What Is A Clean Sheet In Soccer?

What is a ‘clean sheet’ in soccer? In the world of soccer, a clean sheet refers to a team managing to avoid conceding any goals during a single match. This term is often used to describe a goalkeeper’s performance, or an overall defensive effort from the team, and is a testament to their skill and ability to keep the opposing team at bay.

Is 0-0 a clean sheet?

Why Is It Called a Clean Sheet? – At this point, you may be wondering why preventing the opposition from scoring a goal in soccer is known as a “clean sheet”. This is a reasonable question. The use of the term “clean sheet” originates from a time when sports reporters would use a sheet of paper to keep track of how many goals a team had scored during a game.

1. If the game ended and the reporter had not written anything down, then the sheet was untainted or clean.
2. In the past, reporters, fans, and pundits didn’t have access to any of the modern-day technology we have and would keep track of how many goals had been scored in a game by writing them down on a sheet of paper.

This was simple but effective. At the end of the game, if one or both teams hadn’t scored a goal, then the reporters would see what a team had achieved and report it in the press as a clean sheet.

What does clean sheet mean?

British 1 : a person’s record (as from a school or a job) that shows no evidence of any problems, broken rules, etc. : a clean record 2 : a game in which the opposing team is prevented from scoring The team’s star goalie has had five clean sheets this season.

Why do they call it a clean sheet?

THAT’S A KEEPER

Published : 16:48, 12 Apr 2023 Updated : 10:26, 14 Apr 2023

WHAT do goalkeepers, defenders and fantasy football managers all love? Clean sheets, of course. The Premier League has had a number of legends standing between the sticks, such as David Seaman, Peter Schmeichel, David de Gea and more. 2 Goalkeepers like nothing more than a clean sheet during a football match Credit: PA 2 The term clean sheet originates from sports reporters’ notes back in the day Credit: Getty But none of them know more about shutting down opposition attackers in the English top flight than Chelsea legend Petr Cech. Cech amassed a record 202 clean sheets throughout his celebrated 15-year career in the Premier League. But the history behind it is not as widely known. In fact, the phrase originates from sports journalists. Reporters used to record scores on white sheets of paper back in the day when there were no laptops. So if a journalist’s sheet was clean at the end of the match, that would mean no goals had been scored against a team.

What is a clean sheet for a goalkeeper?

List of Premier League goalkeepers with 100 or more clean sheets In, a goalkeeper is said to “keep a clean sheet” if they prevent their opponents scoring any goals during an entire match. Since the ‘s formation at the start of the, 16 goalkeepers have managed to keep 100 or more in the Premier League.

1. Was the first goalkeeper to keep 100 clean sheets and is the only player to keep 200.
2. Čech also took the fewest games to reach 100 clean sheets, holds the record for most clean sheets kept in a single season, with 24.
3. The record for consecutive clean sheets is held by, who went 14 games without conceding in for,

The first goalkeepers to keep a clean sheet in the Premier League were and on the opening day of the inaugural season, in a 0–0 draw between and ; all other goalkeepers conceded that day. Each year, the goalkeeper who keeps the most clean sheets during the Premier League season is awarded the award.

Who is the most clean sheet in Premier League?

Most clean sheets in Premier League 2022-23

Player	Club	Clean Sheets
David de Gea	Manchester United	15
Alisson	Liverpool	13
Nick Pope	Newcastle United	13
Aaron Ramsdale	Arsenal	13

Is 3 0 a clean sheet?

A clean sheet is typically recorded as a ‘0’ in the scoreline, and it is only achieved when a team manages to prevent their opponents from scoring any goals throughout the game.

Why are clean sheets so good?

Each and every week, most of us spend approximately 49 to 60+ hours sleeping in our beds. That’s a lot of time to get the rest our bodies need to thrive, but it’s also ample time to build up dirt, sweat, oil, and other gunk on our sheets and bedding. Proper hygiene is important in all areas of life.

When it comes to our bedding, it’s perhaps more important than you might think. Without regular cleaning, dirty sheets can contribute to allergies, skin breakouts, asthma, and more. For your health and sleep quality, it’s important to keep things clean – but how often should you wash your sheets? Most people should wash their sheets once per week.

If you don’t sleep on your mattress every day, you may be able to stretch this to once every two weeks or so. Some people should wash their sheets even more often than once a week. If you have pets, and particularly if you let them sleep in your bed, a wash every 3-4 days is recommended. It’s also recommended to wash sheets more often in the warm summer months, as you will likely get more sweat on your bedding. Likewise, if you have seasonal allergies in the spring or summer, washing sheets more often may help relieve symptoms. Washing sheets and making your bed once a week may seem excessive, but it’s well worth your time.

