Who are the strangest goalies to ever guard the net in NHL history. What bizarre behaviors and quirks made these netminders stand out from their peers. How did their eccentricities impact their careers and teams.
The Peculiar World of NHL Goaltenders: An Overview
In the fast-paced, high-stakes world of professional hockey, goaltenders occupy a unique and often misunderstood position. These masked guardians of the net are tasked with the unenviable job of stopping frozen rubber discs hurtling towards them at breakneck speeds. It’s no wonder that over the years, the hockey world has come to expect a certain level of eccentricity from its netminders.
The phrase “crazy goalie” has become something of a hockey cliché, but it’s rooted in a long history of peculiar personalities who have manned the crease. From superstitious rituals to on-ice meltdowns, the annals of NHL history are filled with goaltenders whose behavior was as unpredictable as the pucks they faced.
Tuukka Rask: The Shootout Rage Machine
At number 10 on our list of the weirdest NHL goaltenders is Tuukka Rask, the Finnish netminder known for his exceptional skills and equally exceptional temper. Rask’s particular brand of eccentricity manifests in his intense hatred for shootouts, a dislike that often boils over into spectacular displays of frustration.
During his time with the Providence Bruins in the AHL, Rask’s post-shootout meltdown became the stuff of legend. The incident, which involved Rask violently smashing his stick and throwing milk crates onto the ice, went viral and cemented his reputation as a goalie with a fiery temper.
How often does Rask lose his cool after a shootout loss? A 2013 study suggested that Rask had approximately a 33% chance of “absolutely freaking out” following a shootout defeat. While more recent statistics aren’t available, it’s safe to say that Rask’s aversion to the one-on-one format hasn’t diminished over time.
Roman Cechmanek: The Unorthodox Unibrow
Coming in at number 9 is Roman Cechmanek, a goaltender whose unconventional style extended far beyond his distinctive unibrow. Cechmanek gained notoriety during his time with the Philadelphia Flyers for his unorthodox technique of making saves with his head, a practice that became known among Flyers fans as “skull saves.”
While most goaltenders try to avoid taking pucks to the head, Cechmanek seemed to relish it. His unique style was effective during the regular season, but it was his playoff performances that truly set him apart – and not in a good way.
In the 2001-02 playoffs, Cechmanek’s eccentricity reached new heights when he skated to center ice during a game and began berating his teammates for their poor play. This unusual motivational technique didn’t go over well with his fellow Flyers, who reportedly fired pucks at his head during the next practice as retribution.
Tim Thomas: The Politically Charged Puck-Stopper
Tim Thomas, number 8 on our list, was known for his aggressive style of play and his equally aggressive off-ice opinions. On the ice, Thomas was not afraid to take matters into his own hands, often retaliating against opponents who encroached on his crease or took liberties with his teammates.
Off the ice, Thomas made headlines for his political beliefs, most notably when he declined to attend the White House ceremony honoring the Boston Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup victory. Thomas cited his belief that the federal government had “grown out of control” as his reason for skipping the event.
Thomas’s eccentricity extended to his social media presence, where he shared articles warning of global economic meltdown and questioned the importance of hockey in the face of larger societal issues. His decision to take a year off from hockey in 2012-13 to focus on “friends, family, and faith” further added to his reputation as one of the NHL’s more unconventional personalities.
Turk Broda: The Playoff Pancake Prodigy
Turk Broda, our number 7 pick, was a legendary playoff performer for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1940s and early 1950s. When asked about the secret to his postseason success, Broda’s response was as quirky as it was memorable: “The bonus money for winning wasn’t much but I always needed it. Or maybe I was just too dumb to know the situation was serious.”
Broda’s eccentricity extended beyond his laid-back attitude towards high-pressure situations. He was also involved in a highly publicized weight-loss challenge dubbed “The Battle of the Bulge” by the Toronto media. Maple Leafs owner Conn Smythe threatened to replace Broda with two AHL goalies if he didn’t drop his playing weight to 190 pounds before the 1949-50 season.
The situation culminated in a public weigh-in on the eve of opening night, with Toronto’s media watching breathlessly as Broda stepped on the scale. In a moment of high drama, Broda weighed in at 189 pounds, narrowly keeping his job and cementing his place in hockey lore.
Ed Belfour: The Eagle’s Eccentric Flight
Ed Belfour, affectionately known as “Crazy Eddie” to fans, rounds out the top 6 of our list. Belfour’s nickname was well-earned, thanks to his intense on-ice demeanor and his numerous off-ice incidents.
On the ice, Belfour was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his superstitious routines. He would often be seen obsessively adjusting his equipment, smoothing the ice in his crease, and talking to his goalposts. These quirks, while strange to outsiders, were an integral part of Belfour’s preparation and contributed to his success as one of the NHL’s elite goaltenders.
Off the ice, Belfour’s eccentricities occasionally landed him in hot water. He had several run-ins with law enforcement, including a notable incident in 2000 where he allegedly offered Dallas police officers one billion dollars to let him go after being arrested for resisting arrest.
