Rene Higuita

Higuita took on the ‘sweeper keeper’ role long before the days of Manuel Neuer and he will go down in history as one of football’s most recognisable goalkeepers.

Higuita made a name for himself as a set-piece specialist, scoring 41 club goals throughout his career.

Higuita’s impact on the international stage went further than the scorpion kick. He notched three goals in 68 appearances for Colombia, with the highlight coming from open play in the 1-0 victory over Peru in the Copa Centenario de Armenia.

He developed a reputation for his crazy style of play, earning the nickname El Loco – a term that translates as ‘The Madman’.

Dimitar Ivankov

The highest goal scoring keeper in European football, Ivankov notched 42 goals throughout his professional career. The majority of his career was spent in his native Bulgaria, however he did spend some time in Turkey and Cyprus.

Ivankov played 64 times for Bulgaria, earning a call up to the squad for various qualifying matches for major tournaments.

⚜️ GK Stat Of The Day ⚜️

We've all heard of the goalscoring GK's in South America, but who is top of the list in European club ⚽? ??

The honour goes to Dimitar Ivankov from ??

With 42 goals to his name along with 64 international caps, will his record ever be broken? pic.twitter.com/2MhWQRfJtz

— Sparta GK ? (@Sparta_GK) September 2, 2020

After a period on the sidelines, Ivankov became Bulgaria’s number one in 2004 and held that spot until March 2010.

His career highlight came whilst playing for Kayserispor. Ivankov was sublime in the 2007/08 Turkish Cup final, saving three penalties while scoring two of his own. It was a one of a kind performance.

Johnny Vegas Fernandez

After a career spanning 20 years and 14 different clubs, Fernandez ranks third on our list of top scoring goalkeepers. He was most prolific at his first club, Sport Boys, notching 20 goals in 189 league games.

While he played just three times for his native Peru, Fernandez earned a reputation in South America for his impressive resume of goals.

However, just one of his career goals came in the Copa Libertadores. 30 of Fernandez’s goals were penalties, nine were outfield strikes or from indirect free-kicks while six were from direct free-kicks.

No matter what the situation was, Fernandez always offered a genuine threat in the final third.

Jose Luis Chilavert

Named in World Soccer’s list of the 100 Greatest Footballers Of All-Time, Chilavert was one of the best goalkeepers of his generation.

He was nicknamed ‘The Bulldog’ and often wore a cartoon bulldog on his jersey. 48 of Chilavert’s 59 club goals came at Velez Sarsfield.

The Paraguay star enjoyed plenty of success there, winning four league titles as well as a Copa Libertadores crown and victory in the 1994 Intercontinental Cup.

Unlike other leading goalkeepers, Chilavert managed to make an impact for his national side. Over the course of his career, Chilavert scored an impressive eight goals in 74 matches for Paraguay.

Rogerio Ceni

Without a shadow of a doubt, Ceni is the greatest scoring goalkeeper of all-time.

He played the entirety of his 25-year career for Sao Paulo, notching 1,257 appearances for the Brazilian giants. A true legend of the game, Ceni holds a number of important records.

He has scored more free-kicks (61) than any other keeper, has scored more penalties (70) than any other keeper and sits 10th in a list of Sao Paulo’s top goal scorers.

Ceni played for Brazil on 16 occasions but failed to score for the national team. However, he did play at two FIFA World Cups – including the successful 2002 tournament in Germany.

32) Zac Taylor – Bengals

Perhaps slightly harsh on Taylor, the Bengals head coach looked out of his depth at times in 2019 but NFL odds suggest an improved outlook ahead of this season. He at least deserves another chance to prove his worth.

With first round NFL Draft pick Joe Burrow at quarterback and players returning from injury, the pressure is on Taylor to make Cincinnati competitive in the AFC North.

31) Matt Patricia – Lions

Patricia was an excellent defensive coordinator in New England but it just hasn’t worked out for him since joining the Detroit Lions. Patience is starting to wear thin at Ford Field and you can’t really blame Lions fans after two sub-par years.

Detroit allowed the second most yards per game in the NFL last season while also shipping the sixth highest number of points. The clock is ticking for Patricia ahead of 2020.

30) Joe Judge – Giants

It is difficult to rank Judge based on his influence as a special teams coordinator but he has been tipped by many in the Patriots organisation to enjoy success in the NFL.

However, he is likely to find it difficult in 2020 – this Giants side is hardly blessed with talent and we could see Judge slump to a losing record in his rookie season.

