8 outfielders who had to stand in goals: Giroud, Walker, Kane, Terry, and more

Watching an outfielder play as a goalkeeper is one of football's most puerile joys – and Chelsea, Manchester City, & Tottenham players have all taken the hit for our personal enjoyment.

Professional footballers normally look like modern-day superheroes with athleticism we can only dream of, at least until one of them is asked to go between the posts.

Here are some memorable examples of outfield players donning a goalkeeper's kit.

Olivier Giroud - AC Milan - 2022-23

The Milanese club's No 1 Mike Maignan picked up a late red card during the San Siro clash for a foul on Caleb Ekuban in stoppage time, after the club had used up all of its substitutions.

Stefano Pioli then tapped the World Cup winner to pull on the gloves, donning Maignan's distinctive green shirt.

The visitors threatened against 10-man Milan, with Albert Gudmundsson's freekick nicking the bar, but it was Giroud's quick-thinking that saw the former Chelsea star block Genoa's final run at an equaliser.

Giroud dived at a chancing ball from George Puscas, before leaping on top of it to snuff out the scoring opportunity.

Milan have included him in the goalkeepers list on their website.

John O'Shea - Man United - 2006-07

John O'Shea was drafted in as Red Devils goalkeeper in a Premier League clash against Tottenham, after veteran shot-stopper Edwin van der Sar was forced to leave the pitch with a broken nose. It all worked out – O'Shea kept a clean sheet and Man Utd won 4-0.

Kyle Walker - Man City - 2019-20

Kyle Walker managed to keep a clean sheet when he was brought in as a stand-in goalkeeper for Manchester City against Atalanta in the Champions League, albeit for only nine minutes. Ederson was forced off the pitch at half-time after picking up a small injury, and after substitue goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was sent off with just 10 minutes to go of regular time, defender Walker was successfully called upon.

Rio Ferdinand - Man United - 2007-08

Ferdinand could not quite match Quinn's heroics when he had to don the gloves in Manchester United's FA Cup quarter-final clash against Portsmouth.

After Van der Sar was substitued at half-time due to a hamstring issue, the defender was forced to step in – but couldn't save the penalty conceded by Tomasz Kuszczak, which ended up deciding the game.

Harry Kane - Tottenham - 2014-15

Not happy with just scoring a hat-trick in a Europa League group-stage game against Asteras Tripoli, Tottenham star Harry Kane volunteered to fill in as stand-in goalkeeper after Hugo Lloris was given a red card in the 87th minute. 

Though Kane did concede a last-minute goal, the game was already won 5-1 for Tottenham.

John Terry - Chelsea - 2005-06

After both Chelsea goalkeepers Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini were forced to leave the pitch due to injury against Reading, John Terry stepped up to the plate – and successfully managed to maintain the 1-0 lead.

Dani Alves - PSG - 2017-18

It was only for 30 seconds, but former Paris Saint-Germain defender Dani Alves had to play as temporary goalkeeper after Kevin Trapp was sent off for a foul in a Coupe de France game against Sochaux.

Serge Aurier - Ivory Coast - 2022

Serge Aurier was forced to play in goal in an Afcon 2021 game against Sierra Leone, after Badra Ali Sangare sustained an injury attempting to clear the ball during the final minute of stoppage time. 

Aurier had to don the gloves and shirt for the remaining minutes, though didn't concede any further as the game ended 2-2.