Sweden Goalkeeper Coach and UEFA Goalkeeper Consultant Maths Elfvendal joins the organisation as the Head of the Goalkeeper.com Advisory Board.
Since Maths Elfvendal last spoke to Goalkeeper.com in 2022, the Swedish National Team goalkeeper coach has enjoyed a unique journey spanning data science, with international sporting bodies, and with the game’s greatest goalkeepers.
Now joining as the first Head of the Goalkeeper.com Advisory Board alongside his role leading the development and performance of his country’s national team number ones, Elfvendal sees an opportunity to not only advance the utility of goalkeeper data science in an elite environment, but increase interest in, and knowledge of, goalkeeping across the world, from the top of the game to the grassroots. It’s a philosophy that aligns closely with the Goalkeeper.com mission.
The Goalkeeper.com Advisory Board consists of a group of goalkeeping experts from around the world collaborating with Goalkeeper.com with the goal of ensuring a thriving future for goalkeepers together. In working with Goalkeeper.com, it’s “the knowledge that, together, we can put out there that will hopefully inspire more people to dig into the goalkeeping world over the long term from top to bottom” that Elfvendal hopes to disseminate.
"I've always been passionate about learning more about goalkeeping. Now, I have the opportunity to collaborate with Goalkeeper.com, who are the most exciting project in goalkeeping. They are changing the game with their goalkeeping data, and practical approach to supporting goalkeepers. I'm really looking forward to sharing my experiences and working together to create a better, more cohesive future for goalkeepers”
“I also hope this partnership will help goalkeepers be judged more fairly”, explained the Swede. Whilst media scrutiny and a lack of informed commentary may manifest at the top levels of the game, he admits the image that this forms puts goalkeepers at all levels under pressure.
“Often, the goalkeeper is doing everything that they can in a positive way, and they get criticised regardless. It’s really important that young goalkeepers want to be in the position; at the moment I see young goalkeepers afraid of being mocked or making a mistake. Something close to my heart is making sure the 11 year olds out there can have a fun time, enjoy the game, and not feel fear playing the game.”
Advancing the circulation of knowledge about goalkeeping is at the root of improving the narrative around goalkeepers. “We need to work on the whole spectrum” the Swede admits. “Everyone needs to work their bit in this case, and I see my role in this to push this knowledge to its limits a bit.
When I have introduced goalkeeper-first principles and theories it has caused positive feedback loops from coaches, analysts, physios and even team doctors to ask me questions and collaborate with me to push the interest and knowledge around goalkeepers to a stronger place.
“Now, I think we are about to see interest and support for goalkeepers grow throughout the game in a very positive way.”
“Once I started using more advanced Goalkeeper.com data, these coaches and analysts began to ask new questions that signalled a greater interest. Once we start to give them the knowledge, they’re really interested in it. Many can say, okay, good save. And many can say, okay, he needs to save that, but the perspective is short term which means actions can’t be put in a longer-term context.
"Now, we can begin to answer questions that affect the season as a whole; every goalkeeper who plays a season will concede goals, and now it’s more about conceding fewer goals, than just making that one extra save which before we could only isolate in that single context.”
“I think the Swedish FA are in a very cool position right now. I think we’re taking steps and decisions on the right way to be innovative and try to find out the next edge. And in this case, it’s collaboration here with you guys to use the world leading data. We’ve got to
see goalkeeper studies improving the whole game - the goalkeeping and the offensive game too and the Goalkeeper.com data helps us do that.”
Goalkeeper.com Chief Operating Officer Brendan Roslund said, on the partnership, that ‘“We have met a lot of amazing goalkeeper coaches during this journey, but Maths stands out as a very unique and special goalkeeper coach. Most importantly Maths is a great person, who has unique knowledge and respect for the entire scope of goalkeeping from grassroots to the top of the professional game. We are beyond excited to have him on board as the Head of the Goalkeeper.com Advisory Board, and look forward to what we will achieve together.”
To learn more about partnering with Goalkeeper.com, email [email protected]m.
