Remembering the 'best keeper of all time'
Published 22 October, 2008, 14:01
Edited 21 September, 2009, 12:30
Lev Yashin is widely accepted as one of world's greatest ever goalkeepers, but the Soviet legend didn't have much time to revel in his successes, having died at the age of 60. Known as the Black Panther, he would have tu
Throughout the 1950s and 60s he astounded football fans by making breath-taking saves and took the art of goalkeeping to new levels.
Known as the Black Panther – he always wore a black kit – Yashin had a remarkable knack of being able to save penalties.
Nikita Simonyan, another Soviet great, who only ever scored once against Yashin, remembers how good the goalkeeper was.
“When he played in goal, he gave his defenders extra confidence, as they knew if the opposition scored – it would be from a shot that was impossible to save,” he said. “He was such a commanding presence not just in his penalty area, but he was brilliant at anticipating dangerous moments. He didn’t have any weak points in his game. There are some great goalkeepers today, like Buffon and Van Der Saar, but none of them are as good as Yashin.”
Unlike Simonyan, who played for Spartak Moscow, Yashin devoted his career to Dynamo Moscow.
AFP Photo
He worked for the club after he retired from football, but at the age of just 60, he died following complications after having a leg amputated due to a knee injury.
However, his presence can still be felt around the stadium where Lev spent much of his life.
It wasn't just with his club side where Yashin excelled. The Soviet national team had one of their most successful periods ever with the Black Panther in goal, winning Olympic Gold in 1956 and the European Championships in 1960.
Yashin didn't just excel in football. He was also a handy ice hockey goaltender. So good in fact, he would go on to win the Soviet Cup with Dynamo in 1953.
Three-time Olympic champion, Vitaly Davydov, said Yashin had a big impact on the development of the sport in the Soviet Union.
“Lev Yashin is a footballing legand, but was also good at hockey,” he said. “During the 50s hockey was only starting to develop in the Soviet Union. We're very grateful to Yashin as he not only went on to inspire hockey players he played with, but also future generations.”
Yashin is still remembered fondly today. Every year in Moscow, a tournament is held to remember him.
“I've already lost count of the number of tournaments that have been played in memory to Lev. Each time it's being played, I get a very nervous, but I am also so grateful to the organisers, and the participants, for having a tournament in Lev's memory,” Valentina Yashina, the goalkeepers wife, said.
There have been many good goalkeepers over the last few decades. But only one keeper has ever been crowned European Footballer of the Year.
That honour went to Yashin in 1963 and 19 years on from his death, the Black Panther is still seen as one of the world's best.
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