The 10 Worst Goalkeepers Ever

Last updated : 02 November 2008 By Kevin Markey

10. Paul Jones
Wales international who combined spells of consistency with lapses in concentration. Perhaps most memorable was an impersonation of falling timber while playing for Southampton in 2002 that allowed a shot from Sean Gregan to squirm under his body and into the goal. Almost as bad was a performance that led to a 5-1 defeat for Wales on his 50th international appearance, which he had marked by having that number shaven into his hair. Some thought he was trying to predict the result.

9. Dan Lewis
Another Welshman and one immortalised with a match-losing mistake for Arsenal in the 1927 FA Cup Final when a soft shot trickled under his body and richocheted off his elbow into the net, gifting Cardiff the trophy. Afterwards, Lewis claimed his new wool jersey was to blame, creating a tradition in which Arsenal keepers never wear a new jersey for an FA Cup Final.

8. Peter Enckelman
The former Aston Villa keeper has rehabilitated his career at Cardiff but will be forever defined for his criminal gaffe against Birmingham in 2002 when he allowed a throw-in from Olof Mellberg to roll under his foot and into the goal. One fan was so delighted that he ran on to the pitch to mock the Finn, a gesture for which he was jailed. Villa fans thought Enckelman deserved similar punishment.

7. Huerelho Gomes
The Brazilian has caught the eye (but little else) with a run of terrible displays for his new club. Weak on crosses and weak on the results of crosses, Gomes showed hints of his Hall of Shame potential by gifting goals to Stoke and Udinese, but confirmed it at the Emirates with a flapping attempt to deal with Mikael Silvestre's headed goal.

6. Bobby Mimms
Nervous, slight and overrated on his arrival to White Hart Lane, Mimms was the natural predecessor to Gomez. Sold to Blackburn after failing to dislodge the often unreliable Erik Thortsvedt in the Spurs first XI - no easy feat - the former England Under-21 international now coaches Paul Robinson at Blackburn. The mind boggles.

5. Roy Carroll
Northern Irishman who had frequent troubles between the sticks. In four years at Old Trafford, he made headlines only for an arthritic fumble that led to Pedro Mendes's disallowed "goal" from the halfway line and another that gifted Hernan Crespo a goal for AC Milan. Left United, West Ham and Rangers because they couldn't guarantee him first-team football.

4. Allen McKnight
Or to use a nickname coined by West Ham fans, Allen McKnightmare. Signed in 1988, the Northern Irishman played 35 games in his first season, one in the next and none in his last at Upton Park before he found his natural level at Aidrieonians. Remains a fixture on the online nominations for the worst players ever to don the claret and blue.

3. Gary Sprake
No DVD collection of goalkeeping bloopers is complete without an entry from the former Leeds No 1. Perhaps the worst came against Liverpool when he throw the ball into his own net though Elland Road fans still shudder at the memory of the 1970 FA Cup final when he allowed a weak shot from Peter Houseman to slip through his grasp, helping Chelsea to claim a 2-2 draw. They won the replay.

2. Ricardo
What is about Sir Alex Ferguson and cack-handed keepers? The Spaniard made only one first-team appearance in three season at Old Trafford - one spent on loan - but makes our list purely because he was third-choice behind Carroll.

1. Massimo Taibi
Italian who became known as the Blind Venetian in a career with Manchester United that lasted only four games. Chief among his howlers was one that allowed the tamest of efforts from Matthew Le Tisser to trickle under his frame. Taibi was last seen turning fans' stomachs in Serie B.