Dirt Dead skin cells Body oils Sweat Dust mites, including their carcasses and fecal matter

While most of us can reconcile sleeping in our own dirt and sweat to a degree, it’s this last item that concerns many of us the most. Dust mites are microscopic creatures that are very common in most households. They do not bite, but they can lead to skin rashes and irritation, and may worsen allergy symptoms for many people.

Dust mites can reproduce at prolific rates and can live solely off of dead skin cells. At any given time, there can be tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of dust mites living in your mattress and bedding. Even if you’re not allergic to dust mites, you probably don’t want to be sharing your bed with thousands of them.

Washing sheets regularly can help. We now know that sheets should be washed weekly, but how should they be washed? 1. Read the product label carefully to see if there are any specific care instructions.2. Wash using the hottest water that the label lists (cotton can generally handle hot water, while polyester and some other materials should be washed on warm).3.

Machine wash using a gentle detergent.4. If you have sensitive skin, you may consider rinsing the sheets a second time to remove any residual detergent.5. Tumble dry on low, or hang dry. Because washing and drying your sheets takes a few hours, many people find it easier to have a couple of sets of sheets.

That way you can strip the bed, make it up with fresh sheets, and throw the dirty sheets into the wash when it’s convenient. If you’d like to purchase a second set of sheets, see our buyer’s guide here, We’ve established how often to wash sheets — about once a week, ideally.

Pillowcases	Once a week
Duvet covers	Once every 2 weeks to a month
Comforters	Once every 2-3 months
Blankets	Once every 2-3 months
Pillows	Once every 4-6 months (if washable)

Always check the manufacturer’s care instructions, if possible. While these guidelines are generally applicable, occasionally a piece of bedding will have a unique design that requires specific care and washing. Additionally, you should clean your mattress once every 6 months or so.

• Cleaning can help extend the useful lifespan of your mattress and bedding, while improving sleep quality and your health.
• With that said, it’s still important to replace your mattress every 6-8 years or so, to ensure you’re getting the best sleep possible.
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How does clean sheet work?

What is a clean sheet in soccer? – In soccer, a clean sheet is when a team concedes zero goals in a match. It’s as simple as that! If you stop the opposition from scoring throughout an entire soccer game, you’ve successfully kept a clean sheet. If your opponents score, even if it’s a sloppy goal in the 90th minute, your clean sheet record is gone. Clean sheets are the hallmark of any defensively strong soccer team. When you stop the other team from scoring, you give yourself a great chance to get points on the board. To expand on this point, let’s explain just how important clean sheets can be.

Do clean sheets feel better?

Clean, crisp bedding brings comfort like nothing else | Hannah Jane Parkinson T here is something more comforting than luxury spa trips, or even indulgent massages. Something that soothes bones, costs (almost) no money, boosts the mood and makes the nights softer and the mornings lighter.

Fresh bedding: clean, taut sheets, plumped pillows, the crinkle of a rejuvenated duvet cover. As an insomniac, I look to any possible positive source of influence for a good night’s sleep. Exercise often doesn’t cut it; neither does banishing caffeine. And I cannot tell you the number of lavender-scented candles I’ve bought.

The one thing that does, occasionally, seem to help is a ceremonial changing of the bedding. This isn’t reward without effort. In the winter months, drying sheets slide from too-small radiators, or hang like bright-coloured ghosts from racks. Before I change my duvet cover, I am tempted to text friends to warn them that, if they don’t hear from me for three days, they must send help.

1. Sometimes I have to clamber in; I have learned that I would be good at caving.) I am also not convinced one qualifies as an adult while still using fitted sheets.
2. Pillow cases, meanwhile, are origami.
3. But, my God, it’s worth it.
4. There is nothing better than the satisfaction of smoothing the top sheet until wrinkle-free – an experience I imagine akin to a painter shrinking their canvas or a labourer pushing a trowel across wet concrete.

Don’t just take my word for it. Research shows – even that not commissioned by publicists for homeware companies – that clean bedding improves your sleep. A 2012 study by the US National Foundation found that 73% of us sleep better on fresh sheets. (And also that our romantic lives improve.) I am cynical about advertising, but the women I truly believe in (and they are always women) are those who act in the fabric softener and detergent ads, who bury their noses in their queen-size beds with all the abandon of a clubber hoovering up a massive line of cocaine.

It’s also true that different people’s beds smell different according to the washing powder they use. This is a little like an olfactory version of Proust’s madeleine: if you one day accidentally buy the same brand as the ex you never got over, you’re screwed. One of the best things about getting older and having one’s own money is to upgrade on life’s basics, to step on the second rung of comfort.

