For 250 years, America has been a melting pot of people from all types of backgrounds living all types of lives. And for over half of that time, American goalkeepers displayed a similar variety in how they played the game, making it very difficult to precisely define an American goalkeeper. They are brave. They are athletic. They are tall. They are short. They played for the national team. They played for a team you’ve never heard of. They played three other sports. They only wanted to play goalkeeper and nothing else. They won many awards. They are a forgotten hero of a time long passed. They played college soccer. They played abroad. They grew up in the heartland of the country, waiting for their time to shine. They immigrated to the US, looking to carve their own way. And for someone, they were the best goalkeeper they’ve ever seen.
When it comes to American goalkeepers proving their worth, Steve Holroyd summed up the challenge the net minders faced when earning a chance on the field, “Americans were always frowned upon. ‘You're not wanted here. We'll take your money but let us play the game.’ But as early as the 1920s, goalkeeper was the one position that Americans were welcomed to play. And the thought was, ‘What do we do well that the rest of the world doesn't?’” In nearly every international competition - especially the ones where the US national team performed less than desired - their goalkeeper was praised as not only the highlight of the team, but as being one of the better goalkeepers in the entire tournament.
With the 2026 Men’s World Cup, 2028 Olympics, and 2031 Women’s World Cup all being hosted on American soil in the next few years, it’s time to look back and recognize the nation’s top goalkeeping from over the 150 years of play. Although the photos from old newspapers can seem so foreign, the past is still extremely relevant to today’s goalkeepers in more than one way, as this venture will prove out.
For the rankings, goalkeepers were rated on their individual skill (based on individual awards, team success, and in-person accounts), national team relevancy, club career, and overall impact on the American scene. With the ever-changing landscape over the one-and-a-half centuries, it’s important to recognize that today’s high-profile teams, leagues, and tournaments shouldn’t overshadow past events when considering our country’s lineage of goalkeepers. Without a first, there is no second to come after. For some goalkeepers, the national team wasn’t always an available option, while at other times great goalkeeping occurred in leagues and tournaments that no longer exist. Additionally, some goalkeepers had shorter careers than others (some due to injury, teams folding, or even service in the war), but their ability to represent and impact a bigger picture was taken into account when trying to slot their deserved rank.
Each goalkeeper is given a short bio on why they’re important to the story of American goalkeeping and how they connect to today’s goalkeepers. Considering the graveyard of first division soccer leagues that have come and gone over the years, goalkeepers have always faced the challenge of weighing when to move on from the game versus continuing to put their body on the line for their teammates. Although moving across the country to play for a new team may seem fairly accessible nowadays, that wasn’t always the case, which is why top goalkeepers popped up in seemingly random places when looking back throughout the decades.
But perhaps the most relatable challenge that draws a line from Dennis Shay and Lori Kats to the goalkeepers of tomorrow is through the one simple task that has always been the foundation to American goalkeepers: keep the ball out of the net.
As the biographies take time to write, they will be released in groups of ten at a later date.
Goalkeepers 1-10
Goalkeepers 11-20
Goalkeepers 21-30
Goalkeepers 31-40
Goalkeepers 41-50
Goalkeepers 51-60
Goalkeepers 61-70
Goalkeepers 71-80
Goalkeepers 81-90
Goalkeepers 91-100
Honorable Mentions
The series is dedicated to Steve Holroyd, who passed away on April 5, 2025. Steve was incredibly helpful in understanding our country’s history with the position. Steve appeared on the Everybody Soccer podcast multiple times, often at the drop of a hat and for extended, lengthy conversations. The most recent episode was aptly centered on the very beginnings of American goalkeeper. Steve’s selfless attitude, inquisitive mind, and countless hours spent digging into American soccer history will be a constant building block for many generations to come.