The modern goalkeeper is unrecognizable from their predecessors. They are not just shot-stoppers — they are the first line of the attack, the spare man in build-up, and the sweeper who patrols the space behind the high defensive line. The evolution of the sweeper-keeper has been one of football’s most significant tactical developments of the 21st century.
From Manuel Neuer’s revolutionary interpretation of the role to Ederson’s distribution and Alisson’s composure, the demands on goalkeepers have never been greater — or more complex.