The Psychology Behind the Mask: Understanding Goalie Eccentricity
Why do goaltenders seem to have a higher propensity for unusual behavior compared to other hockey players? Several factors contribute to this phenomenon:
- Isolation: Goalies spend much of the game physically separated from their teammates, which can lead to the development of unique mental strategies and coping mechanisms.
- Pressure: The nature of the position puts immense pressure on goaltenders, as a single mistake can often decide the outcome of a game.
- Ritualistic behavior: Many goalies develop specific routines and superstitions to help manage anxiety and maintain focus.
- Personality type: The position may attract individuals who are more comfortable with solitary, high-pressure roles.
Understanding these factors can help explain why goaltenders like Rask, Cechmanek, Thomas, Broda, and Belfour developed their unique quirks and behaviors. Their eccentricities, while sometimes disruptive, were often integral to their success and contributed to their legendary status in NHL history.
The Impact of Goalie Eccentricity on Team Dynamics
How do the unusual behaviors and personalities of eccentric goaltenders affect their teams? The impact can be both positive and negative:
Positive Effects:
- Inspiration: A goalie’s unique personality can energize and motivate teammates.
- Intimidation: Opposing players may be thrown off their game by a goalie’s unpredictable behavior.
- Media attention: Eccentric goalies often become fan favorites and attract positive publicity for their teams.
Negative Effects:
- Distraction: Extreme behavior can disrupt team chemistry and focus.
- Conflict: As seen with Cechmanek, a goalie’s actions can sometimes alienate teammates.
- Public relations issues: Off-ice incidents can create headaches for team management.
The key for teams is to find a balance, harnessing the positive aspects of a goalie’s unique personality while mitigating potential negative impacts. Many successful teams have learned to embrace their goaltenders’ quirks, recognizing that these traits often go hand-in-hand with exceptional on-ice performance.
The Evolution of Goalie Eccentricity in the Modern NHL
As the NHL has evolved, so too has the nature of goaltender eccentricity. In the modern era, with increased media scrutiny and social media presence, goalies must be more careful about how their quirks are perceived by the public. However, this hasn’t completely eliminated the presence of unusual personalities in the crease.
Today’s eccentric goalies tend to express their uniqueness in more controlled ways, such as through elaborate mask designs, carefully curated social media presences, or involvement in community initiatives. While we may not see the extreme behaviors of past eras, the position continues to attract and produce individuals who stand out from the crowd.
Some modern goalies who have carried on the tradition of eccentricity include:
- Ilya Bryzgalov: Known for his philosophical musings on the universe and his fear of bears.
- Roberto Luongo: Gained a following for his witty and self-deprecating Twitter presence.
- Marc-Andre Fleury: Famous for his practical jokes and lighthearted approach to the game.
These modern examples show that while the expression of goalie eccentricity may have changed, the underlying uniqueness of the position remains intact.
The Legacy of NHL’s Weirdest Goaltenders
The eccentric goaltenders of NHL history have left an indelible mark on the sport. Their unusual behaviors, quirky personalities, and memorable moments have become an integral part of hockey lore, entertaining fans and frustrating opponents in equal measure.
From Tuukka Rask’s shootout rages to Roman Cechmanek’s skull saves, Tim Thomas’s political stands to Turk Broda’s weight battles, and Ed Belfour’s billion-dollar offer, these goaltenders have provided some of the most colorful chapters in NHL history.
Their legacies extend beyond mere entertainment value. These goalies have challenged conventional wisdom, pushed the boundaries of their position, and in many cases, achieved greatness despite (or perhaps because of) their eccentricities. They serve as a reminder that in the high-pressure world of professional sports, there’s often a fine line between genius and madness.
As we look to the future of the NHL, it’s clear that the tradition of the “crazy goalie” is far from over. While the expression of these quirks may evolve, the unique pressures and demands of the position will continue to produce netminders who stand out from the crowd, both on and off the ice.
In celebrating these eccentric individuals, we celebrate the diversity and unpredictability that makes hockey such a compelling sport. After all, in a game where a single save can make the difference between victory and defeat, is it any wonder that those tasked with making those saves might be a little bit… different?
The Top 10 Weirdest NHL Goaltenders in History
It’s a commonly-held belief in NHL circles, and hockey in general, that goalies tend to be a bit weird. It’s more strange to find a goalie that isn’t weird than it is to find one that is.
Explore everything hockey with THW’s Hockeypedia pages.
After all, who would willingly sign up to have people fling frozen rubber discs at you at high speeds? There have been many quirky, memorable goalies over the years but there are a few that stand out as the craziest goalies in NHL history.
10. Tuukka Rask
Tuukka Rask doesn’t like shootouts. He tends to get very, very angry when he loses at shootouts. It goes back to his days for the Providence Bruins in the AHL, when he had possibly the most memorable freakout in recent hockey memory:
It’s continued to his days in the NHL, too:
In fact, a study done in 2013 concluded that Rask has about a 33% chance of absolutely freaking out when he loses in a shootout.
The numbers haven’t been updated in recent years, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the percentage remained about the same.
9. Roman Cechmanek
Normally, goaltenders do not like to get hit in the head by shots. It hurts, and leaves your ears ringing for a while after it happens. But not Roman Cechmanek, who was also known to rock a unibrow, would intentionally use his head to make saves, in what became known as “skull saves” among Flyers fans. Cechmanek’s style was unorthodox at best, but in his short time in Philadelphia, he was extremely effective.
