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?’”
Time and again, the US would play in an international competition and their goalkeeper was praised as not only the highlight of the team, but also as being one of the best 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, American goalkeepers have yet another chance to establish that they’re a foundational component to their team’s success. But before the tournaments get underway, we look back at our country’s top goalkeepers, dating all the way back to the 19th cenutry.
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 past 150 years, 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. For some goalkeepers, the national team wasn’t an available option, while at other times, great goalkeeping occurred in leagues and teams that no longer exist. Simply moving across the country for a new club wasn’t even a realistic option for most of these goalkeepers. So then rankings consider a goalkeeper’s historical context (injuries, limited playing opportunities, service in the war, etc.) when slotting each goalkeeper on the list.
Each goalkeeper is given a short bio on how their story is relevant to today’s goalkeepers. From day one, goalkeepers have faced countless hurdles on and off the field that still resonate for today’s goalkeepers, as little could stop them from putting their body on the line to give their team a chance at hoisting a trophy. Their continued pursuit drew from their own internal motivation, not fame or financial reward, to chase the challenge that connects goalkeepers of the past like Dennis Shay and Lori Kats to the goalkeepers of tomorrow: keep the ball out of the net.
As the biographies take time to write, they will be released at a later date when completed. For goalkeepers that just missed the cut, read about the honorable mentions here.
The series is dedicated to Steve Holroyd, who passed away on April 5, 2025. Steve’s dedication to understanding the past was incredibly helpful in compiling this project. Since the inception of the site, Steve appeared on the Everybody Soccer podcast multiple times, often at the drop of a hat and for extended, lengthy conversations. Steve’s last recorded episode on the podcast is 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 reliable cornerstone for soccer historians for many generations to come.
