Goalkeeper (association Football) - Equipment and Attire

Equipment and Attire

Goalkeepers must wear kit that distinguishes them clearly from other players and match officials, as this is all that the FIFA Laws of the Game require. Some goalkeepers have received recognition for their match attire, like Lev Yashin of the Soviet Union, who was nicknamed the "Black Spider" for his distinctive all-black outfit; Klaus Lindenberger of Austria, who designed his own variation of a clown's costume; and Jorge Campos of Mexico, who was popular for his colourful attire.

Most goalkeepers also wear gloves to improve their grip on the ball, and to protect themselves from injury. Some gloves now include rigid plastic spines down each finger to help prevent injuries such as jammed and sprained fingers. Though gloves are not mandatory attire, it is uncommon for goalkeepers to opt against them due to the advantages they offer. At UEFA Euro 2004, Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo famously took off his gloves for the quarter-final penalty shoot-out against England.

When assigning numbers to players on the team, if a squad number system is not in use, the number 1 shirt is usually reserved for the goalkeeper. However, until recently, goalkeepers were not required to wear the number 1, as is now a regulation for the FIFA World Cup. For example, Argentine Ubaldo Fillol wore the numbers 5 and 7 at the 1978 and 1982 FIFA World Cups, respectively. This often happens when a team has already assigned the shirt number to a goalkeeper, but brings in a new player who subsequently becomes the starter. Even in these cases, the player is usually referred to as the team's "number one". Sixteen is often a popular number for goalkeepers in France and its former African colonies.

Czech Republic and Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Čech wears a head guard, after having fractured his skull in a Premier League match against Reading, and a few goalkeepers, most notably Miguel Calero and Chris Kirkland, wear baseball caps to shield their eyes from the sun. Calero has also worn a bandana while keeping goal for Pachuca.