Goodbye, Ederson

Manchester City quietly parted ways with Ederson.

But for fans and experts, that departure closed an important chapter in the history of the Premier League, where Ederson was not only a good goalkeeper but also a "revolutionary" who reshaped the goalkeeping position for an entire generation.

From gamble to great foundation

Back in 2017, Pep Guardiola faced a difficult problem. Joe Hart - the symbol of Man City - was eliminated, Claudio Bravo failed miserably. Pep's reputation was shaken in his first season.

He then put his faith in Ederson Moraes, a 23-year-old goalkeeper who had never played for Brazil, for £35 million. It was a risky gamble, because if it failed, Guardiola's career in England could have taken a dark turn.

But in just a few months, Ederson proved Pep right. He appeared as the perfect piece to help Man City explode, starting the journey to win a historic 100 points.

The bloody collision with Sadio Mane, and the image of him returning to training the next day, became a symbol of tenacity. Not only did Ederson keep a clean sheet, he also opened a new era of football from the goalkeeper position.

Before Ederson, goalkeepers were often just “savers”. For him, his feet were as important as his hands. In the 2017/18 season, Ederson’s passing accuracy rate reached 85.3%, one and a half times higher than Joe Hart’s two years ago. He not only passed short passes to the centre-backs, but could also kick the ball 50-70 meters accurately to his teammates, opening up a lightning-fast attack plan.

Ederson was once considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world .

Thanks to this ability, Pep turned the goal into the starting point of every attack. From Man City, that trend spread throughout the league.

In 2017, 75% of goalkeepers took long kicks, but last season, the numbers were reversed: 62% chose short kicks. The average pass accuracy of goalkeepers also increased from 54% to nearly 69%. In other words, Ederson changed the expectations of goalkeepers: they should not only catch the ball, but also play with it.

The Legacy of an Unusual Goalkeeper

Ederson is not just good at “playing with his feet”. He is still a classy goalkeeper, with decisive saves: stopping Karim Benzema at the Bernabeu, stopping Romelu Lukaku in the 2023 Champions League final. According to FBRef data, Ederson has saved 5.5 more goals than expected during his time in the Premier League.

What sets Ederson apart is his combination of solidity and creativity. 276 games, 7 assists - more than any other goalkeeper of his generation. With Ederson, a pass can open up a goal, not just take away danger. He is a goalkeeper but has the influence of a playmaker.

Guardiola's decision to drop Hart in favour of Ederson was more than just a technical decision. It was a statement: principle is more important than reputation.

At that time, Hart was considered an icon, even Messi once called him a “phenomenon”. But Pep dared to sacrifice his name to lay the foundation for a new style of play. Ederson’s success turned that choice into a historic turning point.

Since then, it has become normal for coaches to dismiss their best players for tactical reasons. Today’s Premier League has seen countless “bomb squads” – stars who are sidelined simply because they don’t fit the philosophy. And it all started with the “Ederson shock”.

Ederson leaves Man City, leaving a great legacy.

This summer, Pep has switched goalkeepers again. James Trafford was initially chosen, but Man City ended up bringing in Gianluigi Donnarumma - who PSG had abandoned because of his weak foot. The question is: has Guardiola changed his priorities? Does the club now need an experienced champion rather than a "pass artist"?

Donnarumma has the Euro and Champions League titles, and the aura of a superstar. His appearance is like a mirror: eight years ago, Pep abandoned the hero to choose a “footed goalkeeper”, now he chooses a “courageous goalkeeper” instead of a creator from the goal.

Meanwhile, Ederson will continue his career at Fenerbahce, Istanbul - the city that saw him and Man City win the European Cup. Etihad now welcomes a new name, but the goal there will certainly be "smaller". Because Ederson proves that the goal is not only a place to protect, but can also be a launching pad for a whole football philosophy.

Ederson left the Etihad quietly, but his legacy resonates. He was a goalkeeper of impressive numbers, of fateful saves, and most importantly - a man who rewrote the definition of the goalkeeping role. In the modern footballing world, Ederson will forever be remembered as the pioneer who turned the goal into the starting point for every attacking dream.

Source: https://znews.vn/tam-biet-ederson-post1582159.html