Top Five Goalkeepers in 2010/2011 Season – Portuguese Primeira Liga Special
The last Campaign had its share of goalkeeping errors and miraculous saves. Some keepers were a class above their peers; others are not even worthy of mentioning. Bettor.com analyzes a list of the five keepers who were outstanding in the 2010/11 Season.
5. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Hugo-Ventura-c16424 (Portimonense SC)
Definitely the future goalkeeper of Portugal, the relatively inexperienced 23-year-old started his career with Porto but could not break into the first team because of Helton.
Loan Spells at Olhanense and Portimonense S.C gave him some much needed match minutes but as he is only a back-up goalkeeper he starts at the beginning of our list.
4. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/José-Moreira-c19409 (Benfica)
The rather inconsistent http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Moreira-c26795 can be the best keeper in Portugal on his day, but those days come in short abundance.
Starting out as an attacking midfielder, he turned to goalkeeping after the persuasion of his father and signed for Benfica in 1999.
He has had some scintillating performances for the Eagles and is particularly remembered for saving the penalty for the Eagles in the Portuguese Cup Final. He has also received a single cap for his country.
But due to falling down the pecking order, the Selecao International will have to do with a fourth place in our list.
3. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Quim-c30219 (Sporting Braga)
After moving from Benfica in 2010, Quim has been one of Braga’s most consistent performers. With him in the goal sticks, Braga were able to embark on a run to the UEFA Europa League final, where they eventually lost to the mighty Porto.
The Portuguese International started his career with Braga but left in 2004 for Benfica. At Estadio da Luz, Quim was the undisputed first choice and only an injury in the 2002/05 season prevented him from dominating the headlines.
His shot-stopping was at its best during the 2009/10 campaign as he conceded less than 20 goals the entire season. The Portuguese International is not higher up this list because he spent more time on the treatment table than on the pitch last season.
2. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rui-Patrício-c31903 (Sporting CP)
Originally playing as a striker, the 6 ft 2 inches Portuguese International found his place between the goal-posts after signing for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sporting-89-c40576.
At Estadio Jose Alvalade, he became the first choice keeper after beating fierce competition for the number one jersey. The former Leiria Marrazes man has retained his starting-eleven berth ever since, although he was the subject of transfer to Italian giants
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan in 2008.
His performances have been excellent and consistent but they have not been spectacular enough to be on top of this list.
1. Helton (Porto)
The second Portista on our list is definitely the better one and is undisputedly the best goalkeeper in Portugal at the moment.
His crucial saves and commanding presence on the backline has been the foundation of success for Andre Villas-Boas’s side. But unfortunately his services are not fully appreciated with the Brazilian national team mostly due to the brilliance of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Julio-c19950 Caesar.
He started his career with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Portugal-c2984 with União de Leiria. After proving his worth at Dr. Magalhães Pessoa Estadio, he moved to Porto and has been there ever since.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Helton-c16018 was in sensational form in the last campaign and capped of the season in style by lifting the UEFA Europa League trophy on his 33rd birthday.
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