This means I no longer have to make do with bobbled sheets from college days and a mismatched pillow case that is too large (think bank card in an envelope). The Hans Christian Andersen story The Princess And The Pea saw his protagonist kipping on piles of mattresses and feather beds to test her royal sensitivity.

What is the difference between clean sheet and win to nil?

What is the difference between win to nil and clean sheet? – There is a slight difference between the two. For a clean sheet wager, you are removing the ‘win’ part. Therefore, betting on a clean sheet is less-risky than betting on a team to win the game without conceding.

What does SOG mean in soccer?

Soccer Acronyms Guide for the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar NBC Universal, Inc. Soccer may be the world’s sport, but it’s still playing catch up in the U.S. This can lead to some confusion as fans struggle to keep up with terms thrown around the pitch. These terms and slag will be on full display for the, If you’re stressed about bombarding your friend with questions or covertly keeping Google open the entire match, look no further: We’ve got the solution for you.

FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association): the international governing body overseeing football, beach football and futsal. FIFA, made of 211 member associations and six federations, hosts the World Cup. FOP (field of play): the rectangle-shaped field market by regulated boundaries. FT (full time): the end of the 90-minute allotted period. FT does not include stoppage time, or time awarded at the end of the game to account for regular breaks in play (e.g. injuries, on-field logistics). GF (goals for): total goals a team scored. GA (goals against): total goals a team conceded. GD (goal differential): the difference between the number of goals for and goals against. HT (half time): a 15-minute break between the two 45-minute halves. Unlike full time, half time does include stoppage time of the first half. MP (matches played): total games played PA (points against): total points a team conceded. Unlike GA, which only takes into account goals, PA is a measurement of game results with a win equaling three points, a draw equaling one point and a loss equaling zero points. PK (penalty kick): a shot 12 yards from the goal line that involves only one player and the goalkeeper. PKs are awarded when specific offenses (handball, fouls of excessive force, thrown object obstructs play, etc.) are committed within the penalty box. PKs can also be used to settle ties. RC (red cards) : a penalty that results in automatic ejection and forces a team to play a man down. Two yellow cards are equivalent to a red card. If a player receives a red card, they have to miss the next match the team plays SOG (shots on goal): any on-target shot that would have resulted in a goal if not for the goalie saving it. : additional match official that uses video to flag and review specific live calls considered to be potentially a or “serious missed incident.” The four types of calls that are eligible to be reviewed under VAR are goal/no goal, penalty kick/no penalty kick, direct red card and mistaken identity in application of a red or yellow card. YC (yellow cards): a cautionary penalty that a referee gives to a player. The player’s number is then recorded by the referee. A player who has been cautioned can continue playing in the game. A second yellow card results in an automatic ejection and is the the equivalent to a red card. If given two yellow cards, a player has to miss the next match the team plays.

: Soccer Acronyms Guide for the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar

Why do goalkeepers have towels?

Wet conditions are part of the soccer season. There’s no avoiding it – nor should there be. It’s part of the fun of soccer! Wet fields and rainy days can be fantastic for goalkeepers, but if they don’t prepare, it can lead to an unproductive, frustrating match. As a goalkeeper gets soaked, play can become very uncomfortable, especially if the games last longer than an hour. It’s essential for young keepers to learn how to prepare for wet weather and field conditions, as well as how to dress appropriately for gameplay in wet weather. Here are a few tips for goalkeepers to utilize in wet conditions- both during training and in-game.1) Bring a Rain Jacket.

• Wearing a rain jacket when possible will help goalkeepers keep under layers drier for longer.
• Try to keep your base layers dry throughout the game so that you can perform at your best.
• Once your base layer is wet, you will always be reminded of an uncomfortable cold shock whenever you move, or the wind blows.

Goalkeeper hack: rain jackets allow for amazing slides because they are low-friction.2) Bring a towel to dry your soccer goalie gloves Champion-level goalkeepers do this all the time- watch the pros during rainy games. They will bring a towel (or several) out to the game and place it on a goal net.

• Towels are multi-purpose in a game environment, that’s true, but during wet weather, towels are a lifesaver, and they remove excess mud or water from your goalie gloves.
• When the latex in goalkeeper gloves becomes saturated with water, they will lose their grip.3) The tighter the soccer gloves, the better.

Getting the correct size of goalkeeper gloves is extremely important. The 90’s- the days of giant goalie gloves- are over and keepers should aim for a tighter fit that also gives the player excellent movement. Big gloves become cumbersome in wet conditions.4) Consider goalie gloves with finger spine protection This is not the favorite of older keepers, but soccer gloves with spine protection in the fingers are useful for wet conditions.

