Whilst it's difficult to argue that Raya was not fouled, questions have once again been raised over the consistency of application of VAR. Critics have pointed out similar situations this season where fouls have not been given. The decision and result will likely have a huge impact on the title race and relegation battle.Donnarumma keeps vital clean sheet in title raceLast weekend, Brentford travelled to the Etihad in a game which was simply a must win for the Citizens if they wanted to lift the Premier League trophy at the end of the season. After a frustrating first half, where the score remained 0-0, City flew out of the blocks in the second half to win 3-0, putting the pressure back on Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. Between the sticks came another trademark Gianluigi Donnarumma performance as he kept his 14th league clean sheet of the season and made crucial saves.Petrovic keeps back-to-back clean sheetsAfter keeping a clean sheet against Crystal Palace, Djorde Petrovic had his sights on repeating the same feat against Fulham. Another clean sheet would prove to be vital in Bournemouth’s fairytale bid for Champions League football. Petrovic and his defence prevailed once again, winning the game 1-0, therefore maintaining Bournemouth's Champions League pursuit and extending their unbeaten run to 16. Will Manchester City end Bournemouth’s impressive run next week when they face at the Vitality.Race for Trafford heats upNewcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Manchester City’s James Trafford for a while now, but another Premier League club is said to have entered the race. Aston Villa are now reportedly interest in the English International with Emiliano Martinez linked with a move away from the club for a long time now. After all this speculation, could Trafford remain in Manchester and fight for the sought-after number one spot?Dean Henderson revels in European successCrystal Palace have made the final of the Europa Conference League, winning their Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk as the ticket to Leipzig for the final. One year ago, Palace had never won a trophy in the club’s history and are now on the verge of their third.🦅Dean Henderson 🧤UECL | @CPFC pic.twitter.com/y3LQ2Qby6c— UEFA Conference League (@ConfLeague) May 12, 2026 A player who enjoyed the post-match celebrations as usual was Dean Henderson, whose relationship with the Palace faithful has been a joy to watch since their FA Cup triumph. Henderson was taking in the atmosphere on Thursday, as Palace fans chanted ‘Deano, give us a song, Deano, Deano, give us a song.’ As per usual, Henderson granted their wishes. He’ll be hoping to relive a similar experience on the 27th of May in Leipzig against Rayo Vallecano.Mamardashvili returns from injuryAfter suffering an injury in the Merseyside derby, Giorgi Mamardashvili made his return to the Liverpool side against Chelsea. Freddie Woodman played the games the Georgian was unavailable for; however, it was now time for Mamardashvili to once again contribute towards Liverpool’s Champions League qualification. Liverpool drew the game 1-1, taking another small step towards Europe’s promise land for the third successive season.Finally, we end with Stock RISING & Stock FALLING, where we mark the goalkeepers whose reputation we think has enhanced in the past week, and the goalkeepers who may be refraining from buying a newspaper on Monday morning... P.s. we are goalkeepers. we know what it's like to stand between the posts. All stocks will dip temporarily, and past performance is not an indicator of future success.STOCK RISINGAntonin Kinsky (Tottenham Hotspur)Spurs goalkeeper Kinsky's fortunes have really turned around in recent weeks. Since his reintroduction to the side following Vicario's injury, the young goalkeeper pulled off in the first twenty minutes away at Atletico Madrid has come back fighting. Against Leeds United on Monday night, Kinsky made a fantastic reaction save to deny Sean Longstaff in the 99th minute. The midfielder unleashed a strike at the near post from close range. Kinsky managed to get fingertips to the ball and ensure it clattered off the crossbar and not into the roof of his net.Whatever league Spurs end up in next season, they're going to want to hold on to the 23 year old. STOCK FALLINGTomas Akimenco (Villa San Carlos)The Argentinian third division threw up one of the most bizarre own goals ever seen last weekend. Akimenco started the comedy of errors after putting the ball on the ground to launch it upfield. Dawdling, he took so long that attacker Eugenio Olivera of the opposition crept up from behind to steal the ball. Olivera’s poor cross into the six-yard box shouldn’t have troubled the away team as they had three defenders back, but all of them managed to either miss the ball or get muddled up, ending up in one poking the ball into the back of the net. In the midst of all of this, Akimenco had actually taken out Olivera with an attempted slide tackle. If they hadn't scored, it would have undoubtedly been a penalty. 

