David Seaman

Lore & Background

Seaman began his career in the Football League for Peterborough United, Birmingham City and Queens Park Rangers. The peak of his career was during his period as Arsenal and England goalkeeper in the 1990s and early 2000s. During his time at Arsenal, he won three league championships (1991, 1998, 2002), four FA Cups (1993, 1998, 2002, 2003), the League Cup in 1993 and the European Cup Winners Cup in 1994. During this time he also played for England in the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups, and Euro 96 and Euro 2000. After leaving Arsenal, he played in the Premier League for Manchester City. He retired in 2004 due to a recurring shoulder injury. In June 2012, he was appointed goalkeeping coach of Combined Counties League club Wembley.

In Their Own Story

The floodlights hum against the summer night and the roar of ninety thousand voices presses against the stadium walls like a living thing. In the box, Seaman crouches, fingers spread, eyes locked on the striker's run. The cross comes in — high, spinning, almost harmless. But the header from the back post is vicious, a knuckleball that dips just below the bar. Time seems to stretch. Seaman's left arm extends, impossibly long, and his fingertips brush the leather. The ball rattles off his glove and thuds against the crossbar. The net does not move. He rolls onto his back, stares up at the lights, and the stadium exhales. For one suspended second, England is safe. He gets up, claps his hands, and shouts at the centre-backs to shape up. The next attack comes. He is ready again.

Reader's Guide

Seaman is considered to be one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time by his compatriots, as well as one of the best shot-stoppers in Premier League and English football history. He placed second in the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year award in 1996, behind Andreas Köpke, while he placed 32nd, alongside Enrico Albertosi, in the European Keeper of the Century vote, which was organised by the same organisation, the fourth–highest ranked English goalkeeper. In 2013, James McNicholas of Bleacher Report described Seaman as 'the greatest goalkeeper in Arsenal's history.' In addition to his goalkeeping ability, Seaman was also a highly recognisable figure on the pitch due to his moustache and the ponytail hairstyle he wore for part of his career.

Did You Know?

• Seaman's save from Paul Peschisolido of Sheffield United in the 2002–03 FA Cup semi-final was described in the media as one of the best ever.
• Notable lows came with two costly errors, both from long-range efforts—conceding a last-minute goal in the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final to Nayim of Real Zaragoza, and conceding to a Ronaldinho free kick against Brazi
• Seaman is left-handed, but threw the ball with his right arm and kicked with his right foot.