The Notable Short Goalkeepers at the Top Level in History

 

A few short goalkeepers did manage to make their mark at the top level, but not anymore today.

A goalkeeper has been a crucial position in football, and height has become a more and more important requirement to be a shot stopper, especially at the top level. In addition, goalkeepers have been pushed to have ball control and reading the game ability as they tend to be integrated in attacking build-up in the modern game.

Regarding the height, it is almost impossible to find a man between the sticks who is below 175 cm tall. The shortest goalkeeper in the European top five is still 180 cm tall. He is the current Real Valladolid man, Jordi Masip. Nevertheless, there have been such notable short goalies at the top level in football history. Two of them even got a nod to feature in two FIFA World Cup finals. Here are those distinguished shot stoppers without the height advantage but still managed to be the first choice in his club and earn international caps.

Juan Botasso (Argentina)

He was one of the shortest goalies in football history at the top level. Botasso was only 169 cm but managed to feature in the first FIFA World Cup final. He replaced the first choice, Angel Bossio, for the semifinal and the summit in Uruguay in 1930.

The former Quilmes man made nine appearances for Albiceleste and was part of the squad when they won Copa America 1929, despite not featuring in a single game. He was at the peak of his form while playing for Racing Club, where he also lifted two domestic titles. Botasso stayed there from 1930 to 1938 before returning to Quilmes, which was competing at the second tier at that time.

Clubs (Appearances (clean sheet))	International caps	Notable games	Individual awards
Quilmes  Racing Club	9	-Argentina vs USA 6-1 (1930 FIFA World Cup semifinal) -Argentina vs Uruguay 2-4 (1930 FIFA World Cup final)

 

Jorge Campos (Mexico)

 He is probably the most famous short shot-stopper in modern football. Campos was not only bold in his height but also in his skills and outfit. He was a second-choice goalkeeper who turned to striker in his earlier career at Pumas UNAM, where he scored 28 goals in total from 1988 to 1995. He was even the club’s top scorer in the 1989/90 campaign by netting 14 times.

 The 168-cm tall goalie cemented his status as the main goalie in 1990/91 but kept on being deployed as a field player whenever his team was in need of scoring. Campos even managed to bag a goal from a bicycle kick for Atlante in the 1996/97 season.

His international appearances began in 1991 under Cesar Luis Menotti’s tutelage, but he no longer played a double role as a goalie and occasional striker. Campos featured in 129 games, including in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups. His attractive attire and eccentric form on the pitch drew the fans’ interest. He went on playing for El Sombrero till 2003.

The Acapulco-born shot stopper delivered three silverwares for Mexico: the CONCACAF Gold Cup twice and the Confederation Cup in 1999, plus reaching the final and third place in Copa America 1993 and 1999 editions. Meanwhile, at the club level, Campos helped UNAM, Cruz Azul, and Chicago Fire to win the CONCACAF Champions Cup, MX Liga, and MLS Cup, respectively.

 

Clubs (Appearances (clean sheet))	International caps	Notable games	Individual awards
UNAM ( 87 (19)) Cruz Azul ( 2 (1)) Atlante ( 42 (14)) LA Galaxy (52(15)) Chicago Fires (10 (0)) Tigres UANL (17 (6)) Puebla FC (28 (3))	129 (50 clean sheet)	-Mexico vs Italy (1994 FIFA World Cup) -Mexico vs Ireland (1994 FIFA World Cup) - Mexico vs Brazil (Confederation Cup 1999 final)	-MX Liga Best Goalie (1991-1995) -IFFHS World’s Best Goalie (3rd place in 1993) -CONCACAF Gold Cup Best Player (1991)

 Francois Remetter (France)

 He was one of the respectable goalkeeper in French top flight back in 1940s to 1960s. Remetter was previously playing as a forward before switching to a shot stopper in Strasbourg reserve team in his youth following the instruction from the team’s head coach, Emile Veinante. He then moved to Thillot before reuniting with his former boss in FC Metz. The 171-cm-tall goalie soon became the first choice and earned his international debut during his stay there.

 Remetter got a nod on international stages 26 times, including all games in 1954 FIFA World Cup and the first two matches in Sweden 1958. He was at the peak of his form while playing for FC Metz, Sochaux and his second stint with RC Strasbourg, where he also clinched Coupe de France in 1964.

