Yes, field players are not inherently “crazier” than goalkeepers. However, goalkeepers do have a unique psychological burden and are often perceived as having a different “mentality” due to their specific role and responsibilities on the pitch. This perception stems from their isolation, the intense pressure to prevent goals, and the fact that a single mistake can have a significant impact on the match.
Goalkeepers have provided the world of soccer with many of its most colorful characters, creating the notion that playing the position requires craziness. In South America, the most common nickname for goalkeepers is “El Loco” —the crazy one. The theory goes that the truly sane couldn’t handle the pressure.
Tino Lettieri, an Italian-born Canadian who starred in the North America Soccer League in the late 1970s and 1980s, kept a stuffed parrot named Ozzie in the back of his net. Lettieri would consult the parrot before penalty kicks for advice on which way to dive.
German keeper Sepp Maier, considered one of the world’s best in the 1970s, often appeared in public wearing goofy costumes. Just minutes before a European Cup final, he joked around with fans; then he went out and helped Bayern Munich win the game. In one of his most famous incidents, Maier chased a duck that had strayed onto the Munich Olympic Stadium field while his team was at the other end. Maier dived at the duck, intentionally missing a capture each time as the crowd roared with delight.
Mexican goalkeeper Jorge Campos, who often wandered far out of the penalty area and juked his way past opponents, wore garishly colorful uniforms—including bright pink-and starred in two World Cups.
But of course there are many more goalkeepers who go about doing their job quietly and effectively. Maier himself said the position doesn’t require one to be crazy.
More importantly is PASSION.
konnectgoalkeepers 
Leave a comment