Sport
Who has the most Premier League clean sheets ever?
A safe pair of hands between the sticks is the foundation of any winning team. An often thankless, sometimes lonely position, a truly great goalkeeper can be the difference between league champions or a runner-up a medal. Which number one is the real number one? Here are the goalkeepers with the most clean sheets in Premier League history.
Premier League clean sheets | Top ten
- Peter Schmeichel – 128
Peter Schmeichel, nicknamed The Great Dane for his intimidating stature, is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.
A legendary 1990s run with Manchester United saw Schmeichel take home five Premier League titles, three FA Cups and a Champions League trophy. He also helped Denmark to lift the Euro 1992 trophy, albeit with a back-pass strategy which was permitted at the time.
Schmeichel is credited with shifting the direction of traditional goalkeeping through his play-making over-arm throws and upfield charges in the final moments of a game. Aside from an impressive 128 clean-sheets, he also managed to score an unheard of 11 goals during his career.
- Brad Friedel – 132
American born Brad Friedel had a rocky start in English football. Four years and three rejected work permits later, he signed for Liverpool in 1997 and has since gone on to enjoy an impressive domestic and international career.
With 132 Premier League clean sheets in 450 appearances, Friedel also boasts the record for most consecutive Premier League appearances with 310 games played in a row.
- Tim Howard – 132
After a string of early years in the MLS, Tim Howard made his move to the Premier League in 2003. He spent the majority English career with Everton and racked up 132 clean sheets in 399 matches, the eighth most clean sheets in Premier League history.
Howard also owns the title of most-capped goalkeeper for the United States and is one of just four keepers to score in the Premier League, with an amazing (potentially wind-assisted) looping goal against Bolton in 2012.
- Edwin van der Sar – 132
The second Red Devils legend to grace the list, Edwin van der Sar Premier has some of the best Premier League goalkeeper stats in history after amassing an amazing 132 Premier League clean sheets in just 313 games. The six-foot-six Dutchman has one of the most impressive trophy cabinets in Football.
In his just six-year-long tenure at Manchester United, van der Sar took home four Premier League titles, one Football League Cup, a Champions League trophy and three Community Shields. That’s not counting his personal awards or nine years at Ajax.
- Pepe Reina – 136
38-year-old Pepe Reina is the first goalkeeper to make the list that is still active today. The Spanish icon spent eight seasons as Liverpool’s number one from 2005 – 2013.
In his total time in the Premier League, Reina’s record stands at an incredible 136 clean sheets in just 297 games. He was also awarded the Premier League Golden Glove trophy three years in a row.
- Nigel Martyn – 137
With an entire career spent in English football, Nigel Martyn’s era in the Premier League saw him achieve a huge 137 clean sheets in 372 games.
His time in the top-tier was split between the likes of Everton, Leeds United and Crystal Palace. Martyn was capped 23 times for England and was the first-ever goalkeeper to be signed for £1 million.
- David Seaman – 141
What’s more iconic? The Arsenal legend’s top-flight career or the ponytail-moustache combination at the 2002 world cup?
Either way, David Seaman’s fantastic record of 141 clean sheets in 344 games means he has the fourth most clean sheets in Premier League history and is recognised as one of the 90s best goalkeepers and as one of the most iconic characters in English football.
His achievements also include being England’s second most-capped goalkeeper, four FA Cups, one First Division and two Premier League titles and a Premier League player of the month award.
- Mark Schwarzer – 151
A Premier League career spanning twenty years, Schwarzer was Middlesborough’s star man for the majority of his top division time before his move to Fulham in 2008. Australia’s most capped player has amassed an amazing 514 Premier League appearances, with 151 clean sheets.
Although you may not see Schwarzer’s name on every ‘greatest goalkeeper’ list, longevity and consistency put him as one of the top clean sheet aficionados.
- David James – 169
David James stands alongside Frank Lampard, Ryan Giggs and Gareth Barry as one of the Premier League’s longest standing players and the Englishman had one of the most extensive careers in English football history.
With 572 first-tier appearances, putting him at fourth on the most-played list, James secured an admirable 169 clean sheets across all games.
Playing for the likes of Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City and Portsmouth, James’ prolific fifteen-year career in the Premier League has marked him down as a true veteran of the English game.
- Petr Cech – 202
One of the greatest goalkeepers to grace the game, Petr Cech holds the record for most clean sheets in Premier League history with a gigantic 202 clean sheets in just 443 games.
In his time at Chelsea, Cech picked up an impressive four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three Football League Cups and a Champions League trophy.
He also holds won the Premier League Golden Glove a record four times (joint with Joe Hart) and is the only goalkeeper to win it at two separate clubs.
The Mourinho-Cech era will sit fondly in the minds of all Chelsea fans, and most football fans alike, for years to come.
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