TODAY we are looking at a goalkeeper who has scored more goals for his country than Emile Heskey has for England: José Luis Félix Chilavert González.

All goalkeepers have a reputation for being a bit mental, but it is fair to say that Chilavert stands head and shoulders above other net custodians.

A Paraguayan, Jose played most of his club football in Argentina and Spain, as well as being his country’s number one choice between the sticks.

He is unique among keepers in that he also has an eye for goal, and not just in the last-second-of-the-game-might-as-well-go-up-for-a-corner type way. A free kick and penalty specialist Chilavert scored more than 60 goals in his professional career and it was on this day in 1999 that he became the first (and as far as we can tell) only goalkeeper to score a hattrick.

He achieved the feat playing Argentine club Velez Sarsfield in their 6-1 win over Ferro Carril Oeste, but he has also hit the back of the net for his country and in 74 games for Paraguay he scored eight times (Heskey has scored five in 45 appearances). Not to be outdone by England’s own free kick specialist Chilavert has also scored from the half-way line.

Apart from being pretty nifty at scoring Chilavert was also a bit of a dab hand at the other end in keeping balls out of his own net. He was always telling the world he was the best goalie around and it seems some people agreed with him. He was voted World Goalkeeper of the Year by the IFFHS in 1995, 1997, and 1998 (that’s the International Federation of Football History & Statistics if you were wondering), and he also picked up South American player of the year in 1996.



Just like the force, Chilavert also had a dark side and was never far from trouble. He missed the opening two group matches of the 2002 World Cup through suspension after being sent off for spitting at Roberto Carlos during the qualifier with Brazil.

In a busy career he also managed to find time to punch Tino Asprilla and Diego Maradona as well as a steward, all of which landed him in hot water. He was in even hotter water in 2005 when he received a six month suspended sentence in France for the use of false documents about the compensation for the end of his contract with Racing Club de Strasbourg.

Although not the world’s most prolific goal-scoring keeper (that honour goes to Brazilian Rogério Ceni) Chilavert is second in the all-time standings which ain’t half bad.

That’s all for today folks, there is a montage of some of Chilavert’s exploits below and be sure to come back tomorrow for more footy happenings from the past.

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