Cottagers best ever XI: Who is Fulham’s best goalkeeper?

I already know what you’re thinking.

This is peak international break content.

And the answer to that is an overwhelming yes, it is.

This international break is now coming up to 10 days old and instead of coming to an end, we are actually only halfway through.

In fact, we have exactly 11 days until Fulham are next back in action, and so that, quite conveniently, allows us to pick a Cottagers’ best-ever XI.

Naturally, of course, we will start the series with the goalkeeper and go from there, in a 4-3-3 formation.

So, we shall talk you through the three leading options to be named Fulham’s best ever goalkeeper, leave you with our choice and let you answer us in the comments.

Below are the nominees.

Arguably the best goalkeeper to ever play in the Premier League, Edwin van der Sar already had a reputation when he joined Fulham, making the move from Juventus.

He went on to become a major hit at Craven Cottage, before he made the move to Manchester United in 2005.

Van der Sar made 154 appearances for Fulham in all competitions, keeping 52 clean sheets, of which 42 were in the Premier League itself.

In his first season, Van der Sar kept 15 clean sheets, a tally he reached again in the 2003-04 season.

In terms of what he achieved in the game, Van der Sar is undoubtedly the most talented goalkeeper to have played for Fulham, but was the best of him seen at Old Trafford?

Mark Schwarzer was another goalkeeper who came to Fulham as a tried and tested goalkeeper in 2008, having spent almost a decade at Middlesbrough.

He outlasted Van der Sar, making 233 appearances and keeping 56 clean sheets in his five years at Craven Cottage.

Schwarzer was also pivotal in his first season at Fulham, keeping 15 clean sheets as Fulham finished seventh, with the Australian goaleeper named the club’s Player of the Season.

Schwarzer was also the Cottagers’ goalkeeper as they went all the way to the Europa League final in the 2009-10 season.

He may not have been techncally as good as Van der Sar, but did he make more of an impact in west London?

Fulham’s incumbent goalkeeper is also one of the club’s greatest ever goalkeepers.

Leno, who joined Fulham from Arsenal in 2022, has played in every single Premier League match for Fulham for the last three seasons, playing in 36 in his first season.

The German has kept 33 clean sheets in his 155 Premier League appearances, in a period in which the Cottagers have been remarkably consistent in the top flight.

Leno may seem like recency bias, but there is no doubt he is at least among the conversation.

So, those are the contenders. Who do you think is Fulham’s greatest goalkeeper? Let us know in the comments!

I think, despite Schwarzer perhaps having a bigger impact at Craven Cottage and Leno being a key part of the modern side’s success, Edwin van der Sar is Fulham’s best ever goalkeeper.