One of the most crucial positions on the football pitch is custodian, and the likelihood of victory is much diminished if a top player does not dominate the box. Over the years, the Premier League has been fortunate to witness a wealth of goalkeeping skill, with some of the best establishing themselves in England.
The role has changed over time, with more emphasis now being placed on footwork and ball distribution than on stopping shots. But keeping the ball out of the net is the most crucial task. The well-known saying, “attack wins you games, defence wins you titles,” was uttered by Sir Alex Ferguson and has been accurate for a number of league-winning teams. Alisson Becker of Liverpool has become one of the Premier League’s top goalkeepers and is in charge of one of the strongest backlines in the top division.
The defence benefits greatly from clean sheets, but which goalkeepers have best protected their goal? Although they are currently on their way to make this list, players like Ederson of Man City and Alisson are not yet included. Given that everyone on this list has had extended careers, longevity is a significant aspect.
Goalkeepers in Premier League History with the Most Clean Sheets
Rank
The player
Clubs Participated in
Looks
Clean Sheets
One
Petr Cech
Arsenal and Chelsea
443
202
2.
James David
Portsmouth, Manchester City, West Ham United, Liverpool, and Aston Villa
572
169
3.
Schwarzer, Mark
Chelsea, Fulham, and Middlesbrough
514
152
4.
De Gea, David
United Manchester
415
147
5.
Seaman, David
Manchester City and Arsenal
344
141
6.
Martyn Nigel
Crystal Palace, Everton, and Leeds
372
137
7.
Reina Pepe
Aston Villa and Liverpool
297
136
8.
Friedel, Brad
Tottenham Hotspur, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, and Liverpool
450
132
9.
Howard, Tim
Everton and Manchester United
399
132
10.
Van der Sar, Edwin
Manchester United and Fulham
313
132
10Edwin van der Sar
132 Clean Sheets
During his time at Manchester United, Edwin van der Sar won four league titles, capping off an incredibly successful Premier League career. The Dutchman has the statistics to support his reputation as one of the best of his generation. He recorded 132 clean sheets in 313 games, which contributed to his 2008–09 Golden Glove award.
Before winning a more lucrative transfer to Manchester to play for Sir Alex Ferguson, the former United number one started his career in England with Fulham. In addition to winning the trophy, he also set a new Premier League record in the 2009–10 campaign by playing 1,311 minutes without giving up a goal.
9Tim Howard
132 Clean Sheets
Tim Howard played for both Manchester United and Everton during his 13-year Premier League career, but his best moments were spent with Everton. In 2003, the former US international moved to England and joined Ferguson’s United. Van der Sar’s arrival, however, marked the end of his Manchester career as he moved to Everton, where he stayed for nine years.
At the end of the 2003–04 season, Howard was selected to the PFA Team of the Year after keeping 132 clean sheets overall between the two clubs. He is one of just six goalkeepers to have scored a goal in the Premier League, which puts him on a special list. In 2012, he gave Everton the lead against Bolton Wanderers by doing so from his own half.
8Brad Friedel
132 Clean Sheets
Another former US goalie with 132 clean sheets is Brad Friedel. The goalie made 450 appearances in the Premier League over stints with four different teams, including Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. He did, however, spend the most time with Blackburn Rovers, playing for the team for seven seasons.
He was moved to England in 1997 by Liverpool, and he then played for Blackburn in one PFA Team of the Year in 2003. Friedel is among the select few goalkeepers who have scored in the Premier League, along with Howard. Although Blackburn lost the match, he was the second player in history to accomplish the feat by giving them a late equaliser against Charlton.
7Pepe Reina
136 Clean Sheets
One of Liverpool’s best goalkeepers from the Premier League era is Pepe Reina. The Spaniard, who won three Golden Gloves in a row from 2005 to 2008, made an early impression at the club as a shot-stopper who was among the finest with the ball at his feet. In just 297 appearances, he amassed 136 clean sheets.
