38. Tom Heaton

keys: manchester united, Tom Heaton, Goalkeeper, Tom Heaton profile, Tom Heaton photos, pictures

Tom Heaton


Tom Heaton


Tom Heaton


Chester-born goalkeeper Tom Heaton has been decorated at youth and Reserve level for United, but is yet to make his first team bow.

An excellent shot stopper and always in full command of his penalty area, Tom is a reliable solid goalkeeper who has always shown great promise.

Heaton is also an excellent outfield player, having played as a goalkeeper and midfielder during his time at Wrexham before signing professionally at Old Trafford on 8 July 2002. Tom quickly set about ascending through the club's ranks - notching 22 appearances for Francisco Filho's Under-17s side as they came second in

their league.

Tom's debut season was capped by an FA Youth Cup winner's medal, although he was an unused substitute throughout the entire campaign with Luke Steele preferred in goal.

The 2003/04 season brought a similar climax, with Heaton on the bench as United romped to the Manchester Senior Cup final against Manchester City. Although he didn't appear in the win at Old Trafford, Tom had still made great progress throughout the season, notching 14 Under-19s appearances and eight Reserve starts.

Heaton stepped off the periphery of the second string during the 2004/05 season, however, and was first choice goalkeeper as Ricky Sbragia's side won the Quadruple. The demands of two leagues, two cup competitions and a play-off were huge, and Heaton made 36 appearances as United clinched everything except the Manchester Senior Cup.

The 2005/06 season saw Tom's progress somewhat impeded as loan spells at Swindon and Antwerp failed to yield the desired amount of action, and the 2006/07 campaign saw him back as the Reserves' first choice goalkeeper.

Heaton continued to perform solidly throughout the season as Brian McClair and Jim Ryan's side narrowly missed

out on a third successive FAPRL North title and were beaten in the final of the Manchester Senior Cup.

There was also the bonus of several unexpected brushes with first team involvement. Injuries to Edwin van der Sar and Tomasz Kuszczak saw Tom promoted to the senior substitute bench on eight occasions, although he was never called into action.

The position of young goalkeeper is one that requires much patience, a virtue that Heaton continues to display admirably.

reference: http://www.manutd.com

12. Ben Foster

keys: manchester united | Ben Foster | Goalkeeper | Ben Foster profile | Ben Foster photos pictures wallpapers

Birthdate:	03 Apr 1983
Birthplace:	Leamington Spa, England
Position:	Goalkeeper
Appearances:	0
Joined United:	19 Jul 2005
United Debut:
International	England

Ben Foster's arrival at Old Trafford was a whirlwind affair. The gifted goalkeeper was on loan at Wrexham when he caught the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson in the Football League Trophy final.

In Cardiff to watch his son Darren in action, the Gaffer noted Foster's fine performance, who kept a clean sheet as Wrexham won 2-0 after extra time.

Foster was scouted in the following three months, before being prised away from Stoke City - without ever playing for the Potters' first team - for an undisclosed fee in July 2005. He's never been one to stay in a place too long, with five loan spells in three

years at the Britannia Stadium, and that precedent continued after his move to Old Trafford.

After just one and a half pre-season friendlies for United's Reserves, Ben was farmed out to Watford on a season-long loan. Although tipped by many for relegation, the Hornets had a stunning campaign - thanks in no small part to Foster's performances.

Aidy Boothroyd's side returned to the Premiership after beating Leeds in the final of the Championship Play-offs. For the second year in a row Foster kept a clean sheet at the Millennium Stadium as Watford won 3-0.
Foster was a shock call-up to the standby list for England's 2006 World Cup squad. Although Ben's presence wasn't required in Germany, his international bow wasn't long in coming as a superb second loan season at Watford earned him a start - ironically at Old Trafford - in England's friendly with Spain in February 2007.

Steve McClaren's side lost 1-0, but Foster's noteworthy display was in keeping with his fine form throughout his season at Vicarage Road. Although he couldn't prevent the Hornets' relegation, Foster emerged as one of the great young hopes for both United and England.

reference: http://www.manutd.com

1. Edwin Van der Sar

keys: manchester united | Edwin Van der Sar | Goalkeeper | Edwin Van der Sar profile | Edwin Van der Sar photos pictures wallpapers

Birthdate:	29 Oct 1970
Birthplace:	Voorhout, Holland
Position:	Goalkeeper
Appearances:	117
Goals:	0
Joined United:	01 Jun 2005
United Debut:	09 Aug 2005 v Debreceni VSC (H)
International	Holland

The No.1 slot at United has had its fair share of pretenders since Peter Schmeichel vacated his throne in 1999, but the willowy Dutchman has easily come closest to filling the great Dane’s sizeable gloves.

