The role of the goalkeeper coach

The more long-term perspective entails being responsible for their development as players, keepers and people, so that they are better prepared for every possible scenario which could unfold both on and off the pitch, whether that be in a match situation or dealing with injuries or setbacks. 

The role has evolved more than any other coaching position as a direct result of rule changes – none more so than the introduction of the back-pass rule in 1992. In the past, goalkeeper coaches and goalkeepers would often train separately to the rest of the squad in a high percentage of training sessions. Nowadays, the head coach and goalkeeper coach make their goalkeepers work with the entire defence and sometimes the entire team on a regular basis. As well as performing their fundamental duty of stopping the ball crossing the goal line, the goalkeeper is now seen as the 11^th outfield player and their pass is the starting point of so many of their team’s attacks.  

FIFA Training Centre caught up with former Swiss international goalkeeper and FIFA goalkeeping specialist Pascal Zuberbühler to find out more.