Bruce Grobbelaar

Who is Bruce Grobbelaar?

Bruce David Grobbelaar is a retired football goalkeeper who represented Zimbabwe at international level and a number of clubs, most prominently the English team Liverpool, during a professional career spanning more than 20 years. He is remembered for his gymnastic-like athletic ability, unflappable confidence and eccentric and flamboyant style of play.

Grobbelaar was born in South Africa, but raised in neighbouring Rhodesia. After playing for several Rhodesian and South African clubs and serving in the Rhodesian Army, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps of the North American Soccer League in 1979. He gained Liverpool's attention during a loan spell at Crewe Alexandra during the 1979–80 season, and signed for the Merseyside club in 1981. Making 628 appearances for Liverpool over the next 13 years, including 440 in the League, he won the League championship with the club six times, as well as three FA Cups, three League Cups and the 1983–84 European Cup.

Grobbalaar left Liverpool for Southampton in 1994, transferred to Plymouth Argyle two years later, and thereafter played for an assortment of English lower-league teams, never for more than a few games. He last played for Zimbabwe in 1998.