29) Doug Marrone – Jaguars

Marrone is one of the NFL’s worst head coaches when it comes to man management. There have been constant feuds at Jacksonville during his reign and it is hard to envision a drastic turnaround in the 2020 NFL season.

The Jaguars have gone from a 10-6 team to one that has gone 11-21 over the last couple of years. Marrone’s time at the franchise could be coming to an end.

28) Kevin Stefanski – Browns

Again, this is a little harsh seeing as we have little to go off with Stefanski. However, he may find himself out of his depth as an NFL head coach – only time will tell though.

The Browns have plenty of talent on the roster so it really is sink or swim time for Stefanski. If he can get Cleveland to fulfil their potential, the Browns could be set for a big year.

27) Adam Gase – Jets

Labelled by many as an offensive minded coach, it would be fair to claim Gase has failed to live up to the hype in recent years.

Gase’s offense have ranked 31st and 32nd in the last two years and his teams have recorded three losing seasons in a row. He might not be at the Jets for too much longer.

26) Bill O’Brien – Texans

O’Brien is becoming a meme. He has got lucky in recent years with the Texans competing in a week AFC South but he needs to show drastic improvement in the 2020 NFL season.

With just one losing season in six years, 26th may be a tad harsh but O’Brien has had enough opportunities. Houston need to win the division and challenge in the playoffs this year.

25) Vic Fangio – Broncos

Fangio has been labelled a defensive genius over the years but the Broncos fell short on that side of the ball last year. Is he a long term head coach option? Possibly not.

Denver have tried to focus on offense in the NFL Draft in recent years – only time will tell if that decision was brave or foolish but Fangio’s position is certainly rocky ahead of 2020. 

24) Anthony Lynn – Chargers

The Chargers were one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL last year, finishing with a 5-11 record. And with Philip Rivers now out of the door, Anthony Lynn is under pressure.

With Derwin James suffering a major injury setback ahead of 2020, Lynn is on the back foot and plenty of punters will be keeping an eye on NFL news as the new season edges closer.

23) Dan Quinn – Falcons

The early stages of Quinn’s career were very promising indeed but the Atlanta head coach has failed to inspire confidence in the last few years.

Known for being the head coach of the team that blew a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl, Quinn is on the hot seat in 2020. It is last chance saloon for the Falcons head coach.

22) Matt Rhule – Panthers

On paper, Rhule should be a roaring success in the NFL. He has a rebuild job on his hands at Carolina but the Panthers could thrive with his college style playbook.

He led Baylor to 11 wins in 2019 and is experienced enough to have a crack at the NFL. It could go either way for Carolina this year; give Rhule time though – he deserves it.

21) Matt LaFleur – Packers

LaFleur led the Packers to a 13-3 record but it would be foolish to state that their success was all down to him. When you have Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, anything is possible.

With rumours suggesting that there is a rift between LaFleur and his quarterback, we could see the Packers tumble in 2020. LaFleur needs another big year to win his critics over.

20) Kliff Kingsbury – Cardinals

Kingsbury has potential. It was a slow start for the Arizona head coach but the Cardinals certainly showed signs of life in the second half of the 2019 NFL campaign.

The NFC West is one of the toughest divisions in football and Kingsbury will earn plaudits for his influence if he can lead Arizona to a .500 season. It won’t be easy but it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility.

19) Brian Flores – Dolphins

Flores did well to lead Miami to five wins in 2019 and neutrals will be hoping that the AFC East side can climb the NFL ladder. The Dolphins got stronger and stronger as the year went on.

Flores was praised for his role in Miami’s successful NFL Draft and he could be one of the top climbers in the NFL head coach rankings next year.

18) Jon Gruden – Raiders

Perhaps a little high on this list, Gruden has made some excellent decisions as head coach but he has also made a few mistakes. Ultimately, he is a middle of the road option.

With a career record of 106 wins to 102 defeats, Gruden is hardly consistent and we could see the Raiders wring the changes with expectations high after moving to Las Vegas.

17) Matt Nagy – Bears

Nagy went from hero to zero in the space of a year in 2019. Widely regarded as one of the worst coaches last season, Nagy came under intense scrutiny for his poor play-calling.

He features in the middle of this list but could easily climb into the top 10 rankings if he can open up the playbook and get back to his 2018 form.

16) Mike Zimmer – Vikings

Zimmer is like marmite – you either love him or you hate him. His regular season record is excellent but Minnesota have won just two playoff games in his six years in charge.

That just isn’t good enough and Zimmer has been at fault for a few of their shortcomings. If Zimmer can get his side rolling early on, he could climb our NFL head coach rankings.