1. When it’s wet, the ball is likely to skid off of surfaces faster.
2. This puts the keeper in a precarious position- you may not get your hands in place or take the ball early enough to get enough tip around the post.5) Wear surgical gloves under your GK gloves It sounds strange- but this is such a great little trick! Keep your hands drier and warmer during rainy-day games.

The thin nature of the surgical gloves allows for goalkeepers to retain their feel for the ball while keeping your hands dry through the entire match.6) Watch the Bounce A ball that is wet and skidding around will pick up speed as it connects with the ground.

How does a player get a clean sheet?

What is a ‘clean sheet’ in soccer? In the world of soccer, a clean sheet refers to a team managing to avoid conceding any goals during a single match. This term is often used to describe a goalkeeper’s performance, or an overall defensive effort from the team, and is a testament to their skill and ability to keep the opposing team at bay.

Do goalkeepers get clean sheet bonus?

How Do Clean Sheets Work in FPL? Clean sheets are one of the most important aspects of fantasy football, and understanding how they work in FPL (Fantasy Premier League) is crucial if you want to succeed in the game. In FPL, points are awarded to players based on their performance in real-life Premier League matches.

• Clean sheets are one of the categories in which players can earn points.
• A clean sheet is awarded to a team when they prevent their opponents from scoring a goal during a match.
• If a team concedes a goal, they lose their clean sheet and their players are not awarded any points for that category.
• So, how do clean sheets work in FPL? Let’s take a closer look.

In FPL, points are awarded to all eligible players on the pitch for each clean sheet they keep. This means that not only defenders but also goalkeepers and midfielders can earn clean sheet points. A goalkeeper or defender earns four points for a clean sheet, whereas a midfielder earns one point.

• In addition, if a player has to play at least 60 minutes without conceding a goal or they will not be awarded any points for that category.
• If a player is substituted off without their team conceding a goal, then once they are taken off their team concedes, the clean sheet points still stand.
• The player must be playing when his team concedes a goal for the clean sheet points to be taken away.

The (BPS)is based on a range of statistics, such as the number of clearances, interceptions, and tackles made by the player. The bonus points are awarded on a scale of 1-3, with the top-performing player receiving three bonus points. If a defender or goalkeeper keeps a clean sheet, they gain a large number of bonus points on the BPS, meaning they stand a good chance of picking up a bonus point from the match if they have performed well.

1. When selecting your FPL team, it’s important to consider a team’s defensive record.
2. Teams that have a strong defensive record are more likely to keep clean sheets and earn points.
3. It’s important to look for cheap defenders in teams with good defences as these types of players are great for filling out your It’s also important to consider the fixtures and the opponents that a team will be facing.

If a team is playing against a weaker opponent, they are more likely to keep a clean sheet than if they were playing against a top team. Another factor to consider is the playing position of the player. While defenders and goalkeepers are more likely to earn clean sheet points, midfielders can also earn points in this category.

• When selecting your team, it’s important to choose players who are likely to play regularly and have a high chance of keeping clean sheets.
• Clean sheets are a crucial aspect of FPL and can have a big impact on your team’s overall performance.
• By understanding how clean sheets work and how they are awarded, you can make better-informed decisions when selecting your team and planning your transfers.

Keep an eye on a team’s defensive record and fixtures, and choose players who are likely to play regularly and contribute to clean sheets. With these tips, you can maximize your points in the clean sheet category and give yourself the best chance of success in FPL.

Which goalkeeper has the most saves in history?

5. Petr Cech – 21 – Petr Cech is one of the top goalies with the most clean sheets in the Premier League. Although the keeper, who also minded the Guildford Phoenix ice hockey net, retired from active play in 2019, he returned to his former team Chelsea, as a performance advisor, where he served until 30th June 2022.

Who is the king of clean sheet in football?

Who is the best goalkeeper in the world in 2022? – Alisson Becker is seen as the best goalkeeper in the world in 2022. He, besides his countryman Ederson have shown quality in the Premier League, having the most clean sheets. Having the most clean sheets requires discipline, hard work and talent, and good defender coordination.

1. Gianluigi Buffon has the most clean sheets in world football.
2. He boasts an impressive 501 clean sheets with a 44% save percentage.
3. Many are curious about who the next legendary goalkeeper will be.
4. READ ALSO: Zlatan Ibrahimović, Thierry Henry and Neymar Among the 10 Greatest Players Never to Win Coveted Ballon d’Or Sportsbrief.com also published a list of the top 10 greatest players never to win the Ballon d’Or.

