Quiet please! I'd like to welcome in to my hall of fame, Lev Yashin "The Black Spider" 
You'll not often hear me say that a player helped revolutionise the game, or define the modern a role. Yashin was one of those few.
He was born in 1927 in Russia, specifically Moscow during Stalin's time as bossman. Unsurprisingly at this time he was born in to a family of industrial workers, Moscow at this time was going through many big economical changes. He would have been 13 at the time the second world war broke out and as a result, was forced in to helping the war effort. He would go on to work for quite a long period in a factory, much like the family he was born in to. While at the factory though, he did join their football team and was subsequently spotted and snapped up by Dynamo Moscow.
At this time Dynamo Moscow were blessed with having an already very talented goalkeeper, Aleksei ‘The Tiger’ Khomich. This is where the 20 year love affair started. He was a one club man, for various reasons, mainly his love for the club, but political pressure would always keep him there.
Now, Russian goalkeeper, very talented, but what made him so special? He was tall and athletic, a bit more unusual at this time. He kept himself very fit, he also had a unique take on pre game routine, he would regularly have a cigarette to calm himself and a shot of alcohol to help the muscles
or at the very least, that's the excuse he used.
What made him special was how he changed goalkeeping forever. He set the standard for what is expect of a goalkeeper in the modern game. Before Yashin keepers would stay between their sticks, rarely coming off their line. Yashin changed that.
He would command his area, he would organise his defence, telling them what he expected to do, you should note now that a goalkeepers presence and organisation of his defence is a trait that is commonly spoken about now, for it's a negative mark on a goalkeeper who can not do this.
He also, would charge off his line, and would often prowl his area when his side were in possession. Operating almost as a sweeper for the defence. He would also start quick counter attacks by throwing the ball out, again, breaking the norm. Charging off your line was almost unheard of at this time in football, goalkeepers simply didn't do this. He also, started the trend of punching, pushing the ball away, not just catching it which was the previous norm at the time. Even his movement, and positioning in the area is still very much similar to how goalkeeping has evolved now.
He appearance, while tall and slim rarely changed, he wore a black kit, which is where the black spider nickname came from.
While at Dynamo Moscow, he was a foundation in what would be a very successful time for the club, they enjoyed many League and Cup wins, the other side being dominant at this time in Russia were Moscow's rivals, Spartak Moscow! It should also be noted that Yashin was more then just a talented footballer! He also played Ice Hockey at this time and was a dab hand at it too.
All this is well and good, but he wouldn't become well known around the world or a house hold name among students of the game until he hit the International stage it was that ever famous World Cup 1954 on which he was given the platform, and he certainly took that by storm. As much as the attacking flair did for Brasil.
Russia's golden era also coincided with his period in the national side, they enjoyed not only good football (with of course many clean sheets) but they won an Olympic gold medal in '56 and in 1960 won the tournament that we now call the European Cup
His Russia also came second in the 1964 competition in Spain, a final that would not only be a huge game on the field, but represented a big political clash. The communist Russian's against The Spanish Franco regime.
In 1963 he received the European player of the year award, the only time it's has been won by a goalkeeper. He was given a testimonial match in 1971, with an estimated 100'000 fans watching, including Pele and Beckenbauer. He retired with over 270 clean sheets and an estimated 150 penalty saves to his name.
Players at this time, in the League and on the International stage would often celebrate scoring against him, such was his reputation as a goalkeeper, it was almost a badge of honour to score a goal against the great black spider.
He moved in to coaching after his retirement from playing, he managed several teams around Eastern Europe, including a spell in Finland. He was still involved with Dynamo Moscow however, for another 20 years.
He died, in 1990 at the age of 60 due to complications with an amputated leg. He died not only a hero at his club, but of the country, he was awarded the order of Lenin for his services to Russia. In 94' FIFA named an award for the best goalkeeper at the World Cup after him The "Yashin Award" only ran from 94' until 2010 but was won by a group of very talented goal keepers, who simply put, wouldn't be where they were without his influence on the game. That list is made up of: Michel Preud'homme, Fabien Barthez, Oliver Kahn and Gianluigi Buffon.
There is a statue of the great man at the Dynamo Moscow stadium in his honour, something that he no doubt thought he deserved, but would have been humbled by. Yashin was quite the character, he was charismatic and a natural leader, he was confident and would often talk about goalkeeping in a very dramatic fashion. He had a very "Soviet" attitude towards it.
A great keeper, the best ever? A certainty on what he's contributed to the game, he defined the modern goalkeeper, for that he deserves to be remembered.
There have been many talented goalkeepers since, but none quite at his level, for all his influence and his massive contribution to the game, it was built on an immense level of talent. A great man.
