MADRID -- On a wet November afternoon at Atletico Madrid's training ground, Jan Oblak wants to set the record straight about some goalkeeping stereotypes.
"We're not crazy," he tells ESPN, moments after learning that he has been voted No. 1 male goalkeeper in this year's FC 100. "We're normal people. But we're special, we're different. I'm really happy I became a goalkeeper."
Oblak is nobody's idea of a goalkeeping maverick. The 28-year-old Slovenian comes across as polite, reserved, even a bit shy. But "normal" doesn't feel right either. After all, he made his professional debut at 16 and earned his first big move abroad at 17.