The Ballon d’Or is the most coveted trophy in world football. These players were amazing and did not win the prize due to one thing. So, who are they, and why did they not win? Read more by clicking on the link above! The 10 goalkeepers who have the most clean sheets in the 21st century | Oh My Goal – YouTube Oh My Goal – The Best of Football 395K subscribers The 10 goalkeepers who have the most clean sheets in the 21st century | Oh My Goal Oh My Goal – The Best of Football Watch later Share Copy link Info Shopping Tap to unmute If playback doesn’t begin shortly, try restarting your device.

Who is leading the Golden Glove in Premier League?

De Gea tops Premier League Golden Glove race. How close are his rivals? Answered now has the joint most clean sheets in the Premier League this season. The goalkeeper kept his 13th clean sheet in Saturday’s 2-0 win against Everton. He’s now level with Newcastle’s in the Golden Glove charts. Arsenal’s has one fewer clean sheet. Brazilian pair (11) and (10) complete the top five. Newcastle have the best defensive record in the league this season and Eddie Howe’s side have conceded 16 fewer goals than United, but De Gea has found himself level on clean sheets with Pope at the business end of the campaign. : De Gea tops Premier League Golden Glove race. How close are his rivals? Answered

Is clean sheet free?

Incisiv Clean Sheet For $5.99 in the Oculus Store, Incisiv is a great game for goalkeepers to practise their craft from the comfort of home.

Do own goals count against clean sheets?

Own goals do not count as goals for, but do count as goals against for Goalkeepers and do factor into Clean Sheet calculations.

Can a substitute get a clean sheet?

A clean sheet is awarded for not conceding a goal whilst on the pitch and playing at least 60 minutes (excluding stoppage time). If a player has been substituted when a goal is conceded this will not affect any clean sheet bonus.

What is an example of a clean sheet?

What is a clean sheet in soccer? – In soccer, a clean sheet is when a team concedes zero goals in a match. It’s as simple as that! If you stop the opposition from scoring throughout an entire soccer game, you’ve successfully kept a clean sheet. If your opponents score, even if it’s a sloppy goal in the 90th minute, your clean sheet record is gone. Clean sheets are the hallmark of any defensively strong soccer team. When you stop the other team from scoring, you give yourself a great chance to get points on the board. To expand on this point, let’s explain just how important clean sheets can be.

Is 0 0 a clean sheet in sporty bet?

The term clean sheet in footballing terms means to make it through a match without conceding a goal. From a betting perspective the clean sheet market, like most markets, exclude extra time. If a team wins a game 1-0, they have kept a clean sheet. This bet must be settled in 90 minutes.

What is required for clean sheet?

What is a clean sheet in football? – A clean sheet in a football game or otherwise known as a soccer game in the United States of America is as simple as it sounds, to be honest. A clean sheet for a particular team takes place when they do not concede a single goal throughout the entire match that may last for 90 minutes or 120 minutes depending upon whether it is a league or a cup match.

Although a clean sheet is recognised as a team effort, it is most often credited to the goalkeeper for denying the opposing team a sniff at the goal. Commentators and analysts often mention how many clean sheets have been kept by a goalkeeper over the course of a season and although it may not mean much on its own, it essentially represents how good the goalkeeper and defense of one team have been.

The term can also be attributed to the entire team because at the end of the day, it is a collective effort.

What is a good clean sheet percentage?

Ranked! The (genuinely surprising) top 20 Premier League goalkeepers by their clean sheet ratio Do you ever wonder where your club’s goalkeepers rank among the Premier League greats and not-so-greats? No? Look, just work with us here. We’ve calculated the clean-sheet ratio of every goalkeeper in the English top flight since 1992, their percentage showing how often they stopped the opposition from scoring in a match.

1. The very best score between 33% and 50%, keeping a clean sheet every two or three games.
2. Weirdly, that includes Fraser Forster and Joel Robles.
3. Setting a minimum of 50 appearances roots out the part-timers (your Ospinas, your Caballeros) and one-season wonders (Ederson’s time will come, and he wouldn’t top this list anyway).

But don’t worry: that doesn’t leave out anyone major – with apologies to Stuart Taylor – and it still gives us 106 goalkeepers to rank. There are surprises. Forster and Joel sit just outside the top 20, while England No.1 Jordan Pickford is 98th out of 106, just below Boaz Myhill, and the once-brilliant Shay Given is as low as 67th. At No.20 is one of very few players whose name is Kryptonite to FourFourTwo, We learned to spell Papastathopoulos and Blaszczykowski quickly enough. Myrhe? Wrong every time. Wait, not Myrhe – Mhyre. No, Myhre. Myhre. Damn it. The stopper joined Everton in November 1997 to replace a 39-year-old Neville Southall and didn’t concede in his first three games – just as well, seeing as his team-mates scored only once in that time.

