- Former Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet to retire
- He spent six years at Anfield aftering arriving from Sunderland
- Set to take up a managerment position at Belgian Football Association
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has announced he will retire at the end of the season, aged 38. He left the Reds to join his current club, Club Brugge, in 2019. He spent six seasons at Anfield after he signed from Sunderland in 2013.
The Belgian shot stopper made 204 appearances at the club, and was involved in Liverpool’s title challenge in 2014, and he was part of the squad that lifted the Champions League in 2019.
During his time in Belgium and England, he has made 755 club appearances alongside 35 caps for his national team. Once his playing career comes to an end, he is set to join the Belgian Football Association in a management role.
Mignolet’s time on Merseyside
After moving to Sunderland in 2010 from Belgian Pro League side Sint-Truiden, he quickly received a lot of praise for his performances at the Stadium of Light.
Three years later, he moved to Anfield to replace Pepe Reina as Brendan Rodgers’ No 1.
Reina was adored at Anfield, becoming a key player under Spanish manager Rafael Benitez, so Mignolet had a lot to live up to.
On his Premier League debut for the Reds, he was the hero as he saved a last-minute penalty from Jonathan Walters and the rebound from Kenwyne Jones as Liverpool beat Stoke 1-0.
It was nearly a fairytale campaign for Mignolet, as the Reds looked to win their first ever Premier League title, but games late in the season cost the Merseyside outfit, including the famous 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace.
That season, Rodgers side conceded 50 Premier League goals. Only three teams in the top 10 conceded more than that season, with question marks over the keeper and his defence.
For the remainder of the Northern Irish managers’ stay and the opening years of Jurgen Klopp’s time at the club, he remained the first-choice keeper.
The introduction of Loris Karius meant Mignolet’s minutes began to dwindle season on season, with only 19 league appearances in 2017/18, and only making two after Christmas.
After Karius’ mistake in the 2018 Champions League final, Klopp’s side signed Alisson Becker from Roma, which meant the end for Mignolet. He made two more appearances for the Anfield outfit in 2018/19, before returning to Belgium in a £6.4 million deal.
Liverpool 21st century keeper rankings
With Mignolet calling time on his career, it raises the question of where he ranks among Liverpool goalkeepers in the 21st century.
Liverpool have had plenty of talented keepers over the last 26 years, with many making a huge impact on the Reds’ march to glory.
There is no doubt that Mignolet’s replacement, Alisson, is the best they have had since 2000, and arguably the best the club have ever had.
Reina was also a cult hero at Anfield for his incredible penalty shootout moments against West Ham in the 2006 FA Cup final and the 2007 Champions League semi-final against Chelsea.
Caoimhin Kelleher, Jerzy Dudek and Sander Westerveld are all set in the Reds folklore for moments of magic which helped the club lift more silverware.
Unfortunately for the 38-year-old, he was never able to help Liverpool win a trophy while he was in goal. Liverpool went through a major transformation while he was in goal, and he was a reliable option, but he never really looked like the keeper to help the Reds achieve their goals.
While he may not rank among the elite, Mignolet’s consistency and professionalism helped lay Liverpool’s foundation for their return to the top.
