By studying previous goalkeepers, we can better understand the current situation. This can be a way to look into the future. We wire back to the days of Bert Trautmann. Trautmann was the first choice goalkeeper at Man City from 1949 to 1964. He replaced the recently retired Frank Swift, one of the greatest goalkeepers in the club’s history. Trautmann made his first team debut on 19 November 1949. From that day, he managed to keep his game to a high level.
Trautmann played for Man City when the won the FA Cup in 1956. He also won a runners-up medal in the year before. He became a legendary player at the club. However, he had to see Man City relegated twice during his years there. Bert Trautmann played a total of 545 competitive games for The Blues.
Trautman was one of the leading goalkeepers of his era, Trautmann never played for his native country. Trautmann’s only experience of international football came in 1960. That year, the Football League decided to include non-English players in the Football League representative team for the first time. Trautmann captained the League against the Irish League, and also played against the Italian League.
In 1997, Trautmann received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. He was appointed an honorary OBE in 2004 for his work in Anglo-German relations. He received the award at the British Embassy in Berlin. This achievement possibly makes him the only person to have won an OBE and an Iron Cross.
After leaving City, Bert became general manager of Stockport County. Later, moving back to Germany to coach. He fell out with the owners at Edgeley Park and in Germany. As a result, he took up an offer from the German Foreign Office to spread German footballing knowledge.
Harry Dowd became the next goalkeeper to be noticed at Man City. He served as the steady alternative in the 1965-66 promotional season. During this time, the club returned to the top flight. Dowd stayed at Man City until 1970. Afterward, he moved to Oldham. He played a total of 181 league games during an eleven-year career at Maine Road. Dowd was the goalkeeper in the 1969 FA Cup final, keeping a clean sheet as Leicester were defeated 1-0. He was actually the first choice. However, in that special 1967/68 league winning season, Ken Mulhearn was the preferred alternative. Mulhearn played 33 league games. Dowd was replaced mainly due to an injury, and again back in the first team in the 1968-69 season, when also Joe Corrigan made his first and early impact, Joe Corrigan then established himself in the first team during the 1969–70 season, and was part of the Manchester City team which won a cup double of the UEFA European Cup Winners Cup and the League Cup. He was also a member of the 1976 League Cup winning side. His debut appearance for England came on 28 May 1976 against Italy, the first of a total of 9 caps, and he was part of the England squad for the 1982 FIFA World Cup. He played a total of 602 competitive games for Man City, being sold in 1983 to NASL club Seattle Sounders for £30,000. Corrigan stayed in the US only a few months, making 29 appearances before returning to England with Brighton. At the end of his career he also had spells on loan at Stoke City and Norwich. Joe Corrigan continued in the game and was strangely enough goalkeeper coach at Liverpool for a decade, in the years, 1994 to 2004.
From 1973 to 1980 Joe Corrigan had competition from Keith MacRae. MacRae was a pivotal signing from Motherwell for a fee of £100.000. He played just 56 league games over his years at Man City, being the goalkeeper in the 1974 League Cup final defeat vs. Wolves. MacRae joined Portland Timbers for the 1981 NASL season, earlier been playing on loan for Philadelphia Fury. Alex Williams became the player to replace Keith MacRae and later also given the first team gloves when Joe Corrigan departured. Williams played 114 league games before moving to Port Vale in 1986. Man City were mostly playing in the 2nd tier during these years. Eric Nixon was another goalkeeper competing for the first team position during those years, leaving the club in 1988, playing 58 league games in total.
During the late 80’s a number of goalkeepers appeared. Barry Siddal arrived on loan from Stoke, playing 6 league games in the 1985-86 season. Perry Suckling joined from Coventry in 1986. He was initially seen as a long-term first choice. However, he left the club in 1988 to join Crystal Palace.
Paul Cooper and Andy Dibble made their moves to Maine Road in the late 80’s. Cooper was in his late 30’s as Dibble looked a promising young shot stopper arriving from Luton. Dibble stayed at Man City for almost a decade. He left in 1997 after a number of loan spells during this time. He also played in 116 league games and was capped 3 times for Wales. Dibble was when joining an expensive signing for the fee of £280.000.
Tony Coton arrived at Man City in 1990 for a fee of £1million. He was a marquee signing to become the first choice. This was important during this period as The Blues were back at the highest level and showing great promise for a number of seasons. Tony Coton was also part of the England set up during this time, but was strangely never given a full debut for England. Coton played 164 league games for City until he left in 1996 to join neighbour Man Utd, never appearing in the first team in league action while at Old Trafford.
During the years of Tony Coton, Andy Dibble and Martyn Margetsson were understudies. A certain John Burridge was among them. He became, at 43 years, four months and 26 days, the oldest player to appear in the Premier League. He played 4 games in the 1994-95 season.
Nicky Weaver and Carlo Nash were the men to come into action for Man City in the year following. Weaver was a first choice, playing 172 league games from 1997 to 2007. Nash completed 38 league games in the period between 2001 to 2003.
Sweden national team first choice goalkeeper Andras Isaksson arrived at Man City in 2006. He departed two years later. He played just 19 league games. Joe Hart and Kasper Schmeichel were both in the first team frame at the time, but still very young. Joe Hart won the battle with Kasper. The Danish international was moved out on loan to several clubs. He eventually made a permanent move away. Hart later established himself as the England number one, playing 75 times for Three Lions. With the arrival of Pep Guardiola, the faith in Joe Hart was not in place. He was not regarded as good enough with his feet. As a result, he was loaned out to Torino and West Ham. Eventually, Joe made a move to Burnley and later Celtic. He continues his career there until 2024.
"Ederson no.1, Stefan [Ortega] no.2, but maybe Stefan will continue" 👀
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 3, 2024
Pep Guardiola responds to questions around Ederson's place in the Manchester City squad after he was dropped against Liverpool on Sunday 💬 pic.twitter.com/C9UlT9JK6q
Pep Guardiola decided to bring in Brazilian Ederson from Benfica. Ederson arrived at Man City in 2017, and his since been the certain first choice in all these heroic season. Throughout all his seasons, Ederson has faced competition from different goalkeepers. The club has chosen experienced third-choice alternatives who are very experienced, like Scott Carson and Richard Wright. Both were capped by England and actually fill up the list of home-grown players.
Pep Guardiola has during this season made changes to most positions. He has also given Stefan Ortega a chance to prove himself. Guardiola decided to rest Ederson for different games. The 32-year-old German has so far this season made 5 appearances in the league.
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