He impressed for a season-and-a-half, becoming Norway’s No.1, before injury and incompetence pushed him into a vortex of loans. He did, though, make an unexpected return to Premier League teamsheets with Charlton in 2006, and played nearly 10 consecutive hours of league football at The Valley without conceding.

Oh me oh Myhre, (opens in new tab),19. Hugo Lloris (35.89%) Appearances: 209 • Clean sheets: 75 The Frenchman’s injury-enforced absence last weekend had disastrous consequences: his Spurs side were beaten by Watford, and Lloris lost the opportunity to move up to 18th in our clean-sheet rankings. Devastating. Figuratively and literally, Lloris has been behind an improved Tottenham defence in recent years.

London life started slowly, as Andre Villas-Boas made him wait to end Brad Friedel’s incredible record of 310 consecutive Premier League appearances, but since then Lloris has been a key figure and, now, captain. It’s so easy to forget that just seven weeks ago he made the biggest goalkeeping error in the history of World Cup finals.18.

Mark Bosnich (35.92%) Appearances: 206 • Clean sheets: 74 Although Bosnich deserves contempt for his charades at White Hart Lane and (opens in new tab), his inclusion in our countdown does at least suggest there was nothing faulty about his goalkeeping. It’s perhaps a surprise to see him here, however. The Australian had his moments at Aston Villa but rarely exuded calm, and he would surely rank among the worst of Manchester United’s first-choice keepers over the past few decades (it’s incredible to think they won the title by 18 points in 1999/2000 when goalkeeping duties were shared by Bosnich, Massimo Taibi, Raimond van der Gouw and, for 80 seconds, Nick Culkin). That Szczesny is still only 28 reveals an early start. Three Premier League appearances, half a dozen cup games and a loan at third-tier Brentford amounted to the 20-year-old’s experience when Arsene Wenger declared in January 2011 that Szczesny was Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper.

• A week later, they’d infamously concede four goals in 20 minutes against Newcastle, though none of them were really his fault.
• Wenger got stick for sticking by Szczesny, but the Pole’s performances were better than many made out, and in 2013/14 he shared the Golden Glove with Petr Cech (presumably they got one each).

High-profile errors were the problem. The camel’s back finally broke on New Year’s Day, 2015: Szczesny was to blame for both goals in a 2-0 defeat to Southampton, drew much mockery for sipping casually from his sports bottle within a second of conceding, then collected a fine for having a crafty/soggy cigarette with his post-match shower.

• That was Szczesny’s final Premier League appearance, although he returned to keep a clean sheet in the FA Cup final.
• Unfortunately for Wenger, the man he’d previously afforded so much patience subsequently shone at Roma and replaced the legendary Gigi Buffon at Juventus.
• Maybe Arsenal’s defenders were the problem all along.16.

Jens Lehmann (36.49%) Appearances: 148 • Clean sheets: 54 It’s hard to follow a debut season in which you play every game of an unbeaten league campaign and keep the joint-most clean sheets in the division. True enough, Lehmann – 33 when he joined Arsenal – did falter after his involvement in the 2003/04 Invincibles team as his occasional madcap moments became more frequent.

It culminated in his kamikaze charge and deliberate foul on Samuel Eto’o in the 2006 Champions League Final, which resulted in an early red card – the first in 51 years of European Cup finals. Lehmann did, however, set a new Champions League record for consecutive clean sheets (10) and, in the Premier League, and conceded only 125 goals in 148 games.

Leaking 0.84 goals per game is the second-best rate of anyone on this countdown, and means that even when he didn’t keep a clean sheet, he conceded a miserly 1.3 goals per game. The FFT electronic abacus informs us that’s pretty good.15. Nigel Martyn (36.83%) Appearances: 372 • Clean sheets: 137 Only bastards would refuse to have at least a little sympathy for Martyn, who was an outstanding goalkeeper for a decade-and-a-half but ended up with zero winners’ medals and only 22 England caps. David Seaman was to blame for the latter, although it’s not impossible that there’s an anti-Cornishmen brigade skulking around the FA.

Martyn consistently impressed for Crystal Palace, Leeds and Everton. In 1996/97 he would have won the Premier League Golden Glove, had it existed then, despite Leeds finishing in the bottom half; his 19 clean sheets amounted to five more than anybody else managed that season. It speaks volumes that he commanded two record transfer fees for a goalkeeper and then, having been signed as a 37-year-old backup glovesman, forced his way into the Toffees’ starting XI.

