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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48147087
Just seen this article, and it is a topic I have heard discussed before. It is strange, when black footballers make up a huge demographic of professional football, that there are so little goalkeepers.
Is it social bias as the article suggests?
Cultural?
Or simply is it just an unexplained phenomenon that there are hardly any half decent black goalkeepers.
Something to think about. Name 3 ball playing black midfielders. Apart from the world class, Paul Pogba, who could fill that role... who is there?
Patrick Vieira was much more of a ball player than he was ever given credit for.
Because of his stature (and perhaps his colour) people pigeon holed him as a destroyer but that really wasn't what he was about.
John Barnes could play in that position once his pace went.
Ruud gullit played in midfield sometimes and was pretty effective.
Frank rijkard (so) as well although more defensive.
Yaya toure
There must have been a fair few Brazilians over the years
The only current black keeper I can think of is the Ajax keeper
For many years Black players dominated wide positions, players with pace. It could be a few things, it could be that coaches who were predominantly white profiled young black players, paid more attention to the ones who were quick and direct. British black players don't seem to be as represented in central areas as they are in wide positions or attacking areas.
Abedi Pele?
Isn't he French? My point is that in the UK ( i know that the thread isn't about that exclusively) we do seem to have a disproportionate amount of fast forward thinking black footballers as opposed to black players who may be more defensive. There must be a reason for that. The point about black goalkeepers could well be valid, There have been countless brilliant Players with African ancestry, not so with goalkeepers.
Here's a few.
Fabian Delph.
Angel Gomez.
Loftus-Cheek
Sturridge.
Walcot.
Jake Livermore.
Hope we haven't forgotten the great keeper, Shaka Hislop, who played for Newcastle, West Ham and Pompey in the Premiership.