15) Ron Rivera – Washington

Rivera has been around in the NFL for years but he has yet to really crack the big time. With just three plus .500 records in nine years, the jury is still out on Rivera.

He has a winning record but has relied on the impact of top defensive players, particularly during his time at Carolina. At Washington, his coaching skills will be put to the test.

14) Mike McCarthy – Cowboys

McCarthy was a top five head coach back in his heyday and some time off may reignite the 56-year-old’s career. You could argue that he was too set in his ways at Green Bay…

Now with the Dallas Cowboys, McCarthy may thrive in the NFC East. He has a 125-77-2 career record as a head coach and can build around Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott.

13) Mike Vrabel – Titans

Vrabel has been a pillar of consistency since taking charge of the Titans, winning nine games in each of his first two seasons. In addition, he led Tennessee to a win over the New England Patriots in the playoffs.

He has been bold with decision making, choosing to bench Marcus Mariota mid-season but his choices have paid off so far. Could he be the NFL’s next superstar head coach?

12) Sean McDermott – Bills

You have to be impressed with McDermott’s early impact at the Bills. He has turned Buffalo into genuine contenders in the AFC and there is certainly reason for optimism after a 10-6 campaign in 2019.

With Stefon Diggs added on offense and Daryl Williams on defence, the Bills have trusted McDermott with investing for short term success. Let’s hope for McDermott’s sake that decision pays off.

11) Frank Reich – Colts

Reich hit the ground running in 2018 but injuries and Andrew Luck’s retirement threw the Colts head coach off guard in 2019. However, he looks set to bounce back this year.

Indianapolis are Super Bowl dark horses and Reich’s coaching strategy will be key to their chances. The AFC is there for the taking and Reich could be destined to climb these rankings in the coming years.

10) Mike Tomlin – Steelers

Tomlin has coached in the NFL for 13 years now and has an excellent record, finishing .500 or better in all 13 seasons. And yes, that includes the 2019 campaign with Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges at quarterback.

Ben Roethlisberger has helped of course but Tomlin deserves plenty of credit and is worthy of his status as a top 10 NFL head coach.

9) Bruce Arians – Buccaneers

Arians has had to deal with his fair share of mediocre quarterbacks during his career, with the likes of Drew Stanton, Ryan Lindley, Blaine Gabbert and Jameis Winston not quite cutting it at NFL level.

Despite that, Arians has a 65-42 record during his seven seasons as a head coach. With Tom Brady under center, we might be about to see the full range of Arians’ coaching skills.

8) John Harbaugh – Ravens

Harbaugh is a veteran head coach, having spent 12 years in the NFL. In fact, his teams have been incredibly consistent with just one season with a sub .500 record.

With Lamar Jackson at quarterback, Baltimore tick all the right boxes to push for Super Bowl glory. The Ravens are primed and Harbaugh’s schemes can give Baltimore the edge in 2020.

7) Sean McVay – Rams

McVay became the youngest head coach in NFL history back in 2017 but he has established himself as one of the top coaches in the league. With a .688 win percentage, his record backs that up.

While the Rams had their issues in 2019, McVay has a 33-15 record over his first three years in the NFL. It wouldn’t be a huge shock to see LA get back to their best this year.

6) Kyle Shanahan – 49ers

After a slow start to life on the west coast, Shanahan has gone from strength to strength in recent months and he led the 49ers to the Super Bowl for the second time since 1993.

He developed his reputation whilst offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons but is now more than capable of holding his own against the best coaches in the National Football League.

5) Doug Pederson – Eagles

Pederson has just four years of coaching experience but the Eagles boss already has a Super Bowl title to his name. That is incredible, particularly given Carson Wentz’s injury history.

Philadelphia failed to live up to the hype in 2019 though so you could argue Pederson’s spot in the top five is a tad generous. He could prove himself in the 2020 NFL season.

4) Pete Carroll – Seahawks

Carroll has to be mentioned in the best NFL head coach discussion. Seattle’s draft strategy has been hit and miss in recent years but the Seahawks remain competitive – and one of the main reasons is Carroll’s play calling.

Never afraid to make bold decisions, Carroll always puts the team first. If the Seahawks are lucky on the injury front, they could be in the Super Bowl hunt come the playoffs.

3) Andy Reid – Chiefs

Reid is arguably the most underrated head coach in NFL history – he has received criticism over the years but the Chiefs coach finally got his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy earlier this year.

His teams have won 10 or more regular season games in six of the last seven years. Reid is a pillar of consistency and more Super Bowl success could be on the cards.