 

Clubs (Appearances (clean sheet))	International caps	Notable games	Individual awards
RC Strasbourg (114 (26)) Limoges FC (42 (56)) FC Metz (111 (31)) Sochaux (115 (29)) Bordeaux (-) Thillot (-) Grenoble (-)	26 (7 clean sheet)	-France vs Paraguay (1958 FIFA World Cup) - Strasbourg vs Rouen (French Cup 1964 final)	-

 Julien Darui (France)

 The former Montpellier and Lille man was another non-towering French goalkeeper. He was only 168 cm tall but well-known for his goalkeeping excellence and revolutionary role between the sticks. Darui was one of the first shot stoppers who began to use his feet to make a clearance and leave the goal line frequently to get more involved in the game. No wonder that he was awarded the best French goalkeeper in the century by L’Quipe sport magazine in 1999.

 The Luxembourg-born goalie earned 25 international caps and was included in France squad for 1938 FIFA World Cup campaign, despite not featuring a single game. He also lifted two trophies for his clubs, most notably French top tier league in 1947 with CO Roubaix-Tourcoing and French Cup 1942 with Red Star Olympique.

 

Clubs (Appearances (clean sheet))	International caps	Notable games	Individual awards
CO Roubaix-Tourcoing Lille Montpellier Red Star Olympique FCO Charleville O Lillois	25 (5 clean sheet)	Red Star vs FC Sete 24 (French Cup 1942 final)	Best French Goalkeeper in the Century in 1999 by L’Quipe

 Oscar Perez (Mexico)

He was the former understudy of Jorge Campos in El Tri. Perez was slightly taller than his senior, 170 cm, but followed Campos’ footsteps in his career. He was the second Mexican goalie to play in Copa America final after Jorge Campos. Perez did it in 2001 edition when his nation lost to the host Colombia. The former Pachuca man also featured in two World Cup editions, 2002 and 2010, won CONCACAF Champions Cup with Cruz Azul (twice) and Pachuca (once), plus MX liga. He even also scored goals for his team, one each for Cruz Azul, and Pachuca plus one with Mexico U23 side.

To certain extent, the goalie who was easily recognized with his bald look during his playing years even achieved more accolade than Jorge Campos. He contributed in helping Cruz Azul to reach Copa Libertadores final in 2001. It was the first Mexican club to play in South American top tier club tournament final in history. Perez also won CONCACAF Gold Cup three times. Overall, he made 55 appearances for El Tri with 23 clean sheets.

Clubs (Appearances (clean sheet))	International caps	Notable games	Individual awards
Cruz Azul (407 (110)) Pachuca (185 (50)) Tigres UANL (32 (11)) Necaxa (34 (9)) San Luis (64 (16)) Jaguares (32 (7))	57 (23 clean sheet)	Mexico vs Croatia (2002 FIFA World Cup) Mexico vs France (2010 FIFA World Cup)

Frantisek Planicka (Czechoslovakia)

He was regarded one of the best goalkeepers in the world before World War II. Planicka was the second short goalkeeper who appeared in FIFA World Cup final. Unlike Botasso, he was Czechoslovakia’s main goalkeeper in the team. In fact, he was even the skipper in 1934 FIFA World Cup final. The Zizkov-born shot stopper featured in six world cup games, all four in 1934 and two games in the following edition.

Unfortunately, he was badly injured in the quarterfinal match against Brazil. Czechoslovakia managed to hold them in a 1-1 draw but lost 2-1 in a replay with Planicka and their frontman Oldrich Nejedly on the sideline. Both were in fact suffering broken bones and forced to retire from football. Overall, the goalie who was nicknamed The Cat of Prague, due to his agility and attractive moves between the sticks was capped 73 times.

Planicka was only 172 cm tall and had been snubbed in his early years while being on a trial with Sparta Prague. Fortunately, his talent kept drawing interests from other clubs. Initially, it was SK Bubenec, which he joined in 1921 before signing for Sparta Prague’s local rival, Slavia Prague two years later. He then became the legendary player there and won eight league titles plus Mitropa Cup (the predecessor of UEFA Champions Cup) in 1938.

Clubs (Appearances (clean sheet))	International caps	Notable games	Individual awards
Slavia Prague SK Bubenec	73 (12 clean sheet)	-Czechoslovakia vs Italy (1934 FIFA World Cup final) -Slavia Prague vs Ferencvaros (Mitropa Cup 1938 final)	Best goalkeeper in 1938 FIFA World Cup