Roman Cechmanek (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Until the playoffs, that is. In the 2001-02 playoffs, Cechmanek spotted the Ottawa Senators a three-goal lead in Game Four, with Philadelphia already down 2-1 in the series. Cechmanek skated out to center ice and started berating his teammates, thinking that they were not holding up their end of the bargain and playing well in front of him. In response, some of the Flyers players reportedly fired pucks at his head during practice the next day in response.
Unsurprisingly, Cechmanek only lasted one more year in Philadelphia before being dealt to LA.
8. Tim Thomas
If Tim Thomas was not happy with you, he made sure that you knew it, and that you felt it. If you went in his space, he made you regret it, like when he slashed Carl Soderberg in the head:
Or if you take liberties with one of his teammates, he won’t wait for one of his teammates to do something. He’ll take matters into his own hands.
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Off the ice, Thomas had a few notable incidents. When the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2010-11, Thomas, the Conn Smythe Trophy Winner, was conspicuously absent from the team’s trip to the White House with President Obama. Thomas issued the following statement on his absence:
I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People.
This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level.
This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government.
Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL.
This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. TT
This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government.After playing one more year in the NHL, Thomas decided to take a year off from hockey in 2012-13, citing that he needed to spend more time with “friends, family, and faith”, which is a perfectly legitimate reason. Shortly after, he began posting articles to his Facebook page that warned of a global economic meltdown, saying “See why hockey’s just not that important right now”?
7. Turk Broda
Turk Broda was known as a legendary playoff goalie for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1940s and early 1950s.
When asked why he was always so successful in the playoffs, Broda offered the following:
Turk Broda enjoys a stack of pancakes in the crease. (THW Archives)
“The bonus money for winning wasn’t much but I always needed it,” he said. “Or maybe I was just too dumb to know the situation was serious.”
Broda was also involved in a continuous battle with Leafs owner Conn Smythe over his playing weight, which was dubbed “The Battle of the Bulge” by the Toronto Media. Smythe threatened that Broda’s job as starting goaltender would be lost to two AHL goalies if he did not drop his playing weight to 190 pounds before the 1949-50 season. The disagreement culminated in a final weigh-in the day before opening night, with all of the Toronto media present, in which Broda came in at 189 pounds, and was allowed to keep his job.
6. Ed Belfour
Known as “Crazy Eddie” to many fans, it comes as no surprise that Ed Belfour makes an appearance on this list. Belfour was so particular about his equipment and how it was handled that he offered the following piece of advice that tried to get between him and his equipment: “You touch my stuff, I’ll kill you.
”
Ed Belfour (THW Archives)
Belfour was a phenomenal goalie, but was absurdly competitive and had extremely high expectations of himself, and his teammates. He would often clash with equally competitive coach Mike Keenan as a result in Chicago. Twice, an intoxicated Belfour has been arrested for a series of different issues. The first time, in 2000, he offered the arresting officers $100k, and then $1 billion for his release without any charges. They unsurprisingly declined.
5. Glenn Hall
Glenn Hall is universally regarded as one of the greatest goalies of all-time. He was named a First-Team All Star seven times, and Second-Team All Star four times. He played in 502 consecutive games, a record that will surely never be broken. And before every one of those games, Hall would throw up. His reasoning behind it, while more than a little kooky, does show just how dedicated he was to winning.
“I always felt I played better if I was physically sick before the game. If I wasn’t sick, I felt I hadn’t done everything I could to try to win.
”
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 17: Goalie Glenn Hall #1 defends the net during an NHL game against the New York Rangers on November 17, 1965 at the Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by B Bennett/Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)
Rumor has it that after throwing up, Hall would then have a glass of orange juice, and go out for the game. As odd as it is, it clearly worked for the Hall of Famer.
4. Patrick Roy
While he is arguably the greatest goalie of all time, Patrick Roy was certainly not without his quirks. Most notable was that he unabashedly admitted that he used to talk to his goalposts. When asked why, Patrick responded, “Because they are my friends”. The saying goes that the goalposts are the goalie’s best friend, but that’s usually more a turn of phrase rather than an actual reality.
Other than talking to his posts, Patrick was known as a fiery competitor. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone that hated losing as much as he did. He showed it both while he was between his best friends on the ice, and also as a coach.
Fittingly, in Roy’s first game as an NHL coach, he got into a screaming match with Bruce Boudreau and nearly knocked over the glass pane separating the two benches. Solidifying his place among crazy goalies.
Prior to becoming the coach of the Avalanche, Roy was the coach and owner of the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. In January 2007, Roy allegedly punched the co-owner of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens after Chicoutimi fans had refused to allow the Remparts back on their bus after the game. A year later, a brawl ensued between the two teams in which goaltender Jonathan Roy, Patrick’s son, got into a violent fight with the Chicoutimi goaltender.
The fight landed Jonathan a seven-game suspension and Patrick a five-game suspension. Patrick claims the assault wasn’t orchestrated, despite him being caught on video making a gesture to his son as he neared the Chicoutimi goalie. Patrick has since apologized for the incident and said he should have done a better job containing his players.
