With the increasing demands of the position, injuries, mental fitness and heavy criticism of errors could be reducing the longevity of stoppers
Former Tottenham No.1 Erik Thorstvedt once described playing as a goalkeeper as “a privileged life".
David de Gea would beg to differ.
A player of undoubted world-class quality, the Manchester United man has made three errors in his last four games – as many as he had made in his first 123 appearances for the club.
Editors' Picks
The criticism he has subsequently received shows just how much the footballing landscape has changed since the likes of Edwin van der Sar and Oliver Kahn all enjoyed extremely long, and illustrious, careers at the very top level – appreciated throughout.