Ederson Moraes is a goalkeeper who is idolised and will continue to by many for years to come.
Ben Foster claimed Ederson has “changed the game” for goalkeepers in terms of how he distributes the ball.
The Manchester City number one’s profile of being a ball-playing goalkeeper is exactly the one that clubs seem to search for in the transfer market nowadays.
Manchester United did so by signing Andre Onana from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023.
Brighton & Hove Albion also signed Bart Verbruggen last summer, who is known to be comfortable with the ball at his feet.
It seems like goalkeepers who cannot be trusted in possession and in situations where they sweep any signs of danger from the back are considered obsolete at the elite level.
Ederson, alongside the likes of Manuel Neuer and Alisson Becker has helped solidify the transformed role of a goalkeeper in the modern game.
Ederson shares who his footballing hero is
Considering the Brazilian international is 30, not many, if any goalkeepers that he must have watched growing up were considered world-class in such regards in Europe.
Back then, the likes of Petr Cech and Gianluigi Buffon to name a few were widely lauded for their shotstopping ability, command inside the penalty area and leadership at the back.
But aspiring goalkeepers will now be studying the former Benfica shotstopper’s ways to be able to become viable pick-ups for top clubs.
However, every player takes inspiration from others in their quest to succeed in the senior game.
Ederson has named Sao Paulo legend Rogerio Cena as his inspiration growing up.
The six-time Premier League winner briefly played for the Brazilian giants.
When I was at Sao Paolo, we had two separate training grounds, one for the youngsters and one for the senior professionals, so I wasn’t able to see him.”
Speaking to Manchester City’s official magazine, Ederson revealed: “But with the national team, I was able to meet him and talk with him and I was that young kid meeting his idol!”
“Since then, we have met and kept in touch with each other and have a good relationship. I wanted to be Cena and he said a really nice thing, he said, ‘Rogerio is the best goalkeeper in Brazil but that I was the best goalkeeper in the world’ because I play for the national team and because of my success at City.”
“He added that I had taken his goalkeeping style to the rest of the world and therefore validated the way that he had played for so many years.”
The legacy Ederson leaves behind will age gracefully
Once Ederson hangs up his boots, his legacy will be fondly remembered.
The decorated goalkeeper is a unique player for someone in his position.
At times, Ederson can be guilty of making reckless mistakes in possession or committing errors when the ball is struck at him.
Yet, Pep Guardiola has never seemed to stray away from the treble-winner being his first-choice goalkeeper.
Even if Ederson can be error-prone at times, he is a net positive for any side he plays for.
The City legend’s influence on how a team plays is second to none and it is why he has been worth sticking by for Pep Guardiola.
For this reason alongside his one-of-a-kind style, it is hard not to appreciate Ederson’s brilliance.