3. Ilya Bryzgalov
Ilya Bryzgalov (Tom Turk/THW)
For the majority of Ilya Bryzgalov’s career, he was thought of as a pretty normal goalie. Sure, there was the “Why you heff to be mad?” sound byte, but other than that, we really didn’t know how odd Bryz really was. But once he was put in Philadelphia, the goaltending hell, and a camera was placed in front of him for NHL 24/7, we saw a different Bryz.
Bryz didn’t play very well on the ice in Philadelphia, but he was a quote machine. From his ramblings on the universe being “humangous big”, to receiving the death penalty for killing a tiger in China, or opining on the beauty of his Siberian Husky as “a hot girl, man”, you truly never knew what Bryz was going to say next. This all would have been fine and dandy if he was playing well.
But he wasn’t, and in the Philadelphia media, it quickly turned into a very sour relationship. It culminated in the Flyers buying out the remaining seven years of Bryzgalov’s contract just to get him to go away.
2. Ron Hextall
Up next on the list is a man that is very thankful that Bryzgalov is not in Philadelphia, current Flyers general manager Ron Hextall. While Hextall appears to have tamed his act down since retirement (other than his outburst directed towards the underperforming Flyers), his temper during his playing days was legendary. There are only three seasons in which a goalie has eclipsed 100 penalty minutes, and Hextall owns all three from 1986 to 1989. He also holds the record for most penalty minutes by a goalie in league history.
Ron Hextall, Philadelphia Flyers, 2004 Season (Photo by John Giamundo/Getty Images)
The most famous instance was when he jumped Chris Chelios in the 1989 playoffs, who had concussed Flyers forward Brian Propp earlier in the series. If you messed with Hextall, you were going to feel it later on. He made sure of that.
1. Gilles Gratton
Gratton and his mask. (THW Archives)
Chances are, you’ve never heard of Gratton, the #1 goalie on the list.
He only played 47 career NHL games in the 1970s, but was quite the character. In the goalies are weird department, Gilles is near the top. Gratton claimed that he remembered to live prior lives, and his current life as an NHL goalie was punishment for his previous misdeeds. The first thing you noticed about Gratton was his mask.
In today’s world the mask wouldn’t be that strange, but this was the 1970s and Gratton played for the Rangers and Blues, which have nothing to do with a cat. Among other things, here is an abbreviated list of Gratton’s quirks:
- He once refused to play in a game because the moon was in the wrong place in the sky.
- He claimed that in a prior life he was a soldier in the Spanish Inquisition who was run through with a lance. This was his explanation for abdominal pains he was feeling.
- John Davidson, a former teammate, claimed he would walk into a room with a piano and start playing it beautifully, despite claiming to have never played piano in his life.
- Rod Gilbert, Hall of Famer, claimed Gratton was the most talented goalie he had ever played with. But after being hypnotized one night, Gilles began to believe he was an executioner who used to stone people to death. Then when pucks were fired at him, he believed they were stones and would jump out of the way.
Who are some of the other weird goalies in hockey history? Who else belongs on the list?
This post was originally written in March, 2016.
Ilya Bryzgalov and the 15 Quirkiest Goaltenders Ever | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
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Nicholas Goss@@NicholasGoss35Twitter LogoCorrespondent IFebruary 7, 2012
Ilya Bryzgalov and the 15 Quirkiest Goaltenders Ever
0 of 15
NHL goalies are an interesting bunch and are often labelled as weird and quirky.
They typically have many superstitions and small rituals they do before and during games that keep them comfortable.
I don’t think goalies are as weird as they used to be, but my thinking on that changed a bit when Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov talked about the universe and other weird things on HBO’s 24/7 series leading up to the Winter Classic.
Let’s take a look at the 15 quirkiest goalies ever.
Patrick Roy
1 of 15
Patrick Roy was one of the greatest NHL goalies ever and won Stanley Cup titles with the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche, but he was a weird goalie too.
He had many superstitions, and one of them was kissing his goal posts before games.
Nikolai Khabibulin
2 of 15
Nikolai Khabibulin, now of the Edmonton Oilers, is an interesting goalie and has some unusual stretches and twitch-like movements he does during games.
Despite all that, he’s had a very solid NHL career.
Artus Irbe
3 of 15
Artus Irbe used to sew his pads before games, which is enough to make me think he’s a bit weird.
He also would stretch kind of strangely before games, but his flexibility did allow him to make some saves other goalies could not.
Manny Legace
4 of 15
Manny Legace is a good goaltender, but he always liked ancient, throwback-looking equipment, which makes him stand out among most of today’s goalies, who use modern pads and equipment.
Ken Wregget
5 of 15
Ken Wregget was a solid backup goalie for many years and even played well for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1996 playoffs when asked to start.
However, Wregget was an interesting man, and according to Sports Illustrated, he would bring his neighbor’s kids to McDonalds with his own kids, he played ball with the entire neighborhood and had a perfectly manicured lawn.
These may not be incredibly strange but still a bit quirky.
Tom Barrasso
6 of 15
Tom Barrasso was a very good goaltender, but he was a bit anti-social and also used different pads than most of the NHL’s other goalies.
