The Premier League, in its history, has seen some of the best players of the game dazzle the fans with their games. This includes brilliant goalscorers, expert playmakers, robust defenders and the unbeatable goalkeepers. Among these, it is the last group of players whose job is to stop the most anticipated part of a game, i.e. goals.
In the Premier League, some goalkeepers achieved legendary status, becoming an integral part of multiple title-winning squads. And is the case with top goalkeepers; the better they are usually, the more clean sheets they have. For a shot-stopper, a clean sheet is equivalent to a hat trick, as it ensures that in a league match, the team doesn’t end up on the losing side.
So, here is the list of goalkeepers with the most clean sheets in the history of the Premier League.
Edwin van der Sar- 132, Fulham and Manchester United
Before David de Gea, Edwin van der Sar manned the Manchester United goal. The Dutch goalkeeper started his career at Ajax, where he would win 14 trophies before leaving for Juventus, where he would spend his next three years. From there, he finally made his way to the Premier League by joining Fulham.
He would spend four years at Craven Cottage, helping the club win the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2002. His performance caught the interest of Sir Alex Ferguson, who signed him in 2005, and for the next six years, he would win 11 trophies. This included four Premier League titles, three Community Shields, two Football League Cups, one UEFA Champions League, and one FIFA Club World Cup. He ended his Premier League career with 132 clean sheets.
Tim Howard- 132 Manchester United and Everton
Tim Howard remains one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League era. Howard started his career in his native country with the North Jersey Imperials. Howard would then join MetroStars, where his impressive performances led Manchester United to sign him in 2003. However, he played second fiddle mostly to Edwin van der Sar for the next five years.
And after five years of playing as the second man, Howard left Manchester for Everton. Here, he would have the best time of his career as he kept multiple clean sheets. While he failed to win any trophies at Goodison Park, Howard kept more than 100 clean sheets, eventually ending his Premier League with 132 clean sheets to his name.
Brad Friedel- 132, Liverpool, Blackburn, Aston Villa Tottenham
Brad Friedel has a Premier League career that spanned close to two decades, from 1997-2015. Though born in the United States, Friedel started his career in Denmark with Brondby before joining Galatasaray. After his spell in Turkey, he would return to the United States for a year before joining Liverpool.
Over the next 18 years, Friedel would play for Liverpool, Blackburn, Aston Villa and Tottenham. He would make 450 appearances in the Premier League, keeping 132 clean sheets in the process.
Pepe Reina- 136 Liverpool, Aston Villa
Pepe Reina is a name that is well-remembered by the Premier League. The Spaniard spent nine years at Liverpool before returning for a loan spell with Aston Villa. Reina joined Liverpool in 2005, just months after the club’s incredible win over AC Milan in the Champions League final.
Reina would keep the goal for the team for close to a decade, winning four trophies, including one FA Cup, Football League Cup, FA Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup. In the process, he would also keep 136 clean sheets.
Happy Birthday Pepe Reina 🎂
🏟 297 PL Appearances
⛔️ 136 Clean SheetsHe turns 3️⃣9️⃣ today! #LFC | @PReina25 | #Liverpool pic.twitter.com/3qmVOsX6t4
— EPL Statman (@EPLStatman) August 31, 2021
Nigel Martyn- 137 Crystal Palace, Leeds United, Everton
Nigel Martyn is an example of a player that would give you a solid performance on most days. The Englishman started his career at St Blazey before joining Bristol Rovers in the Football League. However, his next transfer move would make him an overnight sensation in English football.
In 1989 Crystal Palace spent £1 million to sign Nigel Martyn from Bristol Rovers. This made him the first goalkeeper in English football history to break the £1 million barrier. For the next 17 years, he would play for Leeds United and Everton and end his career with 137 clean sheets to his name.
David Seaman- 141 Queens Park Rangers, Arsenal, Manchester City
David Seaman is one of the best English goalkeepers ever to play the game. The 1,93-metre-tall goalkeeper played for Peterborough United and Birmingham City in the lower leagues before signing for Queens Park Rangers. Here, his impressive performance led to a call-up from the England national team.
As his stock rose, top dogs Arsenal came calling and snapped him up. At Arsenal, he would win 12 trophies, including three league titles, four FA Cups, one Football League Cup, three Community Shield, and one European Cup Winners’ Cup, along with 141 clean sheets to his name.
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David de Gea, 141 Manchester United
The only player on the list who is playing currently, and that too in the Premier League, David de Gea has been the main shot-stopper for the Red Devils since joining them in 2013. The Spaniard has won seven trophies during his time at the club. And he has produced some of the best performances ever by a shot-stopper and has helped United win several points for his club.
De Gea is still going strong with 141 clean sheets to his name, and by the time he retires, he could become the keeper with the most clean sheets to his name.
🧤 Most clean sheets in Europe’s top 5 leagues;
🥇🇩🇪Marc-André ter Stegen-21 in 36
🥈🇪🇸David de Gea-17 in 40
🥉🇮🇹Ivan Provedel-16 in 32
4️⃣🇪🇸Álex Remiro-16 in 36
5️⃣🏴 Nick Pope-15 in 30
6️⃣🇮🇹 Alex Meret-15 in 33 #ChampionsLeague|#EuropaLeague➡️ https://t.co/tbTNOcotcq pic.twitter.com/lMgfZsMKCW
— Live Football (@LiveFootball_ie) March 13, 2023
Mark Schwarzer- 151 Middlesbrough, Fulham, Chelsea, Leicester City
Mark Schwarzer is the only non-British goalkeeper in the history of the Premier League to make more than 500 appearances which shows his incredible longevity at the highest level of football. After playing in Australia and Germany, Schwarzer would finally arrive in England but in the second league with Bradford City.
His next destination was Middlesbrough, where he would spend the next 11 years, making 445 appearances and helping the club win the 2003-04 Football League Cup. Then he would join Fulham, making an additional 218 appearances. Finally, he ended his career with stints at Chelsea and Leicester City before retiring with 151 clean sheets.
David James- 169 Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham United, Manchester City, Portsmouth
David James is the fifth on the all-time list of Premier League appearances which is the reason why he has so many clan sheets as well. The former England international played in the Premier League for Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham United, Manchester City and Portsmouth.
During his time in the Premier League, David James kept 169 clean sheets and won two trophies, one with Liverpool and Portsmouth.
Petr Cech- 202 Chelsea, Arsenal
Petr Cech was among the first wave of signings to arrive at Chelsea after the takeover of Roman Abramovich and remained one of the best business deals done by the club. The Czech goalkeeper joined the Blues from Ligue 1 side Nantes.
Cech played 11 years for Chelsea, winning four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three Football League Cups, two Community Shields, one Champions League and one Europa League.
Petr Cech was at Chelsea for 11 seasons. He faced 1,241 shots and saved 1,000, conceding just 241 goals.
Average of 22 goals conceded per season, 80.5% save for shots on target, 166 clean sheets.
Generational goalkeeper! 👏 pic.twitter.com/IVwt0oocDr
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) June 30, 2022
In 2015, he switched clubs, joining town rivals Arsenal where he would win three additional trophies. At the end of his Premier League career, Cech played 443 times and kept 202 clean sheets.
