No introductions should be necessary for possibly one of the best goalkeepers in world football. Perhaps its a little earlier to laud him with such glowing references before hes even pulled on the Chelsea jersey, but during his three consecutive loan spells at Athletico Madrid, he has lifted the Copa del Rey, the Europa League, the Super Cup, La Liga and reached the final of the Champions League and quarter-finals of the World Cup, whilst scooping an award for the 2013 La Liga Goalkeeper of the Year. And all before the age of 22 Athletico supporters have truly been allowed to forget all about that Spanish keeper with bags of potential who left for Manchester in 2011. David who? Courtois is back at Chelsea, and along with new acquisitions Filipe Luis and Diego Costa, helped to knock Jose Mourinhos side out of the Champions League in the semi-finals. Pulling off a wonderful reaction save from John Terry at Stamford Bridge to keep the scores at 1-1, Mourinho was evidently impressed by the Belgians audition and decided to install him as the No.1 come August. Thibaut Courtois is arguably the best goalkeeper in the Premier League a bold statement to make before he has even played a single minute in Chelsea colours. He isnt infallible, but his close reaction saves are second to none, his distribution equally impressive, and he can boast a trophy cabinet that would look impressive for a player far beyond his years.
Courtois is ten years the junior of Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, who arrived at Stamford Bridge from Rennes ten years ago at the age of 22, and immediately ousted fan favourite Carlo Cudicini from between the sticks. In the interim period, the Czech goalkeeper has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers of the modern era, becoming an integral part of the trophy-winning spine. At only 32 years of age, it will take a special talent for Cech to prematurely and reluctantly pass the torch, but in Courtois, it looks like Chelsea have found exactly that.
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Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
