The Love Of Goalkeeping

'The ever-readable Wilson explores the psychological pressures of being cast in the role of the scapegoat ... Thought-provoking and full of interesting detail ... this book scores on every level' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY Aloof, solitary, impassive, the crack goalie is followed in the streets by entranced small boys. He vies with the matador and the flying aces, an object of thrilled adulation. He is the lone eagle, the man of mystery, the last defender' Vladimir Nabokov Albert Camus, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Pope John Paul II, Julian Barnes and not forgetting Nabokov himself ... it's safe to say the position of goalkeeper has over the years attracted a different sort of character than your average footballer. In this first-ever cultural history of the 'loner' between the posts, Jonathan Wilson traces the sometimes dangerous intellectual and literary preoccupations of the keeper, and looks at how the position has secured a certain existential cool. He travels to the Bassa region of Cameroon, which has produced two of Africa's greatest keepers, and also to Romania to talk to Helmuth Duckadam, who saved four penalties for Steaua Bucharest in the 1986 European Cup final. His absorbing tactical and technical insights into football history even take us back to the days when matches were contested without a man between the sticks. THE OUTSIDER is the definitive account of that most mysterious of footballing personalities - the goalkeeper.

This book by French National Team Goalkeeper Coach Christian Puxel and French National Goalkeeping Coaches Academy Chairman Jean-Marie Lawniczak is an outstanding technical handbook for goalkeepers and coaches at every level. Included are discussions, drills and competitive games for developing all aspects of goalkeeper technique: Movements; Catching; Diving; Reducing Shooting Angles; Distribution.

This book was written by a goalkeeper for goalkeepers. It comprehensively covers all of the skills, responsibilities, and equipment that provide the foundation for goalkeeping excellence at all levels and ages. During my own career, I won many awardsfrom Outstanding Goalkeeper to the most respected award of all, Fairest and Best. I was awarded the latter whilst playing in the highly competitive, Western Australian under 21s Youth League. I have trained under some of the best coaches in the country, including former Australian Socceroos (national) coach Frank Schaeffer. What you will read here is a combination of my own experience and comprehensive research on all of the aspects that make up a goalkeeper par excellence. There is much more to goalkeeping than that exhilarating fingertip save that brings a crowd to their feet in applause. The art of goalkeeping requires a broad set of skills and the equipment to match, to take you from being just good, to outstanding. This book is designed to get you there. It contains both reference material and detailed how-to instructions to help you become the best you can be. I do hope that you enjoy reading it and get as much out of it as I did writing it.

Discusses the major components of goalkeeping skills, including ball handling, positioning, and dealing with crosses, and provides training drills to improve match performance.

WINNER OF THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR WINNER OF THE BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS FOOTBALL BOOK OF THE YEAR Why does an international footballer with the world at his feet decide to take his own life? On 10 November 2009 the German national goalkeeper, Robert Enke, stepped in front of a passing train. He was thirty-two years old and a devoted husband and father. Enke had played for a string of Europe's top clubs, including Barcelona and Jose Mourinho's Benfica and was destined to become his country's first choice in goal for years to come. But beneath the veneer of success, Enke battled with crippling depression. Award-winning writer Ronald Reng pieces together the puzzle of his friend's life, shedding valuable light on the crushing pressures endured by professional sportsmen and on life at the top clubs. At its heart, Enke's tragedy is a universal story of a man struggling against his demons. ‘It should be on every British football fan's reading list’ Metro

This book was written by a goalkeeper for goalkeepers. It comprehensively covers all of the skills, responsibilities, and equipment that provide the foundation for goalkeeping excellence at all levels and ages. During my own career, I won many awards-from Outstanding Goalkeeper to the most respected award of all, Fairest and Best. I was awarded the latter whilst playing in the highly competitive, Western Australian under 21's Youth League. I have trained under some of the best coaches in the country, including former Australian Socceroos (national) coach Frank Schaeffer. What you will read here is a combination of my own experience and comprehensive research on all of the aspects that make up a goalkeeper par excellence. There is much more to goalkeeping than that exhilarating fingertip save that brings a crowd to their feet in applause. The art of goalkeeping requires a broad set of skills and the equipment to match, to take you from being just good, to outstanding. This book is designed to get you there. It contains both reference material and detailed how-to instructions to help you become the best you can be. I do hope that you enjoy reading it and get as much out of it as I did writing it.

BBC sports presenter Mark Chapman is no longer in his physical prime. There is an argument to suggest he has never been in his physical prime. Now in his forties, he is facing a world of knee replacements and ever-expanding waistlines, whilst his children are thriving. There is huge pride that they are doing so well, mixed with a fair amount of jealousy that actually they are better at a wide range of sport than he ever was. He is passionate about sport and it has played a huge part in his life. His parents encouraged him from a very early age and he wants to pass the baton on to his son and daughters. Although there is every chance he might drop it and have a massive strop instead. He is also very aware of the huge changes in sport today compared to when he was growing up; and he is determined that his own attitude to his son and daughters' sport - be it football, netball, cricket or gymnastics - will be exactly the same. And he wants to shine a light on grass roots sports - the incredible and largely unsung contribution that volunteers make in the sporting commnity, without whom - for example - no professional footballer would be in the game today. Funny, touching, passionate about sport and parenthood, Mark Chapman paints sport as a touchstone for everything important: growing up, becoming a parent, enjoying family time, getting old, learning how to win (and how to lose gracefully), the legacy we all hope to leave our children; in short, life and all that goes into it.