Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Was Andoni Zubizarreta as good as they say their numbers?

Last update 5 June, 2022 by Alberto Llopis

Was Andoni Zubizarreta as good as his numbers say? six Leagues, (2 with Athletic, 4 with Barcelona), 1 European Cup, 1 Cup Winners Cup, 1 European Super Cup, 3 King's Cups, others 3 Spanish Super Cups, four World behind, 126 international matches, 1 Zamora trophy, 8º best goalkeeper in history according to the IFFHS, the Order of Merit Sports, if the numbers and titles speak for themselves, that there is no doubt that there would be no doubt in pointing out Andoni Zubizarreta as one of the best Spanish goalkeepers of all time.

However, and sheltered from these data, Our question today is quite another: Was it as good as indicated by their numbers Zubi, or else we are talking about a highly-rated goalkeeper who came to where he came to have the luck to be at the right time at the right place?

Was Andoni Zubizarreta as good as his data indicates?

Different postures bring some light to the debate. His supporters point to him as a leader, a janitor insurance, sober, not given to the eccentricities and the effectiveness. Placement, Masters in the air balls, tactical management, responsibility, charisma and included, intimidation were some of his best qualities as goalkeeper.

differentiated view of their detractors, very critical for being one of the "friends" of Javier Clemente, for being a goalkeeper with little baggage in stopping penalties, for their clamorous failure decisive peak times (there is the end of Athens or the famous match against Nigeria and France World Cup).

Andoni Zubizarreta
The game against Nigeria marked the World Cup in France for Spain. PHOTO: Brand

Nobody's goalkeeper of Barcelona eight years, Valencia or four, Athletic fives and Spain over a decade but is good. That seems indisputable. However, Brings sixteen years after his retirement a huddle of opinions that undervalue their performance in goal. That's what we asked our readers, precisely, was Andoni Zubizarreta an overrated goalkeeper or on the contrary he was a goalkeeper as brilliant as his numbers indicate?

Zubizarreta era un especialista en el juego aéreo.
Zubizarreta was a specialist in the air. PHOTO: Brand

And you do you think?

Hot this week

The best Mexican players in history

Let's try to review who the best players are....

Soccer of the 90: Tato Abbey and Mariano Angoy

Spanish football from the years 90 left us ...

Real Madrid's League in the season 1994-1995 with Valdano

The season 1994-1995 It was memorable for Real Madrid..

The biggest stadiums in Mexico

You know what the biggest stadiums in Mexico are?...

The players with the most Champions League titles in history

Who are the players with the most Champions League titles in....

Iván Fresneda: Ascent of a Spanish promise at Sporting CP

Iván Fresneda, born in Madrid in 2004, It has been ...

Penalty shoot specialists: the best pitchers

Who are the best penalty pitchers in the ...

The best hobbies in Argentina

Talking about Argentina's best hobbies is entering ...

Soccer of the 90: Tato Abbey and Mariano Angoy

Spanish football from the years 90 left us ...

Data record and the English Premier League

In this article, We will review the palmarés of ...

Spanish players who played at the Sunderland AFC

Throughout the history of the Sunderland AFC,...

parapenaltis doormen: the best archers in stopping penalties

In this post we are going to talk about the 'goalkeepers ...

Data record and Argentina Liga

Argentina's Professional Soccer League: History and ...

Related Articles

Popular Categories

error: Content is protected !!