David Seaman
Arsenal and England legend, one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.
David Andrew Seaman (born 19 September 1963) is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. In a career lasting from 1981 to 2004, he is best known for his time playing for Arsenal. He won 75 caps for England, and is the country's third-most capped goalkeeper, level with Joe Hart, and after Peter Shilton and Jordan Pickford. In 1997, he was awarded the MBE for services to football and was nominated for the 1998 Ballon d'Or. In addition, he is one of the few players to have made over 1,000 career appearances.
- Position
- Goalkeeper
- Primary Club
- Arsenal (1990–2003)
- Earlier Clubs
- Queens Park Rangers, Coventry City
- National Team
- England
- Premier League Titles
- 1997–98, 2001–02 (with Arsenal)
- Renowned For
- Shot-stopping, reflexes, one-on-one saves
- Era
- Mid-1990s to early 2000s
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. After leaving Arsenal, he played in the Premier League for Manchester City. He retired in 2004 due to a recurring shoulder injury.
In Their Own Story
The floodlights at Highbury hummed. The away striker collected the ball just outside the area, turned, and saw the keeper already moving — not toward the ball, but toward the space where the ball was going to be. The shot was struck low and hard, a bullet aimed at the bottom corner. Seaman was already on the ground, one arm extended, fingers splayed like a starfish. The ball kissed his fingertips and rolled wide. He lay there for a beat, staring up at the sky, then slowly pushed himself to his knees. The away end fell silent. The Arsenal end erupted. He pointed at the crowd, not in celebration exactly, but in acknowledgment — *you saw that, didn't you?* And they had. They always did.
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, the fourth–highest ranked English goalkeeper. In 2013, James McNicholas of Bleacher Report described Seaman as 'the greatest goalkeeper in Arsenal's history.'
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.
- He is left-handed, but threw the ball with his right arm and kicked with his right foot.
- Seaman's 1,000th professional career game was the 2002–03 FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United.
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