Attacking from the Back...

        At the end of every meaningful and important game a peculiar tradition that fuels much hope and blind optimism is that of the goalkeeper joining the attack to push for that important goal. Many times it ends with a goalkeeper frantically retreating to the goal having been no use at all, however in the case of Daniel Aranzubia last Saturday (20th February) the situation was far from that. With his side, Deportivo La Coruña, 1-0 down away at Almería and the game coming to a close Aranzubia took the gamble and joined the rest of his team in the Almería box for the corner. Leaping for the ball Aranzubia nodded the ball in from the edge of the six yard box and in the process became the first goal keeper in La Liga history to score in open play.

     Having seen this I began to think of goalkeepers who were regular goalscorers for their clubs. One player that instantly sprung to mind was Brazilian goalkeeper Rogério Ceni. Having spent his whole career at São Paolo, where he is still playing today, Ceni has scored 95 goals in over 900 appearances. His best goal tally in the Brazilian Serie A came in 2005 when he reached double figures with 10 goals. An amount that many midfielders would be proud of. Despite also taking penalties the majority of his goals come from free kicks which have led him to gaining many records. The most bizzare of which is the record he holds for being São Paolo's all-time leading Copa Libertadores scorer which is quite an outstanding feat.

      Finally, my favourite goalscoring keeper José Luis Chilavert. The now retired Paraguayan goalkeeper scored 63 goals throughout his professional career. Simiar to Ceni, Chilavert also took free kicks and penalties but, unlike the Brazilian, Chilavert managed to score 8 times for his country which to me is an incredible notion. The majority of his goals came at Argentine club Vélez Sársfield where he scored 48 goals in 341 appearances where, in 1999, he became the first goalkeeper in footballng history to score a hatrick during a game against Ferro Carril Oeste. He has also scored goals in Spain, France and Uruguay where he also played. His ability to score outstanding freekicks, including scoring one from his own half, twinned with his eccenticity and fiery temper have made his one of the most reknowned 'keepers of all time.