Aston Villa have been relying on foreign goalkeepers for years; lately, but only a few can be considered the best, especially before Emi Martinez.
Emiliano Martinez is likely going to leave Villa Park in the summer. He was already on the verge of leaving. The Lions, as the Argentine, was linked to Manchester United, but he stayed due to the late change of decision in the last minute.
This summer, he might be switching sides with Liverpool as the potential suitor, especially if Villa wins the Europa League. The former Arsenal man is undoubtedly one of the best foreign goalkeepers, if not the best one, in the club’s history. He has featured in 254 games with 79 clean sheets so far since joining Villa in 2020.
Unai Emery’s men could rely on an English goalkeeper next season if they manage to sign James Trafford or count on the foreign names again, as Alex Remiro, Guillaume Restes and Robin Risser have been linked to a move to the Midland side.
Regarding the foreign goalkeepers, Aston Villa have a number of them, but only a few can be considered the best ones before Martinez.
The American goalkeeper was part of Villa’s squad from 2008 to 2011. He was already 37 years old while joining The Lions, but the former Liverpool and Galatasaray man managed to become the mainstay.
Friedel helped Villa finish in sixth place in 2009 and 2010 and reach the FA Cup semi-final in 2010 as well as the EFL League Cup final in the same year. Sadly, Aston Villa lost to Manchester United in the summit. Overall, the shot stopper with 82 international caps featured in 131 games for the Clarets and Blues with 36 clean sheets.
He was Denmark’s international goalkeeper in the 2000s. Sorensen joined Aston Villa from Sunderland in 2003 and became the first choice at Villa Park until 2007.
During his spell there, the Dane helped Villa finish fifth in his first season, in 2003/04, under David O’Leary. Unfortunately, he lost his place in his last season, 2007/08, due to his injury and fell out of favour under Martin O’Neill. Overall, the goalkeeper with 102 international caps featured in 158 games with 52 clean sheets for Aston Villa before he switched sides to Stoke City.
He was definitely one of the best in Aston Villa history and probably the best one before Emiliano Martinez. Bosnich was the last goalkeeper in the club’s history who enjoyed the last silverware, not just once but twice.
The Australian shot stopper was part of The Lions’ squad from 1992 to 1999 after leaving Manchester United without a contract and returning home first due to his visa expiration. He contributed well, as Villa finished second in the 1992/93 season and sat fourth and fifth consecutively in the 1995/96 plus 1996/97 campaigns. Bosnich was the mainstay as the Clarets and Blue lifted the EFL League Cup title twice in 1994 and 1996.
The former Manchester United man made 227 appearances with 85 clean sheets. The ex-goalkeeper with only 17 international caps eventually moved back to Old Trafford but failed to impress Sir Alex Ferguson despite helping them to win Intercontinental Cup in 1999.the Intercontinental
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