Some people thought he was a bit psycho, but I think that’s taking it too far.
Damian Rhodes
7 of 15
Before home games, goaltender Damian Rhodes would dye his hair blond in his hotel room. That has to be one of the craziest superstitions I have ever heard of, not just among goalies.
Curtis Joseph
8 of 15
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a goalie come after a referee like Curtis Joseph did in the video here, and although it might not be incredibly odd, it’s just so uncommon.
Ron Hextall
9 of 15
You have to think Ron Hextall is a bit quirky for going after Chris Chelios like this. I realize Chelios’ hit in Game 1 of the series was uncalled for, but this sort of incident is only something crazy goaltenders would do.
Neil Little
10 of 15
Neil Little must have thought he was playing football with a flying leap like this.
His flying jump into this scrum must be one of the craziest goalie moments I have ever seen.
Garth Snow
11 of 15
Garth Snow was an interesting goalie and certainly had his share of crazy and quirky moments despite having a productive career as a starting NHL goaltender.
Ray Emery
12 of 15
Ray Emery is crazy, and he’s not afraid to fight anyone, whether it’s the other team’s goalie or one of its enforcers. He’s had a nice career, but he sure is weird.
Ron Tugnutt
13 of 15
Ron Tugnutt has one of the most intricate and weird superstitions in preparing for a game.
It started by doing a figure eight in the crease and went on to include many more steps, including tapping his pads a certain way, stretching in certain ways and never bringing water onto the ice with him.
Bill Ranford
14 of 15
Bill Ranford was a solid goalie throughout his NHL career and even won a Stanley Cup in 1990 with the Edmonton Oilers.
His craziest superstition was that he wouldn’t let the linesmen take the puck from his glove until he flipped it up into the air and it landed on the other side of his glove.
Ilya Bryzgalov
15 of 15
Ilya Bryzgalov is crazy, and if you watched HBO’s 24/7 series leading up to the Winter Classic, you know exactly what I am talking about.
Check out his thoughts on the universe.
Crazy goal after a throw from out. The goalkeeper was dying of shame
It would have been better to just step aside.
Teppo Marttinen / Photo: © Vaasan Palloseura
Any goalkeeper knows from the cradle that it is impossible to touch balls flying into the goal from out of bounds without an urgent need. Any accident can lead to irreparable consequences.
The goalkeeper of the Finnish club UPU, who has forgotten about this common truth, is not to be envied now. The gatekeeper launched a fantastic “butterfly” in the first minutes of the match.
“I can’t explain what happened”
The derby between the SIK and UPU clubs in the Finnish Football Championship is fundamental. Teams from neighboring provinces, although they are located in opposite parts of the table, still gather a large audience. More than four thousand fans gathered for the next match in the city of Seinäjoki, which, by Finnish standards, is a very good indicator.
UPU football players came to their principal rivals in the status of the main league outsiders. However, the team lost a lot of points due to pure bad luck.
So, after the start of the game with SIK, it was time for the guests to think about going to church to get rid of the curse. Already in the second minute of the game, the most curious goal flew into the gates of the UPU. The hosts’ footballer Terry Yegbe put the ball into play from out with a strong throw towards the opponents’ goal. It was enough for goalkeeper Teppo Marttinen to let him pass further so that the moment ended in nothing.
All goalkeepers know that it is not necessary to enter the game without an urgent need, but for some reason Marttinen jumped. As a result, Teppo incorrectly calculated the trajectory, unsuccessfully touched the ball and helped him to get into the goal. The stupidest mistake: if the ball flew into the net after a direct throw-in, the referees would simply award a goal kick! After this, all that remained was to cover her face with her hands in shame.
– Absolutely incredible situation. I cannot explain what happened. The first action and immediately failure, after such it is difficult to recover. I completely misread the situation,” Yle quoted the goalkeeper as saying.
To the credit of the guests, they did not swim after such a fiasco. On the contrary, they pressed the opponents to the gate and for a long time owned the initiative. The UPU even managed to retaliate the goal in the second half, but in stoppage time the luck turned away from the guests again. The team conceded after a free kick and lost with a score of 1:2.
Not the only one in Finland
Curious goals after throwing the ball in are rare, especially at a high level. But Marttinen is not a pioneer in this matter. In September 2018, something similar happened in the Bundesliga.
Match Stuttgart – Werder Bremen, the defender of the hosts threw the ball at his goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler. However, he reacted late to the pass, and when he caught himself, he realized that the ball was flying into the goal. The goalkeeper tried to correct the situation, but in the end he only made it worse. An unsuccessful touch led to the fact that the goal was counted. And if Zieler had just watched the ball with his eyes, the referee would have appointed only a corner.
An interesting incident happened in 2014 in the Europa League. The match between the Dutch Feyenoord and the Belgian Standard ended in a real scandal due to a referee’s mistake. In the 47th minute, the Dutch club brought the ball in from out. Bouncing off the lawn, he flew into the gate without touching anyone.
However, the refereeing team, led by the Portuguese Georges Souza, counted the goal, seeing a touch by the Dutch defender Sven van Beek. Today, in the days of VAR, this would be simply impossible.
