Aksel Kryhlmand
Despite early promise, that one error defined his career
10. André Onana
André Onana’s career has had moments of brilliance, especially at Ajax, but also moments of chaos. After a doping ban in 2021, his move to Manchester United was supposed to offer a clean slate. Instead, it exposed his flaws.
While skilled with his feet, Onana’s errors in basic goalkeeping have frustrated fans and cost United in key matches. His story highlights a truth often forgotten: flair and technical skills must be backed by solid fundamentals, especially in goal.
9. Massimo Taibi
Massimo Taibi’s time at Manchester United was brief but unforgettable. Intended as Peter Schmeichel’s replacement, he’s best known for letting a soft Southampton shot slip under his body, a blunder that earned him the nickname “The Blind Venetian.”
Just four games and five goals conceded to Chelsea later, Taibi was out. His spell became a cautionary tale of how quickly things can go wrong at the elite level, making him one of the most infamous flops in Premier League history.
8. Stephen Bywater
Touted as a future England star, Stephen Bywater signed with West Ham young. But his debut, a 6-1 thrashing at Rochdale, set the tone for a career marked by underachievement. Frequent loans and unremarkable performances followed.
At Derby County, he helped win promotion but was overwhelmed in the Premier League, conceding goals at an alarming rate. Bywater’s trajectory illustrates the harsh reality of top-level football: talent alone isn’t enough to make it.
7. Gunnar Nielsen
As the first player from the Faroe Islands in the Premier League, Gunnar Nielsen made history. Unfortunately, his on-pitch performances didn’t match the milestone. Signed by Manchester City, he was loaned out repeatedly, never settling into form.
His international career was also plagued by inconsistency. Though a pioneer for his country, Nielsen’s legacy is more about what might have been than what actually was, a case of potential that never fully blossomed.
6. Victor Valdés
Victor Valdés won nearly everything with Barcelona, including three Champions League titles. But despite the silverware, critics questioned his shot-stopping skills, particularly under pressure or in one-on-one situations.
He never claimed Spain’s No. 1 jersey, overshadowed by Iker Casillas, and brief spells at Manchester United and elsewhere did little to reshape public opinion. Valdés’ career shows how team dominance can sometimes mask individual flaws.
5. Brad Guzan
Brad Guzan impressed early in the MLS, earning a move to Aston Villa in 2008. However, he soon found himself stuck behind Brad Friedel, unable to secure the starting role. When he did play, he struggled with form and confidence.
Spells at Hull and Middlesbrough did little to repair his reputation. Even after returning to MLS, Guzan never fully lived up to his early potential. His career reminds us how steep the climb can be from talent to lasting success.
4. Tony Warner
Tony Warner began at Liverpool but never made a first-team appearance. Despite flashes of promise, his time in the spotlight was defined by critical mistakes, especially at Fulham, where back-to-back handling errors cost his team dearly.
He moved through clubs like Hull City and Leicester, always falling short of expectations. Though he had moments of brilliance, Warner’s career became a case study in how mental lapses and inconsistency can derail even the most promising goalkeeping path.
3. Kepa Arrizabalaga
When Chelsea broke the bank for Kepa Arrizabalaga in 2018, they expected greatness. What they got instead was drama and disappointment. The low point? Refusing to be substituted during the 2019 EFL Cup Final, only for Chelsea to lose the penalty shootout.
Kepa’s inconsistency plagued his time at Stamford Bridge, leading to spells on the bench and loans to Real Madrid and AFC Bournemouth. His story proves that a big price tag and raw talent aren’t enough without composure and consistency.
2. Stuart Taylor
Stuart Taylor might be the most decorated goalkeeper who barely played. Coming through Arsenal’s youth system, he collected Premier League and FA Cup medals mostly from the sidelines. When Seaman departed, Taylor had a brief shot at the spotlight, but he never truly held it.
His journeyman career took him through clubs like Aston Villa and Cardiff City, where a heavy 6-0 defeat all but ended his starting ambitions. Taylor’s story is one of wasted potential, earning a living in football without leaving a real mark on the pitch.
1. Peter Enckelman
Finnish goalkeeper Peter Enckelman will forever be remembered for a moment he’d rather forget. During a heated derby between Aston Villa and Birmingham City, Enckelman allowed a routine throw-in to slip under his foot and roll straight into his own net, a blunder etched into Premier League history.
Despite early promise, that one error defined his career. Attempts to bounce back, including a move to Blackburn Rovers and stints with lower-tier teams, never quite worked out. For many fans, Enckelman’s name is shorthand for how one mistake can haunt a lifetime in professional football.
