Samir Handanovic - Players to star in 2010

Written by Dave Allan Sunday, 06 June 2010 17:37

England World Cup Blog

Samir Handanovic is a player that few will have heard of before the World Cup but plenty may be talking about after. Born in what was formerly Yugolslavia in Ljublijan on July 1th 1984 this goalkeeper will stand between England and possible group victory.

Slovenia’s No 1 played a massive part in getting his team to this stage; beating out a great Yuri Zhirkov volley in the play off’s against Russia, to ensure the clean sheet away from home that dumped Guus Hiddink’s side out.

Handanovic currently plays his club football for Udinese in Italy and has over 100 appearances for them having replaced Morgan De Sanctis, and has had another great season earning plaudits for his quality between the sticks. At 6ft 4 he is no giant but he fills the goal impressively and is very althletic. At only 25 years of age he is still relatively young as far as keepers are concerned and the fact that there is probably a little more to come in terms of experience. He is likely to be ear-marked at some stage for one of the bigger clubs having already been linked to some footballing “royalty.”

Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek is perhaps a little bit bolder than most in his summing up of the player as the “best keeper in the World,” but if he is not then perhaps only Gianluigi Buffon might be better.

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