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“Working somewhere, I can’t dream of anything else.” Cherchesov denied rumors about his return to Russia
Author Sergey Mikhailichenko Reading 16 min Views 166 Published
For many, René Higuita has gone down in history as a goalkeeper with a dribbling ability and a habit of coming out of his box. In addition, it was he who loved to fend off blows to his own goal with a scorpion blow. However, apart from his antics on the field and in life, few people know about the essence of this man. Today we will fix it. We invite you to take a short tour of the difficult but eventful life of the legendary goalkeeper.
For those who don’t know. René Higuita was Chilavert’s idol. You can find out about this goalkeeper at this link. Two very similar goalkeepers with very complex personalities. By the way, Chilavert once scored Ighita from the penalty spot. In other words, he made his dream come true.
Contents:
Foreword
In the late 1970s, a man began to appear in the wilds of northern Medellin who did not fit the atmosphere of the surrounding poverty. He wore high-quality American pants and T-shirts, and a Rolex watch adorned his wrist.
None of the local criminals dared to rob this man. On the contrary, they served him and called him Don Pablo. And really, how could you not love him? He built hospitals, schools, housing estates, football fields, skating rinks, and constantly handed out $20 bills to the poor. Soon, this man began to broadcast the program “Civil rights come into rights” on the radio.
Subsequently, he announced the launch of the social project “Medellin without the slums”.
You probably already guessed that this person was Pablo Escobar .
Pablo Escobar
He promised the local homeless to build a housing estate for 1000 people and wanted to call it “Pablo Escobar’s Settlement”. Unlike politicians, the “entrepreneur” kept his word. He even rebuilt with his own money the completely burned down poorest district of Medellin. Pocket journalists also liked to kiss Pablo’s bottom.
Escobar was portrayed as a modest guy from the people who, working hard, made his way into the people and now does not forget his difficult childhood and helps the poor at every opportunity. One of the Colombian magazines called Pablo “Robin Hood”. Since then, this nickname has stuck with him.
Naturally, many were interested in where Escobar got so much money from, to which the press answered, quoting El Patron: “From the age of 16 I rented bicycles, then I started selling cars. Fortune smiled on me, and I was able to buy some land.
What am I doing now? I am a modest person, and my condition has nothing to do with cocaine. I just sell flowers.”Most poor Colombians have long believed the story of the Colombian Cinderella. One of those whom Escobar was able to hang noodles on his ears was Higuita.
The beginning of history
René Higuita was born in 1966 in Castile, a poor quarter of Medellin. The boy quickly realized that
could only rely on himself in this cruel world. The father left the
family shortly after the birth of his son, and a few years later God took his mother to heaven as well. Fortunately, the grandmother was able to bring her grandson to the people.
René later shared: “As a child, I had only two career paths. I could become either an athlete or a criminal.”
It’s good that René Higuita chose the first path. True, after a few decades he still had to sit in prison. From dawn to dusk, little Rene played football.
And even when the heavenly body went to a well-deserved rest, Higuita continued to play. In the wilds of Medellin there were wonderful football fields with floodlights, donated to the city by the Colombian Robin Hood. Young Rene stood out for his bombarding qualities. He had great dribbling and a good nose for goals. He was always at the right time and in the right place.
But somehow a guy got into the goal for one match. Everything happened by chance. In the youth championship match
in Medellin, the goalkeeper of the team for which Rene played was injured and he decided to replace him with
. Higuita defended to zero, and this match became fateful. Despite this, the young
goalkeeper was often drawn to other people’s goals, because he loved to score. Sometimes this helped the
team, and sometimes it led to terrible mistakes that everyone still remembers.
Thrifty or goalkeeper?
René Higuita moves to the capital, where he spends one season with Millonarios.
Interestingly, in 16 matches he scored 5 goals. Escobar and his business partner Carlos Molina, who then sponsored
Atlético Nacional, did not want to sit back and watch the countryman help
rivals win. The Colombian godfather made an offer to the goalkeeper
to return home. And, of course, he could not refuse.
As part of the Greens, Higuita continued to play in the style of a headless horseman, constantly leaving his own box and “reincarnating” as the 11th field player.
The Colombian explained his madness this way: “I think that goalkeepers should be given more freedom of self-realization. If we are attacking, I like to go to the center circle and exchange a few passes with my teammates.”
In qualifying for the 1990 World Cup, impressed by the game of the Colombian goalkeeper, English commentator Martin Tyler noted: “ It’s just a crime that Higuita is on the net. The coach should release a substitute goalkeeper on the field, and send Rene to the attack “.
No less similar tricks surprised the Polish journalists, who saw the Colombian miracle for the first time in the friendly match of the Colombian national team against Poznań Lech: “ We could not believe our eyes. Higuita constantly circled our players. His free kick was not enough for him and he played in the entire half of the field.
Gift for Escobar
In 1989, René Higuita helped Escobar realize one of his most cherished dreams. Then
Pablo’s favorite toy – the club Atlético Nacional won the Copa Libertadores. If not for the crazy Rene, they would not have seen this title.
On May 24, 1989, in a home match, Olimpia made a good start before the second leg, scoring twice against Higuita. The Paraguayans understood that real hell awaits them in Colombia. It’s good that the game took place not in Medellin, but in Bogotá. It’s scary to think what could happen to the Olympia players if they decided to take the title in Escobar’s lair.
