Goalkeeper is probably, arguably the most important position on the pitch. And I know I’m biased in saying that, as it was my position when I still had hair and could get up off the floor after making a save. But in reality, if you don’t have a good goalkeeper you aren’t winning anything. Goalkeepers are often called mad, and you have to be to throw yourself at the feet of someone baring down on goal. For me, the annoying thing was that everyone on the pitch thought they were a keeper, they all had advice for you, despite never playing there themselves.
Before this turns into a rant though, let’s get back on track. Italy has produced some truly magnificent goalkeepers, and Serie A has played host to some of the greatest of all time from around the World. So, who was the best? I’ve selected a few of my favourites, without ranking who was best out of them. In no particular order, here are my favourites…
Gianluigi Buffon
“Buffon is the best goalkeeper I’ve ever seen, the only one who was never afraid of anything.” – Fabio Capello
Gianluigi Buffon was just 12 years old when he decided that he didn’t want to play in midfield anymore and became a goalkeeper. Five years later he was making his Parma debut against Milan and keeping a clean sheet.
During his career Buffon would hold the World Record for most expensive goalkeeper (€52m) until recently, win 10 Serie A titles, 5 Coppa Italia, a World Cup and would be 3 times UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year. Comfortable in the air, with elite reflexes and great positional awareness, Buffon still holds the Serie A record for most clean sheets in Serie A with 296 and was once unbeaten in the goal for 974 consecutive minutes.
Was there anyone better?
Dino Zoff
“If you ask me who was the greatest, I say Zoff. He was not flashy, but you knew the goal was safe with him.” – Gianni Rivera
Staying on the Juve theme with one of the other great Italian goalkeepers. Zoff actually made over 300 appearances for Udinese, Mantova and Napoli before joining and defining Juve. He would win 6 Scudetti and 2 Coppa Italia along with the World Cup (the oldest player to do so), before going into management where he would lead Juventus to the UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia titles in 1990.
He still holds the record for the longest consecutive run in Azzurri history without conceding, lasting 1,142 minutes in the early seventies. Zoff is the archetype of the classic Italian goalkeeper: composed, understated, and unbelievably reliable. Known for his leadership and calmness, he commanded his defence with supreme authority.
Walter Zenga
“Walter was a phenomenon – he could change the mood of a stadium with one save.” – Giuseppe Bergomi
Walter Zenga was nicknamed Spiderman because of his agility and spectacular reflex saves. For three consecutive years, he was IFFHS World Goalkeeper of the Year. He played 328 times in Serie A and was a UEFA Cup winner with Inter and represented the Azzurri 58 times.
Zenga combined flamboyance with athleticism. He was known for his dramatic saves and passion on the pitch. He was also renowned for his passion off the pitch, fathering 5 children over three marriages including two marriages to TV personalities. He has gone on to have a rather nomadic managerial career while still being a showbiz personality in Italy. Despite the off-field shenanigans, Zenga is remembered as an all time great of the game by Inter, Sampdoria and Azzurri fans alike.
Angelo Peruzzi
“He wasn’t just a wall — he was a mountain.” – Marcello Lippi
In 478 appearances in Serie A, Peruzzi represented some of the biggest teams and most bitter rivals. He played for Roma and Lazio as well as both Juventus and Inter. To pull this off you need to be good, and Peruzzi was VERY good. He was short for a goalkeeper, under 6 foot, but that low centre of gravity gave him great reflexes and shot stopping skills.
Peruzzi would win 3 Serie A titles, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup during his career as well as 31 caps for Italy. He would also add a World Cup winners medal in 2006, despite never taking to the field. Peruzzi would retire from football in 2007.
Sebastiano Rossi
“He was always part of that Milan machine – ruthless, efficient, unbeatable.” – Arrigo Sacchi
Rossi joined his home town club Cesena at the age of 15 and was their first choice goalkeeper by the age of 22 after several loan spells. After his first season in Italy’s top flight, the giants of AC Milan came calling and after initially battling with Francesco Antonioli for the starting spot, he made it his own and would play over 340 games in Serie A, winning 5 Scudetti, the 1994 Champions League and UEFA Super Cup.
He held the clean sheet record for 24 years until eventually losing it to Gianluigi Buffon. Rossi wasn’t considered the most stylish goalkeeper but was immensely effective in an all conquering side behind the legendary defence of Baresi, Maldini, Costacurta and Tassotti. Despite all this he was consistently overlooked by the Azzurri and never played for Italy.
Gianluca Pagliuca
“Pagliuca wasn’t afraid of anyone. He stared you down like he already knew you’d miss.” – Roberto Mancini
One of the most consistent and agile Italian keepers of the 1990s, known for his intensity and acrobatics. Pagliuca played for the Sampdoria side that won the 1991 Scudetto and was playing in their narrow Champions League final defeat to Barcelona a year later.
After seven years and 198 games for Sampdoria, Inter paid a World Record fee for a goalkeeper of just €7m to bring the Italian to their club. Rather remarkably, during his time at Inter he only won the UEFA Cup and nothing else. He was a beaten finalist in the 1994 World Cup as Italy lost on penalties to Brazil. Ironically, he held the record for some years of most penalties saved in Serie A with 24, until that was broken by Samir Handanovic.
An Azzurri and Serie A legend, Pagliuca moved on from Inter to Bologna where he would spend seven seasons and play a massive 248 games before finishing his career with a season in Ascoli, retiring in 2007.
Summary
From the cat-like reflexes of Zenga to the steely composure of Zoff, and the longevity of Buffon to the penalty-saving prowess of Handanović, Serie A has long been a proving ground for the world’s greatest goalkeepers. These legends didn’t just stop shots—they shaped eras, lifted trophies, and became the last line of defence for some of Calcio’s most iconic sides. In a league famed for tactical discipline and defensive mastery, it’s no wonder that so many of the game’s finest stoppers have called Serie A home. As new stars emerge between the posts, their legacy serves as a benchmark—and an inspiration—for generations to come.
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