He only won one League Cup and one FA Cup during his nine seasons at Anfield, therefore his career did not bring him the accolades it may have merited. He did, however, make up for it with international success, winning a World Cup and two European Championships. Reina, 42, continues to play professional football for Como in Italy, where she is coached by Cesc Fàbregas, a former teammate from Spain.
Nigel Martyn
137 Clean Sheets
Nigel Martyn played in 372 Premier League games during stints at Everton, Leeds United, and Crystal Palace. In 1989, the Englishman broke the record by being the first custodian to fetch a £1 million transfer fee from Palace. He then broke it again when he moved to Leeds. He established himself as a club legend and possibly the best custodian in their history during his six years in West Yorkshire. Despite his lack of recognition, he was a very well-liked player due to his remarkable consistency and saves.
He was similarly regarded on Merseyside for his achievements at Everton, his second club, where he helped guide the squad to a fourth-place finish in 2004–05. His career ended sooner than he would have liked due to injury, but his 137 clean sheets will live on in history. He previously finished with the most clean sheets in two seasons and was named to the PFA Team of the Year three times.
5David Seaman
141 Clean Sheets
With 141 clean sheets, David Seaman, England’s second-most-capped goalie, is highly ranked on this list. Before finishing his career with one season at Manchester City, Seaman spent thirteen years at Arsenal. With two Premier League championships and four FA Cups, the former Gunner had great success in North London. He was selected to one PFA Team of the Year and finished with the most clean sheets in two distinct Premier League seasons.
Seaman was the last line of several successful defences and was a very safe pair of hands. He made a name for himself as one of his generation’s and the nation’s best goalkeepers.
4David de Gea
147 Clean Sheets
It was difficult for Manchester United to replace the departing van der Sar, but they made a brilliant move when they signed David de Gea. De Gea performed admirably in goal, who is frequently compared to his predecessor. Although there were some rocky periods at the start and finish of his 12-year stay at Old Trafford, the Spaniard enjoyed a generally successful career in England.
In his second and Ferguson’s last season at Manchester, he only managed one league title. In addition, he gained a pair of Golden Gloves to his collection after recording 147 clean sheets in 415 appearances. He overcame a challenging rookie season to establish himself as one of the top goalkeepers in the world. His last years with the team were marred by inconsistencies and distribution problems, yet he left as a great.
3Mark Schwarzer
152 Clean Sheets
During his 20 years in England, Mark Schwarzer—now a pundit—was a well-known figure in the Premier League. His 514 appearances, which spanned 11 seasons at Middlesbrough, presently rank second among goalkeepers in league history. The towering, dominant Australian was at ease both coming for crosses and dropping out of his line.
After that, he would play for Chelsea and Fulham, where he was a solid backup to Petr Cech. After Cech was injured, Schwarzer even played in three Champions League games for the team, including a two-leg semifinal matchup with Atletico Madrid. He concluded his lengthy career at Leicester City, where he also holds the distinction for being Chelsea’s oldest player ever.
2David James
169 Clean Sheets
With 169 clean sheets, former England player David James comes in second on this list. James’ 572 appearances are the most by a custodian in Premier League history, demonstrating the importance of longevity. He played for five different clubs during his 18-year career in England’s top division, most notably Portsmouth for four years and Liverpool for seven.
James was selected to the PFA Team of the Year twice, in 1996 and 2008, despite the fact that he did not win any league titles. In addition to his impressive goalkeeping record, the goalie holds the league record for the most penalty saves with 13, and he even made an appearance up front!
1Petr Cech
202 Clean Sheets
Petr Cech is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in Premier League history, and many will contend that he is the best of all time. With 202 overall clean sheets, the Chelsea legend is far ahead of the pack. Prior to a brief period at rivals Arsenal, he played the majority of his career in England with the Blues.
Although Cech played behind a number of excellent backlines, one will stand out in history more than the others. Under José Mourinho, the Czech played for a defence that let up just 15 goals in his debut season at Stamford Bridge. This record has never been approached and probably won’t be broken for a very long time, if at all. Cech won the first of four Premier League trophies at the end of the 2004–05 season.
