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There are many atrtributes that go into making a top quality goalkeeper. Some of these include:

- Physical attributes (height and agility). The goalposts are 8 feet high and 24 feet across, so it's quite rare to find a top level goalie who's under 6 foot. Agility is required as keepers have to fling themselves to either side to block shots, and sometimes will need to react to deflections that cause the ball to change direction.

Bravery. Goalies have to be prepared to throw themselves at the feet of forwards to block shots, and to take knocks when they come for crosses. To illustrate this, the Chelsea goalkeeper, Peter Cech, suffered a depressed fracture of his skull and now has to wear a protective headguard.

Anticipation. Opposition teams will try to thread balls past the centre backs for pacey forwards to run onto. A goalkeeper who is able to read these attacks and come out to deal with them will save his team many goals over the course of a season.

Vision. Top goalkeepers will instigate counter attacks, either by quickly throwing the ball out to a team-mate or by kicking it towards the forwards. Goalkeepers are often the first link in an attack.

Ball control with feet. The ability to control the ball with their feet has become increasingly important too. In the old days goalkeepers could pick up back passes from their defenders. Since this was banned, their ability with the ball at their feet has increased in importance.

Composure and decision making. Goalkeepers need to know the right minute to come for a cross or alternatively to stay on their line. Mistakes made tend to prove very costly and many a talented goalkeeper has had their career and reputation damaged by high profile mistakes. Often these mistakes come down to errors in judgement rather than a lack of technical ability.

A combination of all these skills and attributes will go a long way towards making an exceptional goalie. I guess the other thing that's needed (for any position) is a lot of hard work on the training ground.

Learn more about this author, Simon Wright.
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