Harry Salkeld · 12 May 2026

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The Week In Goalkeeping 40: a 13-game goalkeeper ban, and golden glove season arrives

The top goalkeeper news stories from 26th April - 3rd May 2026.German legend set to sign new contractBayern Munich legend Manuel Neuer is set to extend his current contract at the club despite now being 40 years of age. The German has played 596 games for Bayern, but reports suggest he may take a wage cut for the deal to logistically work. In the meantime, Neuer has a big Champions League semi-final ahead of him on Wednesday at the Allianz Arena as he eyes up a third German treble in his illustrious career.Also at Bayern, youngster Leonard Prescott - who was tipped to make his senior debut aged 16 in the Champions League this season - is rumoured to be in line for a new contract. Prescott's current deal expires in 2027, and Sky has reported that the German giants are keen to extend it. Liverpool to step into the goalkeeper transfer market?Last week, Freddie Woodman started for Liverpool against Crystal Palace and impressed the Anfield faithful. However, due to Alisson’s injury woes and Mamardashvili’s inconsistency this season, the Reds are reportedly exploring the goalkeeper market. One of the names that is linked is James Trafford, who has lacked minutes in the Premier League this season despite playing a significant role in Manchester City’s domestic cup runs. Could Liverpool secure the services of Trafford in the summer? Goalkeeper banned for 13 games following bizarre incidentLast week in LaLiga 2, Real Zaragoza faced SD Huesca in a game where things took an unexpected turn in the last few minutes. There were three red cards in added time, one of which was shown to Real Zaragoza goalkeeper, Esteban Andrada. Andrada was given a red card and then punched an opponent player in the face after receiving the dismissal. Since the game, the league has awarded Andrada a 13-game ban which will continue into next season. A bizarre moment in a bizarre game! Former Monterrey goalkeeper Esteban Andrada lost his mind and punched an opponent in the face after getting sent off. This happened in the derby between Real Zaragoza and Huesca in LaLiga 2. 🤯🇪🇸🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/VHZ7ZNDt7X— All Fútbol MX 🇲🇽 (@AllFutbolMX) April 26, 2026 Manchester United set to sign another goalkeeper?Despite Senne Lammens' success as a Red Devil this season, Manchester United may be looking to swoop the signing of Dortmund goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel. Kobel has also been viewed as a potential successor to Thibaut Courtois at Real Madrid showcasing how sort after he is. The Swiss international has played in Germany for his entire senior career so a new challenge abroad could prove tempting. Carl Rushworth wins Championship golden gloveSaturday marked the final day of the Championship season, with the battle for the golden glove still alive between Coventry’s Carl Rushworth and Ipswich’s Christian Walton. Both sides managed to keep clean sheets as Coventry beat Watford 4-0 and Ipswich defeated QPR 3-0, gaining promotion back to the Premier League. As a result, Rushworth claimed the award with 17 clean sheets to his name. Finally, we end with our new segment, Stock RISING & Stock FALLING, where we mark the goalkeepers whose reputation we think has enhanced in the past week, and the goalkeepers who may be refraining from buying a newspaper on Monday morning...P.s. we are goalkeepers. we know what it's like to stand between the posts. This is just a bit of fun. All stocks will dip temporarily, and past performance is not an indicator of future success ;-). STOCK RISINGGeorge Wickens (Lincoln City)Lincoln City's League One winning goalkeeper George Wickens ended the season with an incredible 103 points, a League One trophy, and the joint-highest number of clean sheets in English football this season. What's more, With four assists, he matched former Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson for the most assists in a season by a goalkeeper in English football. Wickens shares the League One Golden Glove with Filip Marschall for 2025/26. Well in, George - enjoy the summer!With a League One winners medal and now the golden glove award, George Wickens says he has no regrets about joining the Imps.🎧 Hear more on Red Imps Club: https://t.co/6slNmaedzH pic.twitter.com/eSa0JOoTjU— BBC Sport Lincolnshire (@BBCSportLincs) May 3, 2026 STOCK FALLINGEsteban Andrada (Real Zaragoza)Following the aforementioned punch incident in La Liga 2, and Andrada's subsequent 13 game ban, it would be tough not to see the Argentine goalkeeper's stock tumbling this week. Both he and Zaragoza will be subject to financial penalties. It should be noted that Andrada has publicly apologised for the incident. Onwards and upwards. 

Harry Salkeld · 4 May 2026

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