Good Ball Retention Starts With The GoalKeeper

To have a goalkeeper confident with his feet when you have play against high pressure teams is extremely important and a big advantage to your defense. 


Keeping possession has become the way to play football. Long ball football or Hollywood ball football, as otherwise known,  has become extremely unpopular and broadly unsuccessful. Every side wants to have possession of the ball for the majority of the game, and a key way to impose this on a side is by getting the goalkeeper to play short. Barcelona’s Victor Valdes is a master of it.

This is why improving footwork and agility in a goalkeeper has become as essential as having a GREAT touch with one's hands.

Watch How Victor Valdes' footwork skills help the team play from the back and develop play without giving up possession HERE

Swansea actually bought Michel Vorm to play in goal because he is so comfortable with the ball at his feet. ”For us it was then the case of looking to get in the right type of goalkeeper,” said Rodgers. “We needed one that was going to suit our style and Michel was one that was on our list. After looking at his style and his game I think his attributes suit us perfectly. He makes saves, which is important for a keeper. But for how we play, we like to build the game from behind, it is vital that the goalkeeper is comfortable with his feet…he is a player that not only does that but he controls the game well from behind and will help us construct the game from the back. He is very quick and very agile so he is similar to Victor Valdes at Barcelona.”  Watch a GREAT video about improving goalkeeping footwork HERE