Five Outfield Players Converted to Goalkeepers

In football, it's not a new thing to see players switch roles. Sergio Ramos was a right-back before he was converted to a centre back. Also the Gareth Bale in Tottenham and the one in Real Madrid play totally different positions. There are many other players like that.

In the same way, some of the goalkeepers you know started in other playing positions, before they switched to goalkeeping. Here are five of them:

1. David De Gea







David De Gea is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Manchester United, as well as the Spanish national team. He previously played for La Liga side Atletico Madrid before joining Man United in 2011.

However, De Gea has not always been a goalkeeper, as his former coach Jose Maria Cruz said that he (De Gea) used to be a striker as a young teenager, and in fact, was their top goalscorer at that time.

2. Thubaut Courtois






Real Madrid and Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is one of the best goalkeepers of this generation. He has previously played for Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, and won the Golden Globe award at the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament.

But it may interest you to know that Courtois didn't start playing football as a goalkeeper. Rather, he played as a left back for a local club known as Bilzen V.V years ago. It was when he joined Racing Genk that his position was changed to that of a goalkeeper.

3. Jorge Campus






It's rather not surprising that he's the third highest goal-scoring goalkeeper of all time, with a total of 46 goals. Mexican footballer Jorge Campus was a striker and a goalkeeper joined together.

Even as a goalkeeper, Campus would switch positions right on the pitch and play as a striker. Amazing guy, really!

4. Adrian






Adrian is currently Liverpool's second-choice goalkeeper, having previously played for clubs like West Ham and Real Betis.

He played as a forward for his boyhood club CD Altaire. But he switched positions and became a goalkeeper, following the departure of the former goalkeeper.

5. Jose Manuel Pinto






Pinto has played for clubs like Celta Vigo and Barcelona, where he stayed for several years as second-choice goalkeeper.

Pinto used to play as a defensive midfielder, before he switched positions and became a goalkeeper.