Old Stars - Best Players Ever Showcasing

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Hello to all my fellow managers! Today I introduce you a topic where you can and should share your knowledge about retired players that gave a lot to this beautiful game called football.

You can talk about players that left a big impact on you as you grew up, players that you read about their stories and want to share those stories with us, players that impacted your league or country forever, or even if you shared a glass of wine with Guardiola and he told you all about his career.

If you want to follow my structure be free to do so if not do as you like just try to have a fun and engaging discussion

Name Lev Yashin

Nickname Black Spider

(picture of Lev Yashin)

Lev Ivanovich Yashin born in 1929 was a Russian goalkeeper that is widely regarded by many as the best goalkeeper ever.

His nickname The Black Spider originiated due to his all black uniform

Yashin earned status for revolutionising the goalkeeping position by imposing his authority on the entire defence.

A vocal presence in goal, he shouted orders at his defenders, came off his line to intercept crosses and also ran out to meet onrushing attackers, done at a time when goalkeepers spent the 90 minutes standing in the goal waiting to be called into action.

His performances made an indelible impression on a global audience at the 1958 World Cup, the first to be broadcast internationally.

Yashin appeared in four World Cups from 1958 to 1970, and in 2002 was chosen on the FIFA Dream Team of the history of World Cups. In 1994, he was chosen for the FIFA World Cup All-Time Team, and in 1998 was chosen as a member of the World Team of the 20th Century. According to FIFA, Yashin saved over 150 penalty kicks in professional football – more than any other goalkeeper.

He also kept over 270 clean sheets in his career, winning a gold medal at the 1956 Olympic football tournament, and the 1960 European Championships.

In 1963, Yashin received the Ballon d'Or, the only goalkeeper ever to receive the award.

For his outstanding service to the people and to his country, Yashin was awarded the Order of Lenin in 1967, the highest award of the USSR

After retiring from playing, Yashin spent almost 20 years in various administrative positions at Dynamo Moscow. A bronze statue of Lev Yashin was erected at the Dynamo Stadium in Moscow.

In 1986, following a thrombophlebitis contracted while he was in Budapest, Yashin underwent the amputation of one of his legs.

He died in 1990 of stomach cancer, despite a surgical intervention in an attempt to save his life. He was given a state funeral as a Soviet Honoured Master of Sport.

“Yashin revolutionised the role of goalkeeper like no other before him, by always being ready to act as an extra defender” and by “starting dangerous counter-attacks with his positioning and quick throws”. - France Football 2018