Antti Niemi-Brilliant goalkeeper who has retired today......?

Question

This guy is one of my heroes! I have always played in goal after a late introduction to football and I took real inspiration from his days at Southampton where he was immense for them.

He had been blighted by injury over the last few years and unfortunately retired today one year before he had planned.

With that in mind, What are your best memories of him? Mine has to be that game( I think it was against Fulham) where he saved everything and then went up for a late corner, took the ball on the chest, volleyed it and hit the bar!!

Here is a chance to make your tributes to the blonde bombshell!!! I'd of loved him to of played for my club Villa!!

I think it is a real shame a move to United or Arsenal never materialised as speculated.

Answer 1

Yes he will be missed.  He was a brilliant, underated keeper IMO.  He never got much plaudits but he was always reliable.  

Answer 2

I never knew he was retiring, he was a great goalkeeper, his best days where with hearts in the spl, big strong kepper who didnt take sh*t, i remember when he got into a fight with one of his defenders lol.

Answer 3

I didn't realise he has had to retire!

I really liked him as a goalkeeper and although I have no specific memory of him to share, everytime I saw him play he was consistently good, and at times brilliant

Answer 4

Like most players who did well at southampton, he left. I couldnt give a **** about him. Im still wishing crouch breaks a leg....lets hope sooner rather than later.

Answer 5

ye i thought he was amazing goalkeeper but used to really wind me up as I'm a portsmouth fan, so many times he singly won matches for the rivals, he was definitely better then scumhampton should of been at a much higher club like united, think i remember a big price tag being slapped on him though when everyone was interested. So yeah best memory would have to be one where he was playing for fulham lol

Answer 6

He was one of the players who played the game cos' he loves the game, he was outstanding, also my favourite memory of him was the Fulham game, he was magical. Its a sad day for football

Answer 7

If he didn't retrie, he will still be no.2 goalkeeper behnid Schwarzer.

Answer 8

top top goalkeeper that could have played in any team in europe. was probably the most consistent goalkeeper over the years in the premiership. we will miss his quality