2) Sean Payton – Saints

Payton is one of the most experienced head coaches in the NFL and he has never finished a season with fewer than seven wins. That in itself is some achievement.

An offensive genius, Payton has built his offense around Drew Brees. If you are looking for a head coach to construct a game-winning drive, Payton is your man.

1) Bill Belichick – Patriots

The greatest NFL head coach of all-time. Belichick is the master of getting the most out of his players and his astute coaching gives the Patriots an edge on their rivals.

With six Super Bowl triumphs since 2012, Belichick has been the driving force behind New England’s success in recent years. Brady has gone but it would be foolish to write Belichick off.

Peter Schmeichel

Schmeichel became the first goalkeeper to score in the Premier League era in Aston Villa’s 3-2 defeat to Everton in October 2001.

The big Dane smashed home a superb volley at the back post to score the ninth goal of his career.

Arguably the greatest goalkeeper in Premier League history, that strike against Everton was Schmeichel’s first and last goal in English football.

He did, however, score for Manchester United in a UEFA Cup clash with Rotor Volgograd in 1995.

Brad Friedel

It looked like Friedel had snatched a late point for Blackburn when the Rovers goalkeeper scored from close range as the clock ticked into injury time.

However, what followed sent shockwaves across the Premier League.

Charlton went down the other end and Claus Jensen snatched a famous victory.

The Valley crowd were in raptures while Friedel was left on the ground with his head in his hands. This is undoubtedly one of the most eventful ends to a Premier League fixture.

Paul Robinson

Robinson became the third goalkeeper to score a Premier League goal in March 2007 but he also became the first to score from a free-kick.

Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster was left red-faced after misjudging the bounce midway through the second half.

One of the mot fortuitous goals in Premier League history, Robinson’s strike was special for a number of reasons.

To this day, he remains the only England goalkeeper to score a top flight goal – and he did so against a fellow Three Lions star.

Tim Howard

The windy conditions on Merseyside played a big part in Howard’s goal against Bolton, with the ball travelling strongly over the helpless Adam Bogdan.

In fact, Howard had some kind words for his counterpart in the immediate aftermath of the contest.

While it was some strike from Everton’s goalkeeper, Bolton had the last laugh as goals from David Ngog and Gary Cahill earned the Wanderers a 2-1 win.

However, Howard’s strike will live long in the memory for Toffees fans.

Asmir Begovic

One of the most recent Premier League goals from a keeper and quite possibly the best, Begovic’s strike earned a place in the Guinness World Records for the longest goal in competitive football.

The Stoke man’s effort was officially recorded at 91.9m and came less than 30 seconds into the contest.

It was a fantastic strike and one that will forever be associated with Stoke’s tenure in the Premier League.

This was a once in a lifetime moment and Begovic’s effort is unlikely to be emulated at the highest level of English football.

Alisson Becker

On May 16th 2021, Alisson Becker became the sixth goalkeeper in Premier League history to score when he notched an injury-time winner for Liverpool against West Bromwich Albion.

The goal ensured that Liverpool, Premier League predictions giants, kept their top four destiny in their own hands and Alisson was clearly overcome with emotion at the final whistle.

The Brazilian came up for a late corner and connected with an inch-perfect header from Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross to spark incredible celebrations on the Liverpool bench.

Videos of the Alisson goal went viral on social media, with millions of football fans around the world wanting to watch the Liverpool goalkeeper score one of the most important goals of the Premier League season.

Wilfred Ndidi

Ndidi has been a revelation for Leicester City this season, really coming into his own under Brendan Rodgers. The Foxes are in the hunt to qualify for the Champions League this season and Ndidi has been central to their success over the last nine months.

With three games to go, Ndidi has made the third most tackles in the Premier League. His performances have earned plaudits from some of Europe’s top clubs and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Ndidi feature prominently in transfer betting tips this summer.

He is never going to be a box-to-box midfielder but Ndidi is excellent in his current role. At 23 years old, Ndidi has time on his side and a successful career looks likely.

Ruben Neves

Neves and Wolves go hand-in-hand. The Portuguese midfielder suits the Molineux club to a tee and plenty of punters will be keeping a close eye on Wolves in online betting odds ahead of the 2020/2021 Premier League campaign.

We know all about Neves’ sensational goal haul but he brings so much more to Wolves than just goals. Watch this space, the 23-year-old could work his way up this list of the Premier League’s top midfielders in the coming years.

To climb our rankings, Neves must start taking a match by the scruff of the neck on a regular basis. Wolves are building something special at Molineux and Neves will be key to their long term project.

