11.12.2010 11:44

Five great keepers

Berta Brau

Ramallets, Sadurní, Artola, Zubizarreta and Valdés symbolise five generations of Barcelona goalkeepers. They all get on handsomely, and also share mutual admiration.

Keeping goal for Barça has historically been a troublesome job, and few players have managed to hold down the position for prolonged periods. But there are five glorious exceptions to that pattern, and these are the goalkeepers that have made the most all-time apperances for the club, namely Antoni Ramallets (384 matches), Salvador Sadurní (331 matches), Pedro Maria ‘Pello’ Artola (248 matches), Andoni Zubizarreta (410 matches) and Víctor Valdés (381 matches).

Effort and genetics

Many have wondered what the secret is to becoming the regular first choice stopper at Barcelona. Legendary keeper Ramallets provided his own recipe for success: “Looking after yourself and living for your job. Self-discipline, proper diet and most of all, being a sportsman”, said.

Zubizarreta added that “you have to be a passionate number one and understand football from the goal”. Víctor Valdés speaks of “the goalkeeping species” and Sadurní is convinced that “you need that something special, playing for Barça is not the same as playing for other teams”.

From wool to latex

These players lived in very different periods, and spoke about how things have changed over the years. Sadurní remembered how “I had woollen gloves that my mum knitted, and I’d put them on if it rained. But we didn’t usually wear gloves in those days, we used our bare hands. Victor gave me some gloves last year and when I put them on it feels amazing”.

Generation game

“A lot of things have changed since our time”, said Artola, “the clothing has changed. In the old days, if it rained, the shirt was heavy”. After speaking to his predecessors, Valdés said that “they say that they liked sand in the goalmouth those days, but I like there to be grass. A lot has changed, the gloves, the ball, the jerseys. A lot has changed, but I think we have it better now than they did back then.”

Success past and present

Valdés enjoyed the chance to meet his predecessors, but also spoke about the future of this key role in the squad. “I have seen some lads coming up strongly, players that will be defending the Barça goal in the future and that are being trained even better than any of us or the veterans were. They get better with every generation”.