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Is David de Gea Manchester United’s greatest ever goalkeeper?

ByOllie Slack|

Manchester United confirmed this afternoon that goalkeeper David de Gea has signed a new contract. Ollie Slack debates whether or not the Spaniard will go down as the greatest keeper to play for the Red Devils.

The news every fan of Manchester United had been waiting for. David de Gea has signed a new deal with the club keeping him at Old Trafford until summer of 2023 with an option of a further year.

So far the Spanish number one has been at United for eight years, winning seven trophies in that time. His first came in his first few weeks at the club in the Community Shield against Manchester City.

Later on that year, United just missed out on the Premier League title to their noisy neighbours, however, fast forward a season and De Gea was lifting the Premier League trophy above his head.

A few months later, De Gea won his second Community Shield under the new management of David Moyes and from May 2016 to the end of the 2016/17 season, De Gea won a further four trophies including the FA Cup, a third Community Shield, the League Cup and the Europa League.

Throughout the eight-year period, De Gea has also won a number of individual awards, now being recognised as one of, if not the best goalkeeper in the world. He won the club’s Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award a record four times from 2014 to 2018.
Throughout the eight-year period, De Gea has also won a number of individual awards, now being recognised as one of, if not the best goalkeeper in the world. He won the club’s Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award a record four times from 2014 to 2018.

Approaching legendary status?

If De Gea stays at the club for the entirety of this contract, he will have spent 13 years in Manchester. Assuming he continues to play on average 45 games a season, he will have made 585 first-team appearances for the club by 2024.

This would be an incredible achievement, going against the grain of the common 21st-century footballer.

Amassing that number of games would also see him pass the legendary United shot-stopper Alex Stepney’s record of 539, the most appearances for any goalkeeper to have played for the club.

Peter Schmeichel is often regarded as Manchester United’s greatest ever keeper, but it depends on what you judge it on. Both have made some remarkable saves over the years causing fans to take a sharp intake of breath and say, “WOW!”.

But whilst you could argue Schmeichel has had a greater impact on United’s teams of the past due to the number of trophies they won, what state would the club be in now if it wasn’t for De Gea single-handedly saving or winning games for the team over recent years.
But whilst you could argue Schmeichel has had a greater impact on United’s teams of the past due to the number of trophies they won, what state would the club be in now if it wasn’t for De Gea single-handedly saving or winning games for the team over recent years.

Some people on Twitter believe De Gea has already done enough to convince them that he is the greatest:

At the ripe age of 20, I have never seen a better goalkeeper in all my life than De Gea. Whether Schmeichel tops him I am not sure, however, if the Spaniard does fulfil his contract and takes the all-time appearance record away from Stepney, De Gea has to be considered the greatest.

Not just for the longevity, but for the remarkable consistency he has shown performing at the highest level.

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