Rodri

I wasn’t convinced by Rodri when he first signed for Manchester City but he has made the holding midfield role his own in recent months. Fernandinho is now a shadow of his former self and Rodri has taken over as City’s chief defensive midfielder.

He is never going to be one of those players who steals the back page headlines but Rodri is certainly talented and his career is heading in the right direction. In another year or two, he could have climbed further up our best Premier League midfielder rankings.

Discipline remains a slight issue but Rodri is still adapting to the Premier League and that will come in time. Watch this space, Rodri ticks all the right boxes to continue improving and he is one to watch in 2021/22.

Jordan Henderson

Yes, that’s right – Henderson ranks in our top 10 Premier League midfielders. Following in the footsteps of Steven Gerrard was never going to be easy but Henderson has exceeded expectations as Liverpool captain. In fact, Henderson has more than held his own in centre midfield.

Henderson will miss the rest of the season but Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that the Reds captain will lift the trophy on the final day. Liverpool will be well fancied in outright winner odds to make it back-to-back Premier League titles next season.

While rival fans continue to criticise Henderson, he has matured into a competent footballer in recent times and deserves a spot on this list. 

Jack Grealish

Next up on our list is Grealish. Aston Villa are involved in a relegation battle and Dean Smith will be relying on the 24-year-old in the coming weeks. If anyone is capable of stepping up to the plate and leading Villa to safety, it is Grealish.

Grealish is Villa through and through but he has the chance to go right to the top of the Premier League. Loyalty is to be admired, particularly in the modern game, but he is almost too good for this Villa side – he is certainly the most gifted player on the team.

Linked with some of England’s biggest clubs, Grealish could be set to leave Villa Park this summer – whether the club stay in the Premier League or drop into the Championship.

Georginio Wijnaldum

Arguably the most underrated player in the Premier League, Wijnaldum has come into his own in recent months. The Liverpool star has missed just one league game this season and his influence has been key to their success in 2019/20.

888sport betting expert betting tips followers will be keeping an eye on Premier League odds for next season as we enter the summer months. Even if Liverpool decide to invest in the transfer window, Wijnaldum’s spot in the starting line-up should be safe.

If the Netherlands international can add more goals and assists to his game, he could climb further up our best Premier League midfielders rankings.

N’Golo Kante

Kante has been one of the most consistent players in English football since joining Leicester City in 2015. Now plying his trade for Chelsea, the Frenchman is exceptional at carrying out his midfield ‘sweeper’ role in front of the back four.

The Blues midfielder has racked up solid numbers when it comes to interceptions, tackles and breaking up attacks. While he hasn’t been quite as dominant as in previous years, Kante is still clear as the Premier League’s elite defensive midfielder.

Chelsea have been hit and miss this season but Kante has been one of their most impressive players. While not quite Claude Makelele, he is of the same mould as his compatriot.

Bruno Fernandes

Potentially one of the best January signings in Premier League history, Fernandes has lit up the top flight in recent months. The former Sporting Lisbon midfielder has flourished since moving to Old Trafford and Manchester United’s resurgence is largely down to him.

At 25 years old, Fernandes is in the prime of his career. He has been directly involved in 14 goals in just 11 Premier League games since joining the club and he will be central to their chances of success for years to come.

The Red Devils will be well fancied in top four betting odds for next season – and the title could be a genuine aim if Fernandes manages to carry his form into 2021/22.

Paul Pogba

It looks like the break in play has done Pogba the world of good. The Manchester United star has struggled with injury problems in recent times but he is undoubtedly one of the most gifted players in the Premier League when fully fit.

The Pogba-Fernandes partnership is thriving and the Old Trafford faithful are dreaming of Premier League glory. With the Frenchman firing on all cylinders, the Red Devils could be challenging at the top of the table.

Pogba is a unique talent – a rare blend of skill, strength and speed gives him an edge over his peers. Here’s to hoping he can stay fit for the entire 2021/22 campaign.

Kevin de Bruyne

The best midfielder in the Premier League by some distance, De Bruyne is an absolute joy to watch. The Belgium star is dominant in an exceptional Manchester City midfield and he is on track to top Thierry Henry’s record of 20 assists in a single season.

De Bruyne has been directly involved in 29 goals in 33 league games this campaign and City are a completely different proposition when the Belgian is off the pitch. On current form, he deserves his place in the Ballon d’Or conversation.

Man City are always a popular pick in football tips today and it would be foolish to write the Blues off with De Bruyne in sparkling form.