Despite the fact that the “greens” in the first half of the return game practically did not get off the gates of the Paraguayan club, the guests managed to survive.
But in the second half of the game, Atlético had only 20 minutes to restore the status quo. Then there was a series of penalties, after which Higuita began to be called one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Paraguayans were the first to start the “lottery” and Rene coped with the kick of the goalkeeper Olimpia Almeida without any problems. In addition, the goalkeeper not only hit the ball, but caught it in his hands.
For the time being, Atlético went quietly to the title, until Garcia made a mistake on the fourth blow. With the Olympia Amarilla’s fifth shot, not even Higuita could do anything. The score became 4:3 and in order to stay in the game, Nacional had to score at any cost. Guess who came up to the penalty mark to take the lead?
Atlético Nacional 1989
René Higuita, of course. Almeida tried to guess where he would hit and rushed into the corner, but
Rene outwitted his colleague and pushed him in the center with all his might. And then the theater
of the absurd began on the field.
Higuita was able to cope with three penalties in a row, but this did not bring the title to the
team, as his partners also lost the Almeida match three times.
Olimpia player Vidal Sanabria approached the ball and almost killed one of the crows flying over the goal with his shot. In such an absurd way, Nacional received the 4th match point, which, in the end, was converted by Leonel Alvarez.
The MVP of the fight had this to say about his best match: “During the penalty shootout, I tried to calm down and not think about anything. The hardest thing was dealing with fear. You know how the fans tremble during penalty shootouts, and what can we say about the players. But if a football player puts in his pants during the lottery, then he definitely loses it. Fortunately, I managed to curb my demons. It’s interesting that when I watch that episode with Olympia now, I’m already shaking. I don’t know by what miracle I was then calm, like a boa constrictor.
”René Higuita and his worst failure
Higuita’s crazy acting and charismatic appearance made him the idol of the nation. True, in 1990, Rene’s trick multiplied by zero the dream of Colombia to reach the quarterfinals of the Mundial. At the 109th minute of the match, nothing foreshadowed trouble.
But Rene tried to get on the front pages of newspapers, and he succeeded once again. Coming out of the net 40 meters to stop the ball after a strong clearance, Higuita passed to Luis Perea. The defender instantly returned the sphere to the goalkeeper, after which Rene did not come up with anything better than to circle Roger Milla.
The moment of that fatal mistake
The Cameroonian robbed the Colombian showman, jumped into the empty net and calmly sent the ball into the net. Subsequently, there were rumors that the captain of the Colombian national team, Valderrama, on the eve of the game with Cameroon, shared a videotape with his old friend from Montpellier Milla.
On it was a cut of saves and feints by Rene. These fables are hard to believe, because who in those days did not know the crazy Higita?
Francisco Maturana tried to justify his ward for this fail: “He often flirts, but the risk that Rene takes is offset by the advantages that this style of play gives us. He is not at all the crazy goalkeeper that some experts believe him to be. He hits the ball forward with great reliability and is extremely competent in this regard. When René Higuita takes the field, we always play with a majority.”
René Higuita himself commented: “People often hang all the dogs for this goal on me. And they are right. This is the biggest mistake in my entire career. Fans are not blind, they saw everything. This error was the size of a house. I always played in this style and I was sure that I could beat Milla. But I lost the ball. I still feel very bad at heart when I remember that episode.
Scorpion Strike
Think back to September 6, 1995.
A handful of 20,000 fans doze off at Wembley during a friendly match between England and Colombia. And suddenly Higuita makes everyone wake up. Subsequently, tens of thousands of fans regretted that they ignored this game that day, losing the opportunity to see it with their own eyes « Scorpion Strike “.
One of the best English football journalists Jonathan Wilson describes this historic save in The Outsider: A History of the Goalkeeper as follows: “He saw the linesman light the flag when he decided to get on his hands and hit the ball with his heels after a failed pass by Jamie Redknapp? If so, it highlights the incredible attentiveness of the goalkeeper. If not, then how can you characterize “Scorpion Strike”? On the one hand, an impeccably executed trick. On the other hand, the realization of a ridiculous desire to satisfy one’s own ego. And yet, if not for that blow, would there be at least one more reason why you can now remember this boring zero? No matter what Higuita did, he made matches that were remembered for a long time.
The Colombian himself never concealed his satisfaction with the historic blow: “It was an unforgettable evening. Redknapp hit, I didn’t calculate anything, I just hit him with my heels. Everything worked out. The 100,000 fans (actually 5 times less) who filled Wembley that day were speechless. I have been working on the Scorpion Strike for a long time in training and have been waiting for an opportunity to show it to the whole world. Most of all, I was afraid that someone would get ahead of me. But, fortunately, my fears were not justified.”
England manager Terry Venables reacted to Scorpion Kick: “I’ve never seen anything like it. But I don’t think we’re going to teach our goalkeepers that kind of trick, even if it helps get the fans back in the stands.”
America’s Cup 1995 showed in all its glory both the pros and cons of crazy Rene. In the final match of the group stage with Brazil, he, knocking out the ball, managed to send it into his own goal.
