One of the best goalkeepers in the world is Hope Solo of the United States Women’s Soccer Team. Hope Solo was born Hope Amelia Solo on the thirtieth of July in the year 1981 in Richland, Washington. Hope Solo started her career in high school and college before playing with the United States Women’s Football [Soccer] Team. During her high school and college years with the Richland High School Bombers and the University of Washington Huskies, she scored one hundred and nine goals, was a four time All-PAC Selection and a Three Time NSCAA All American. Hope Solo was also named the Parade All American. It was during this period that she switched to goalkeeping.

 

Hope Solo made her debut with the United States Women’s Soccer [Football] Team in the year 2000 with her first shutout against Mexico and first appearance against Iceland. In the year 2005, Hope Solo was the staring goalkeeper in three of the four games played by the United States in the Algarve Cup and earned shutouts in all of the four games. In the United States [2005], Hope Solo was able to start nine games and earn seven shutouts. In the year 2006, Hope Solo had a record of One Thousand and Fifty Four Minutes without allowing a goal which was demolished by a goal conceded to France in the Algarve Cup. The sorry state of having to concede a goal was starting three of four games and earning two shutouts in the Algarve Cup in 2006 was also not the best time for Hope Solo. Regardless, Hope Solo was able to play in the Four Nations Tournament in China by starting three matches and earning three shutouts in the same year.

 

The year 2007 saw the participation of Hope Solo in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in which she was able to start ten games, earn five shutouts while going to the finals. Regardless, Hope Solo was able to prove that she was the greatest goalkeeper by being able to remain calm, cool, and collected under pressure. Hope Solo was also a goalkeeper for the Philadelphia Charge, Kopparsberg Goteberg FC, and Olympique Lyonnais during her career as a goalkeeper.

 

Her best role as a goalkeeper was off the field as she was able to forgive her father for divorcing her mother when she was six years old. It takes a lot of courage to do this and it took a lot of courage to be close to her father in spite of his drinking and being homeless until his death in 2007. It also took a lot of courage to continue playing in spite of such losses. It is for this reason that I consider Hope Solo the best goalkeeper in the world.

 

REFERENCE:

The Official Site of US Soccer: Hope Solo Biography

http://ussoccer.com/bio/index.jsp_5190.html