‘My first time’… The bizarre reason Leicester City star Mads Hermansen became a goalkeeper
‘My first time’… The bizarre reason Leicester City star Mads Hermansen became a goalkeeper
Without Mads Hermansen, Leicester City would be in a far worse position.
Although the Foxes are 19th in the Premier League table, Hermansen has earned plenty of plaudits for his exceptional performance.
Hermansen became the first ‘keeper to save a Cole Palmer penalty in the loss against Chelsea and has been tipped to make a move away in the summer.
As one of several Leicester players who could leave this summer, Leicester fans are trying to enjoy him whilst he’s still at the King Power Stadium.
But, if it wasn’t for one incident, they may have never got to see the Danish international at all.
How Mads Hermansen became a goalkeeper
Choosing the role of goalkeeper in football is no easy feat.
Most grow up wanting to be a striker and take all the glory whereas the role in between the sticks is seen as less glamorous.
Like everyone else, the 24-year-old wanted to be an outfielder, until an injury forced him into the position he is best known for now.
He told the LCFC App: “My first time in goal was when I was a kid. You’re always rotating because there’s not really a guy who is the goalkeeper every time.
“Those were my first experiences as a goalkeeper and then, when I was 10, I got injured, had something up with my Achilles and the only way I could play on was in goal.
“I enjoyed it and it suited me quite well, so I just stayed there. I was playing outfield and more as an offensive player, but I realised I had quite a good vision for the game when I was back there and could make some saves as well.”
Mads Hermansen one of the best Premier League goalkeepers in one key stat
Leicester fans have waxed lyrical about Hermansen for the majority of the season, as have supporters from the other 19 clubs.
During his two months out on the sidelines, Jakub Stolarczyk stepped in and did well in his Danish teammates’ absence, but he is incomparable to the current number one, or for shirt number’s sake, 30.
According to the Premier League website, Hermansen is fourth in the list for saves made in the top flight this season.
| Name | Number of saves |
| Mark Flekken | 117 |
| Aaron Ramsdale | 90 |
| Matz Sels | 88 |
| Mads Hermansen | 82 |
| Jordan Pickford | 80 |
With 82 saves to his name, he sits behind Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels, Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale and Brentford shot-stopper Mark Flekken.
It says a lot that two of the top five are goalkeepers for teams in the bottom three and epitomises just how busy Hermansen has been this season.
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