David Moyes called Martyn his “greatest ever signing”, and this guy bought Marouane Fellaini. Twice.14. Ed de Goey (37.40%) Appearances: 123 • Clean sheets: 46 The Dutchman topped the division for clean sheets in 1999/2000 when, admittedly, there was something of a goalkeeping power vacuum in the Premier League. He played a club-record 59 competitive games for Chelsea that season, only to lose his place when Claudio Ranieri preferred Carlo Cudicini’s brooding good looks to De Goey’s wispy ‘tache, thinning hair and perfectly round head. Before he went AWOL at Chelsea to join Real Madrid, which shouldn’t have come as a huge surprise to the Blues considering he’d joined Chelsea by going AWOL at Genk, Courtois spent four years as one of the best keepers in England – arguably the best, for a period.

He was commanding in the air and the 6ft 6in Belgian’s tremendous reach allowed him to pull off some stunning saves. But in contrast to David de Gea, say, Courtois isn’t one to carry a team when defenders don’t perform. For three of his four seasons at Chelsea, Courtois’ clean-sheet ratio topped 40%. In the implosion of 2015/16, it was 22%.12.

Joe Hart (38.15%) Appearances: 325 • Clean sheets: 124 Hart, 31, is in a respectable 12th position but sliding all the time. If we ignored his career after 2016, his previous ratio of clean sheets to appearances would place him 9th in our countdown. Get out, Joe, before you find yourself rubbing shoulders with Brad Guzan and Russell Hoult in here.11. Jerzy Dudek (38.58%) Appearances: 127 • Clean sheets: 49 Although the 2005 Champions League Final made it seem harsh that Dudek was then immediately sidelined for Pepe Reina (though it was nothing compared to Reina being sidelined for Simon Mignolet), it’s hard to argue there wasn’t a significant improvement being made.

Dudek’s starting place had gone to Chris Kirkland for some of the 2004/05 season and it had even come into question as early as 2002, the year after he joined Liverpool. Even so, Dudek gave Liverpool more than one memorable night in Istanbul. He kept clean sheets on a regular basis and earned several UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year nominations.

We’ll draw a veil over (opens in new tab),10. David de Gea (39.00%) Appearances: 241 • Clean sheets: 94 De Gea should rise even further up these rankings in time, having been a victim of circumstance at Manchester United. He wasn’t a guaranteed starter for his first year-and-a-half in England, being only 20 when he arrived; then he had to endure David Moyes and a decline in the quality of the defenders in front of him.

Last season showed why De Gea may just be the world’s best goalkeeper right now, as well as how valuable he is to United: xG statistics suggest his stellar performances earned Jose Mourinho’s side as many as 19 extra points.9. Bobby Mimms (39.34%) Appearances: 61 • Clean sheets: 24 What do you mean ‘who?’.

Mimms was Blackburn’s first-choice goalkeeper (and record signing) as they won promotion and established themselves in the Premier League, before they splashed the cash on Tim Flowers in November 1993. Mimms kept 19 clean sheets in the 1992/93 season, more than any other goalkeeper.

1. So now you know.8.
2. Manuel Almunia (39.45%) Appearances: 109 • Clean sheets: 43 It has to be said: 109 league appearances in eight years at Arsenal doesn’t scream ‘elite’.
3. But Almunia held down a place at a top-four club for three seasons before being Poleaxed by Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski.

Almunia also gave us the exquisite sight of an angry Jens Lehmann. The deposed German complained that “dear manager” Arsene Wenger “shouldn’t humiliate players for too long”, adding that Almunia “has not yet showed he can win matches for us” and that when it comes to expectations, “I can’t imagine he’ll be able to handle that”.

• The Spanish keeper waited six months before responding: “To have someone here who hates me is just amazing.
• I’ve had to put up with it every day since he was out of the team, and even before then.
• I don’t care about him any more.
• In training I work with Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone.
• They are better goalkeepers than him anyway.” 7.

Tomasz Kuszczak (39.68%) Appearances: 63 • Clean sheets: 25 Another surprise entry, Kuszczak benefits from having played in a superb team – that’s, uh, Manchester United rather than West Bromwich Albion – and not very often, yet often enough to reach our 50-game cut-off.

Kuszczak, one of five Polish keepers in our 106-man longlist, kept nine clean sheets in 28 matches even as the Baggies were relegated, then averaged six games and three shutouts per season as a quality backup option at United. If his inclusion feels underwhelming, remember that Kuszczak and Peter Schmeichel were the only players to have two of their efforts nominated for Best Save in the Premier League’s 20th anniversary awards.6.