Although the two differ in style – Schmeichel was, of course, famed for furiously bellowing at his back four as well as his brilliant saves - Edwin’s experience and calm assurance has undoubtedly been a key component in regaining the Premiership crown from Chelsea in his second season at the club.

Twelve clean sheets in the league in what became, towards the end of the season, an ever-changing

back four, is an impressive feat. It saw him make the 2007 Premiership Team of the Year, as voted for by his fellow professionals. Most notably among them was Chelsea stopper Petr Cech, who expressed deep admiration for the former Ajax and Fulham keeper’s performances in 2006/07.

His late penalty save from Darius Vassell against Manchester City at Eastlands was a defining moment, a veritable title-clinching stop.

Signed for an undisclosed signing from Fulham in the summer of 2005, van der Sar has brought all the wisdom and know-how between the sticks that you would expect to find from a goalkeeper that is his nation’s most-capped player and a former UEFA Cup and Champions League winner with his former club Ajax in the earlier nineties.

A UEFA Cup and Champions League winner with the Dutch club in 1992 and 1995, he also won four league titles and three domestic cups with the Amsterdam outfit, before spending two seasons in Serie A with Juventus.

With the arrival of Gianlugi Buffon at the Stadio delle Alpi threatening his first-team chances, he made a £5 million switch to Fulham in 2001 at the outset of the Londoners’ Premiership adventure, but after four seasons at Craven

Cottage United came knocking.

Edwin’s move to Manchester was given the thumbs up by Schmeichel and in his first season at OT he started all but five of United’s 56 games, keeping an impressive 24 clean sheets, including five on the spin from his debut.

Van der Sar’s solid presence, agility and reliability have been a major plus to United this term, while his quick and inventive distribution aid the team’s speedy attacking style. Age may not be on his side, but experience counts, and he will be hoping to add to his Carling Cup and Premiership winners’ medals.

reference: http://www.manutd.com

29. Tomasz Kuszczak

Birthdate:	20 Mar 1982
Birthplace:	Krosno Odrzanskie
Position:	Goalkeeper
Joined United:	10 Aug 2006
United Debut:	17 Sep 2006 v Arsenal (H)
International	Poland

The latest edition to United’s goalkeeping ranks arrived at Old Trafford knowing exactly what is required to produce an outstanding performance at the Theatre of Dreams.

With West Brom’s Premiership survival at stake, the Polish international was called upon against United in May 2005 when Russell Hoult went off injured after just 22 minutes. The Baggies had just gone 1-0 down to a Ryan Giggs goal, but Kuszczak pulled off a series of saves in only his fourth outing to keep United out for the rest of the match. Robert Earnshaw’s penalty eventually earned Bryan Robson’s men a vital Premiership point in their ultimately

successful bid to avoid the drop. The following season saw Tomasz become first-choice keeper and his performances, despite West Brom’s relegation, didn’t go unnoticed.

The Reds duly embarked on a relentless pursuit for his services throughout the summer of 2006 and, having already turned down three offers, the Midlanders finally relented on 10 August, fulfilling a childhood dream for the 6ft 3in stopper.

He made an instantly favourable impression at Old Trafford, turning away Gilberto Silva’s penalty against Arsenal on his debut in mid-September. Though he failed to qualify for a 2006/07 Premiership winner’s medal, having played only six games, his efforts didn’t go unrewarded – he received one of three extra winner’s gongs awarded after a successful application to the Premier League.

Tomasz is highly thought of in his homeland. His international debut for Poland, against Malta in December 2003, came at the age of 21 after during 14 appearances at Under-21 level. He was also part of Poland's 2006 World Cup squad, where he was understudy to Artur Boruc, but did not play in the tournament.

If you have trouble with the sheer number of Zs in his name – he has a scrabble score of 53

– the pronunciation of his name is ‘Tomash Koosh-shack’.

reference: http://www.manutd.com