Team Guardians: The Goalkeeper Position’s Responsibility and Evolution

Edgar Uribe is the FBS-FC´s Goalkeeper Coach. He has great experience as a soccer player in Colombian soccer and as a coach in Miami. Uribe started his career when he was very young and has experienced the evolution of the goalkeeper position.  

How is the goalkeeper training different from the rest of the team?
I think that the goalkeeper’s job is much more complex in the tactical and technical aspects. For children, it is not so easy to play as a goalkeeper because they must stay focused.

Being a goalkeeper, is this the most difficult position?
It is one of the most difficult ones, the goalkeepers must work hard during trainings. It is a position that requires much sacrifice. You can do things right for 89 minutes, but if on the last play of the game someone scores a goal on you, the rest of the team gets discouraged.

What conditions does a child need to have in order to be a good goalkeeper?
Most importantly, the child must have motivation and the desire to be a good goalkeeper. Work hard to have good reflexes to be able to become a fast goalkeeper.

What’s your experience as a goalkeeper?
I played for Atlético Nacional in Colombia and also for The Colombia National Team in U18, U20, and U21. I was also the third goalkeeper in the Copa America when Colombia became champion against México in Bogotá.

When did you decide that you wanted to play as a goalkeeper?
I started playing soccer when I was very young. When I was 9 or 10 years old, I played as a right midfielder but I wasn’t too fast because of my physical condition. So the coach moved me to the goalkeeper position and since then, I started liking it.

What is the greatest memory of your career as a goalkeeper?
When I got promoted to Colombia’s premier division. I remember that Rene Higuita was playing at that moment, I was only 13 years old. It was a wonderful experience, the simple fact of playing with such a personality was fascinating because he was so outgoing; I also had the opportunity of playing with Miguel Calero, who already passed away.

Currently, what goalkeepers do you think are good at what they do?
I like Portadio, a young goalkeeper with a lot of technique, strength, speed; a very serious goalkeeper, a leader on the field.

How has the goalkeeper position evolved?
It has evolved on regards to how much feet are used now; it is not like before when goalkeepers used to play more with their hands. Nowadays there are libero goalkeepers, who work more with their feet, and come out of the goal defending with their feet.

Who is he

Full Name: Edgar Uribe
Place of birth: Colombia
Date of birth: December 17, 1981
Education: Social Communication
Favorite team: Deportivo Independiente Medellín
Favorite player: Luciano
Favorite food: Bandeja Paisa
Family: Wife and two children