Carlo Cudicini (39.75%) Appearances: 161 • Clean sheets: 64 Remember him not for being a reliable reserve goalkeeper for eight years at Chelsea and Tottenham, but for his impressive performances in the Blues’ first team for four seasons before that. Given the Italian was already 26 when he joined Chelsea from Castel di Sangro in Serie B for around £200,000, it could be argued that no goalkeeper has outperformed expectations to the same extent that Cudicini did.5.

David Seaman (40.70%) Appearances: 344 • Clean sheets: 140 The Arsenal defence often seemed impenetrable under George Graham, and Seaman’s influence was as much psychological as technical. He was no stranger to a save for the cameras, however, and it’s no surprise to see him cracking the top five here.

Seaman also has the third-best rate of goals conceded per game, with Jens Lehmann beating him to second place on the third decimal point. We can imagine Lehmann calling Seaman regularly to let him know this.4. Peter Schmeichel (41.29%) Appearances: 310 • Clean sheets: 128 Here’s an illustrative little nugget.

1. In 1994/95, a back injury forced Schmeichel to miss 10 of Manchester United’s 42 league games.
2. This means that his already-impressive 21 clean sheets that season, a tally bettered just once in the 23 years since, came in a mere 32 appearances.
3. But Blackburn won the Premier League in 1994/95, even though United let in only 28 goals.

So, with 13 of those goals coming in 10 Schmeichel-less games, the Dane conceded 15 goals in 32 matches and didn’t win the title, Thankfully, Schmeichel did win it on five other occasions, and he makes the top four here despite enduring less successful seasons with Aston Villa and Manchester City in his late thirties.

If you’re wondering, Kasper is 32nd in our rankings, sandwiched between Michel Vorm and Mart Poom. There’s still time to crack the Top 20, junior.3. Edwin van der Sar (42.17%) Appearances: 313 • Clean sheets: 132 It initially seems surprising that Van der Sar should have recorded such a high percentage of clean sheets in his decade in the Premier League, considering four of those seasons were spent at Fulham finishing 13th, 14th, 9th and 13th.

Alex Ferguson is no mug, however, and he knew Van der Sar was well worth a punt even at the age of 34 (although he probably didn’t expect to get six years out of him). As well as keeping a world-record 14 consecutive clean sheets for Manchester United, Van der Sar barely declined at all as he approached 40, and eventually retired on a Champions League final.

1. He cost United £2m.2.
2. Petr Cech (45.68%) Appearances: 440 • Clean sheets: 201 Take note of the jump in that ratio.
3. There’s more distance between Cech in 2nd and Van der Sar in 3rd than there is separating 3rd from 10th.
4. And that’s despite Cech’s ratio falling post-Chelsea.
5. At Arsenal, he is keeping opponents at bay in only 36.45% of games (still enough, mind, for Gunners-era Cech to make this Top 20) whereas in the opposite end of London he was, incredibly, averaging a clean sheet in every other game: 333 appearances, 166 shutouts.

Maintaining a one-in-two clean-sheet record across 10 seasons with a club is stupendous, but we shouldn’t be surprised. Cech’s first season in England was also Jose Mourinho’s. Chelsea conceded only 13 goals in 35 league games before mathematically sealing the title, allowing Carlo Cudicini and Lenny Pidgeley to replace Cech for the final three matches.

That Chelsea side was preposterously stingy and Cech – 22 years old! – was an indispensable part of it. No wonder he is still No.1 for fewest goals conceded per Premier League game (0.83 on average). His twilight years are unfairly taking the shine off a stellar career, but in these rankings at least, Cech is here to stay.

The 36-year-old could play every remaining game in Arsenal’s 2018/19 Premier League season without keeping a single clean sheet and he’d still be second here – albeit second to.1. Pepe Reina (47.02%) Appearances: 285 • Clean sheets: 134 It feels faintly ludicrous that the man who kept a clean sheet more regularly than any other Premier League goalkeeper before or since – and by some margin, too – never picked up a winners’ medal, when the rest of our top five won 16 English top-flight titles between them.

Reina’s shutout-to-appearance rate of 47% is extraordinary considering that in his eight years there, Liverpool’s average finish was fifth. The Spaniard was never even selected for the PFA Team of the Year, even though he won the Golden Glove three years running. But at least Reina’s place at the top of these rankings can indicate his brilliant consistency and consistent brilliance in England.

He didn’t miss a single minute of Premier League action between the start of the 2007/08 season and April 2012, when suspension ended his run of 183 consecutive matches in the competition. While Rafael Benitez’s defensive organisation played a huge role, Reina made a strong case on his own for being the best goalkeeper that the Premier League has seen to date.