You'll not often hear me say that a player helped revolutionise the game, or define the modern a role. Yashin was one of those few.
He was born in 1927 in Russia, specifically Moscow during Stalin's time as bossman. Unsurprisingly at this time he was born in to a family of industrial workers, Moscow at this time was going through many big economical changes. He would have been 13 at the time the second world war broke out and as a result, was forced in to helping the war effort. He would go on to work for quite a long period in a factory, much like the family he was born in to. While at the factory though, he did join their football team and was subsequently spotted and snapped up by Dynamo Moscow.
At this time Dynamo Moscow were blessed with having an already very talented goalkeeper, Aleksei ‘The Tiger’ Khomich. This is where the 20 year love affair started. He was a one club man, for various reasons, mainly his love for the club, but political pressure would always keep him there.
Now, Russian goalkeeper, very talented, but what made him so special? He was tall and athletic, a bit more unusual at this time. He kept himself very fit, he also had a unique take on pre game routine, he would regularly have a cigarette to calm himself and a shot of alcohol to help the muscles
or at the very least, that's the excuse he used.What made him special was how he changed goalkeeping forever. He set the standard for what is expect of a goalkeeper in the modern game. Before Yashin keepers would stay between their sticks, rarely coming off their line. Yashin changed that.
He would command his area, he would organise his defence, telling them what he expected to do, you should note now that a goalkeepers presence and organisation of his defence is a trait that is commonly spoken about now, for it's a negative mark on a goalkeeper who can not do this.
He also, would charge off his line, and would often prowl his area when his side were in possession. Operating almost as a sweeper for the defence. He would also start quick counter attacks by throwing the ball out, again, breaking the norm. Charging off your line was almost unheard of at this time in football, goalkeepers simply didn't do this. He also, started the trend of punching, pushing the ball away, not just catching it which was the previous norm at the time. Even his movement, and positioning in the area is still very much similar to how goalkeeping has evolved now.
He appearance, while tall and slim rarely changed, he wore a black kit, which is where the black spider nickname came from.
While at Dynamo Moscow, he was a foundation in what would be a very successful time for the club, they enjoyed many League and Cup wins, the other side being dominant at this time in Russia were Moscow's rivals, Spartak Moscow! It should also be noted that Yashin was more then just a talented footballer! He also played Ice Hockey at this time and was a dab hand at it too.
All this is well and good, but he wouldn't become well known around the world or a house hold name among students of the game until he hit the International stage it was that ever famous World Cup 1954 on which he was given the platform, and he certainly took that by storm. As much as the attacking flair did for Brasil.
Russia's golden era also coincided with his period in the national side, they enjoyed not only good football (with of course many clean sheets) but they won an Olympic gold medal in '56 and in 1960 won the tournament that we now call the European Cup
His Russia also came second in the 1964 competition in Spain, a final that would not only be a huge game on the field, but represented a big political clash. The communist Russian's against The Spanish Franco regime.
In 1963 he received the European player of the year award, the only time it's has been won by a goalkeeper. He was given a testimonial match in 1971, with an estimated 100'000 fans watching, including Pele and Beckenbauer. He retired with over 270 clean sheets and an estimated 150 penalty saves to his name.
Players at this time, in the League and on the International stage would often celebrate scoring against him, such was his reputation as a goalkeeper, it was almost a badge of honour to score a goal against the great black spider.
He moved in to coaching after his retirement from playing, he managed several teams around Eastern Europe, including a spell in Finland. He was still involved with Dynamo Moscow however, for another 20 years.
He died, in 1990 at the age of 60 due to complications with an amputated leg. He died not only a hero at his club, but of the country, he was awarded the order of Lenin for his services to Russia. In 94' FIFA named an award for the best goalkeeper at the World Cup after him The "Yashin Award" only ran from 94' until 2010 but was won by a group of very talented goal keepers, who simply put, wouldn't be where they were without his influence on the game. That list is made up of: Michel Preud'homme, Fabien Barthez, Oliver Kahn and Gianluigi Buffon.
There is a statue of the great man at the Dynamo Moscow stadium in his honour, something that he no doubt thought he deserved, but would have been humbled by. Yashin was quite the character, he was charismatic and a natural leader, he was confident and would often talk about goalkeeping in a very dramatic fashion. He had a very "Soviet" attitude towards it.
Lev Yashin said:
A great keeper, the best ever? A certainty on what he's contributed to the game, he defined the modern goalkeeper, for that he deserves to be remembered.
There have been many talented goalkeepers since, but none quite at his level, for all his influence and his massive contribution to the game, it was built on an immense level of talent. A great man.
