Geography: Where are Goalkeepers from?

Soccer is played around the world and there are goalkeepers wherever it is played. The position has been around since the start of soccer and it is always needed. Never will someone find a formally sanctioned game of soccer without a goalkeeper (Goalkeeping).

Soccer, as a sport, is most popular throughout much of Europe. Some highly accredited goalkeepers include Peter Schmeichel, Gianluigi Buffon, Iker Casillas, Pepe Reina, and Petr Cech (Goalkeepers are Crazy). They all play for top professional clubs in Europe, like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. Soccer is popular all over the world, not just in Iker Casillas’ home land of Madrid, Spain (Iker). For example, I play in my own back yard. I also play at my high school and at venues all over Ohio and the United States. Wherever you find soccer you can find goalkeepers.

In the U.S. soccer isn't as popular as Basketball, Baseball, or Football, but throughtout the world it is more widely played than all three combined (Origins). Almost every young child in the U.S. gets the opportunity to try the sport and its popularity is growing.

top to bottom: Real Madrid, home to Iker Casillas; Alianz Arena home to Oliver Kahn and Bayern Munich; Old Tratford, home to Edwin Van der Sar and Manchester United