By Chrysanthus Ikeh
Former Barcelona and Spain goalie, Victor Valdes has been named La Liga’s greatest goalkeeper ever.
A study by the Spanish Centre for Football History and Statistics (CIHEFE) which analysed the careers of every keeper to have graced Spain’s top flight since 1928, named the former Barcelona goalkeeper ahead of several others including Iker Casillas widely believed to be ahead of Valdes.
The study, undertaken by Vidal Viñarás de Blas, analysed the careers of the 790 keepers who have played in the First Division since the beginning of the 1928 league championship. These equate 9.10% of the 8,679 footballers who have played in Spain’s top flight since that year and Valdes came tops.
Victor Valdes made 387 appearances for Barcelona from 2000 till Wednesday, March 26 2014, when his contract expired. But he has been training with Manchester United as he recovers from a cruciate knee ligament injury and will serve as David De Gea’s No.2 for the English premiership side.