And in the bronze medal game, Higuita confirmed the words of Maturana. He hit the crossbar with a free-kick, the ball bounced off to Asprilla, who shot the Americans from a few meters away. The more Higuita’s fame grew, the more the godfather of Colombia became interested in him.
Further relationship with Escobar
Escobar invited the goalkeeper to a meeting in 1987. On it, according to Rene, they talked about football for several hours and there the goalkeeper allegedly urged Pablo to surrender to the authorities. But these words of the goalkeeper are not very believable, because for him Escobar has always remained a kind of Robin Hood.
“The so-called drug lord, the so-called terrorist. I have known Pablo for a very long time, no matter what his enemies say about him, he is an honest and noble person, in whose chest a noble heart beats. Everything I have, I owe to Escobar. When I was little, he replaced my father, and then became my older brother.
Without Escobar, my neighbors and I would have no roof over our heads, no education, no quality care.”Subsequently, such admiration for the Patron will come out sideways to the goalkeeper. In 1991, when Pablo was behind bars in the La Catedral prison, which he built for himself, Rene met Escobar again. Higuita claimed that he could not refuse Pablo’s invitation. Perhaps yes, but judging by the photographs taken in La Catedral, the goalkeeper had a great time in the company of his patron. In July 1992, Pablo had to flee his prison villa.
This is how part of Pablo Escobar’s “prison” looked like
Higuita’s Conclusion
It became obvious to everyone that Escobar’s time had passed and old friends began to pretend not to know him. For this, he severely avenged. After a few months of constant hiding, the incredible happened – Pablo’s inexhaustible finances sang romances. Then Escobar began to resort to desperate actions. Our hero also suffered from this agony of the drug lord.
In May 1993, Escobar’s men kidnapped 11-year-old Marcela, daughter of Carlos Molina, with whom Pablo was now at enmity.
When Molina stumbled upon photos of Higuita with Escobar, he “asked” the goalkeeper for help. Carlos, of course, was not as bloody as Pablo, but not listening to him also meant signing his own death warrant. A car came for Rene, and the driver said to the goalkeeper: “ I’m from Carlos Molina. Sit down with me dear, I’ll tell you what you have to do for boss .” He was handed a diplomat with 300,000 greenbacks, which he must hand over to the kidnappers of the girl. Higuita did an excellent job, and not a single hair fell from Marcela’s head.
Molina gave Rene a toy box as a sign of gratitude. When the goalkeeper came home and opened it, he saw that there were 50,000 dollars lying there. Naturally, the Colombian had no desire to return this money to Molina. ” I risked my life. Didn’t I deserve this little reward? , thought René. Subsequently, Higuita claimed that he did not want to take these funds, but the family convinced him that $ 50,000 was not superfluous.
However, knowing Higuita, these words are hard to believe.
Perhaps the goalkeeper could have gotten away with it. But, unfortunately, Higuita was called El Loco for a reason. He was not smart enough to keep his mouth shut. He shared all the details of his adventure with journalists, and the very next day, all of Colombia learned about Higuita, who hit the jackpot on crime. The authorities were forced to react. Then there was a permanent war with drug cartels in the country and Higuita just fell under a hot hand.
Later he justified himself: “I just play football. I don’t have the slightest idea about the laws.”
But he was reminded that ignorance of the law is no excuse. The football player was ordered to return the money, but he has already spent almost the entire amount. Therefore, his house and car were taken from him.
Higuita’s troubles didn’t end there. In July 1993, he ended up on prison bunk, where he served a long 7 months.
He would have spent even more time there if he had not gone on a hunger strike. This knight’s move paid off. By the way, he was imprisoned without trial or investigation, and no one has ever brought any formal charges against him. Strange? Of course not, because this is Colombia. Do not forget that it was there that magical realism was born, and it is in this country that the Adidas slogan “impossible is nothing” works like nowhere else.
“I spent several months in prison and I can assure you that at least 40% of criminals come out of there even more dangerously than when they first crossed its threshold. Our penitentiary system does not hold water. She turns petty criminals into real monsters, ”the goalkeeper recalled his prison experience.
The conclusion cost the footballer a trip to the American World Cup. Perhaps it was Rene who would have been enough for the team to make Pele’s prediction come true, who called Colombia one of the main favorites for the World Cup94 years old.
Comeback attempt
René Higuita never gave up, and therefore a year later he regained his place in the national team. In the same 1995, he helped Nacional reach the final of the Copa Libertadores, becoming the protagonist of the semi-final confrontation with River Plate.
René not only scored the most important goal from a free kick, but almost single-handedly won the penalty shootout. In the title matches against Gremio, Rene’s magic was not enough to get the Copa Libertadores a second time. Between 1997 to 2010 he changed clubs like gloves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iznk2DnjMFc&ab_channel=SPORT-LIFE2
In 2004, Higuita once again got into a scandal. He was disqualified for cocaine use. Apparently, this is not surprising, if you remember which city the goalkeeper is a native of. After serving the ban, Rene continued to perform in provincial clubs. In 2005, Higuita took part in the Colombian version of the reality show The Last Hero. Then he decided on another madness – he made himself a plastic surgery.
