Goodbye, Ederson

Manchester City bid farewell to Ederson quietly. There were no grand tributes or tears on the Etihad pitch, just a dry announcement: he joins Fenerbahce.

Manchester City parted ways with Ederson quietly.

But for fans and experts alike, his departure closes an important chapter in Premier League history, where Ederson was not only a great goalkeeper but also a "revolutionary" who redefined the goalkeeping position for an entire generation.

From a gamble to a great foundation

Back in 2017, Pep Guardiola faced a difficult dilemma. Joe Hart – an icon of Man City – had been dropped, and Claudio Bravo had been a spectacular failure. Pep's reputation was shaken in his very first season.

At that time, he placed his faith in Ederson Moraes, a 23-year-old goalkeeper who had never played for the Brazilian national team, for a price of £35 million. It was a risky gamble, because if it failed, Guardiola's career in England could take a dark turn.

But in just a few months, Ederson proved Pep right. He emerged as the perfect piece to help Man City explode, beginning their historic journey to reach 100 points.

The bloody collision with Sadio Mane, followed by the image of him returning to training the very next day, became a symbol of resilience. Not only did he keep a clean sheet, but Ederson also ushered in a new era of football from the goalkeeper position.

Before Ederson, goalkeepers were often just "savemakers." For him, his feet were just as important as his hands. In the 2017/18 season, Ederson's pass accuracy reached 85.3%, one and a half times that of Joe Hart two years earlier. He not only made short passes to center-backs, but could also accurately launch long passes of 50-70 meters to teammates, opening up opportunities for quick attacks.

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

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

While 75% of goalkeepers used long passes in 2017, the numbers reversed last season: 62% opted for short passes. The average pass accuracy of goalkeepers also increased from 54% to nearly 69%. In other words, Ederson changed expectations for goalkeepers: they not only need to catch the ball, but also need to know how to play football.

The legacy of an extraordinary goalkeeper

Ederson isn't just good with his feet. He's still a top-class goalkeeper, with crucial saves: stopping Karim Benzema at the Bernabeu, blocking Romelu Lukaku in the 2023 Champions League final. According to FBRef data, Ederson saved 5.5 more goals than expected during his time in the Premier League.

What set Ederson apart was his combination of reliability and creativity. 276 appearances, 7 assists – a number far exceeding any other goalkeeper of his time. With Ederson, a pass could lead to a goal, not just neutralize danger. He was a goalkeeper but had the influence of a creative midfielder.

Guardiola's decision to drop Hart in favor of Ederson wasn't just a professional one. It was a statement: principles matter more than reputation.

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

Since then, it has become commonplace for managers to sideline star players for tactical reasons. The Premier League today sees countless "bomb squads"—stars cast aside simply because they don't fit the team's philosophy. And it all started with the "Ederson shock."

Ederson leaves Man City, leaving behind a great legacy.

This summer, Pep changed goalkeepers once again. James Trafford was initially chosen, but ultimately Man City brought in Gianluigi Donnarumma – who had been overlooked by PSG due to his weak footwork. The question is: Has Guardiola changed his priorities? Does the club now need a seasoned champion more than a "passing artist"?

Donnarumma possesses the titles of the European Championship and the Champions League, along with the charisma of a superstar. His arrival is like a mirror image: eight years ago, Pep Guardiola abandoned a veteran goalkeeper to choose a "goalkeeper who plays with his feet," and now he chooses a "goalkeeper with character" to replace the one who creates chances from the goal.

Meanwhile, Ederson will continue his career at Fenerbahce in Istanbul – the city where he and Man City lifted the European trophy. The Etihad now welcomes a new name, but the goalposts there will certainly be a little "smaller." Because Ederson has proven that the goal is not just a place to protect, but can also be a launching pad for an entire football philosophy.

Ederson left Etihad quietly, but his legacy resonates. He was a goalkeeper of impressive statistics, of fateful saves, and most importantly – a man who redefined the role of goalkeeper. In the flow of modern football, Ederson will forever be remembered as the pioneer who transformed the goalpost into the starting point for every attacking dream.

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