32 Greatest footballers in the history of the English Premier League - Part 28
10. David Seaman:
David Seaman is a former English football player who has performed for many clubs. However, his most “famous” run was during his time with the North London club Arsenal. The English player used to play as a goalkeeper for all the
clubs that he performed for and was also the goalkeeper for the English national team during his prime time. He retired from football on 13th January 2004 after a shoulder injury that he suffered while training.
David Seaman started playing football from the English club Leeds United but later joined Peterborough United as he had no chance in Leeds United of being the first team goalkeeper. After performing for two consecutive seasons
for the English club Peterborough United, Seaman made a move to another English team, Birmingham City. However, the dynamic goal stopper did not settle in the club and made a move to Queens Park Rangers where he stayed for four consecutive years.
After gaining a lot of experience from all the clubs that he played for, he was seen as one of the best in English football and was considered by the North London Club Arsenal who finally took a chance to sign him in 1990. The
Englishman decided to stay there for most of his time, and was a part of the English team till 2003, taking his tally to 13 years for Arsenal only.
He touched the peak of his career while playing for Arsenal during the early 2000s. David Seaman was the goalkeeper of Arsenal as they won three League Championships in 1991, 1998 and 2002. He also helped Arsenal in winning four
FA Cups during the years 1993, 1998, 2002 and 2003. He also helped Arsenal in picking up the League Cup in 1993 and the European Cup Winners Cup in 1994.
While playing for Arsenal, Seaman managed to perform for the English team as well and during his time with Arsenal, he managed to appear for the English team during the FIFA World Cup 1998 and FIFA World Cup 2002. Not only did
he manage to feature in the two World Cups, he was also a first choice goalkeeper for England during Euro 1996 and Euro 2000. After appearing for the English team for so many times, he managed to become the second highest appearing goalkeeper for England as
he comes second to Peter Shilton and has 75 caps.
Seaman managed to touch the peak of his career during his “amazing” performances for England and Arsenal from 1996 to early 2000s. He managed to perform extraordinarily for England during the UEFA Euro 1996 and also performed fabulously
when he played for Arsenal during their UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup campaign in the same season. He also helped the North London club with his superb saves in the English Premier League and the FA Cup in 2002-2003. During that season, Seaman made the best save of
his career as he managed to deny Paul Peschisolido in the FA Cup 2002-2003 semi final when he ran from one pole to the other and “palmed” the ball out which almost found the net. The footballing campaigns that Seaman was a part of during the mid 90s are still
considered to be the “best” for Seaman so far.
Even though he is still considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the history of Arsenal, the highs and lows did eventually come in his career. Two of the worst mistakes in his career eventually cost his team a lot as he
conceded a long ranged goal in the last minute of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1995 which was against Nayim. The other “low” that came in his life was against Brazil when he was not positioned perfectly during a free kick that was taken by Ronaldinho.
Some say that the goal was pure class, while some say that it was all his fault as Ronaldinho scored from a superbly chipped free kick and England were knocked out of the 2002 FIFA World Cup quarter final.
One fact about Seaman is that the English goalkeeper is left handed but he throws the football from the right hand and also shoots it with his right foot.
Despite making a few errors in his career, he is still considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the history of the English club Arsenal, and England.
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