Football News

Ederson’s goalkeeper “inspiration” explains why he wanted to take Man City’s penalties so badly

By Harry Edwards

Published: 16:02, 21 April 2020

Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson has revealed he was inspired by legendary Brazilian shot-stopper Rogerio Ceni growing up.

Since joining Man City from Benfica in 2017, Ederson’s reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in the world has grown.

In 99 Premier League appearances, Ederson has conceded 73 goals and kept 60 clean sheets. More unusual, however, is that he has also recorded an assist by setting up Sergio Aguero in Man City’s 6-1 win over Huddersfield Town at the start of last season.


Who is Rogerio Ceni? Five things to know…

  • Rogerio Ceni spent his entire 23-year senior playing career with Sao Paulo and earned 18 caps with Brazil’s national team.
  • His nicknames include ‘The Myth’ and ‘El Loco’, both courtesy of his alarming feats at the other end of the pitch…
  • …such as managing 21 goals across all competitions in a single season in 2005.
  • Fifa recognise him as the only ‘keeper to ever hit the 100-goal mark and he retired in 2015 as one of Sao Paolo’s top 10 scorers of all time.
  • The Brazilian scored 131 goals in total, mostly from penalties or free-kicks but did also manage one from open play.

This season, Ederson’s ability on the ball became the topic of conversation as Man City struggled to convert from the spot. Pep Guardiola’s side have been awarded seven penalties in the Premier League but scored just three. Sergio Aguero, Ilkay Gundogan, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus all failed to score from 12 yards, while Jesus has also missed a penalty in the Champions League.

This left Guardiola frequently selecting a new first-choice penalty-taker, and the Spaniard once claimed Ederson was “definitely” the best Man City have at taking penalties.

In 2018, during a 5-0 win over Swansea, City fans chanted for Ederson to take a penalty – one Gabriel Jesus missed – and the ‘keeper told post-match reporters: “I’m not sure if I would be able to do set-pieces, but I’m good at penalties, either using power or technique when I’m shooting. City have their regular penalty takers and we have good options, but if Pep asks me to take it, I’m there. Hopefully it will happen [before the end of the season]. I’d like to score.”

Guardiola ultimately declined Ederson’s wish.

The Sao Paolo-born ‘keeper’s apparent proclivity for spot-kicks could be down to the goalkeeper he looked up to as a child: Ceni.

“Rogerio Ceni has always been my inspiration,” Ederson told Man City’s official website.

“When I started to play in school, I didn’t have an idol as such, I didn’t really like football in my nursery days.

“I used to go three times a week due to my brother’s influence and also because our friends used to go as well.

“So, I began to attend and started playing and after that I moved to the goal and from the moment that I started playing as a goalkeeper, I started following Rogerio Ceni.

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“From that moment onwards, he became my inspiration and idol.”

Although Ceni spent his entire playing career in his native Brazil with Sao Paulo, the goalkeeper is known globally for his goalscoring.

In his 23-year career, Ceni scored 131 goals, often going up the pitch to take free-kicks and penalties. For the Brazil national team, he earned 18 caps and was a member of 2002’s World Cup-winning squad.