Football Manager 2006 is packed with legendary bargain signings, and nowhere is that more obvious than in goal. And if you’re looking to find a bargain goalkeeper, this is one of the most satisfying games in which to do so.
While most managers spent millions chasing established stars, there were several young goalkeepers who could be signed for relatively modest fees and developed into world-class players. Some less so, but that’s immaterial here.
Some became club legends in-game, while others went on to enjoy fantastic careers in real life.
If you’re starting a new FM06 save and need a reliable number one without breaking the bank, these five goalkeepers should be at the top of your shortlist. Starting with my personal favourite…
Vincent Enyeama (Bnei Yehuda) | Age: 23 | Approx. £500k
I’ll say it, Vincent Enyeama is the greatest goalkeeper in Football Manager history. And I’m serious.
Playing in Israel meant he was available for well under £1 million, making him an absolute steal for Premier League, Championship and ambitious European clubs alike. I personally had him in my famous Walsall save, which I’m sure you know about!
His standout attributes included Reflexes (18), Handling (17) and One-on-Ones (17), allowing him to pull off spectacular saves week after week. Although he wasn’t the tallest goalkeeper in the game, his incredible reactions more than compensated, and many FM06 players would happily keep him between the sticks for an entire save.
At the time, Enyeama was already beginning to establish himself with Nigeria after winning back-to-back CAF Champions League titles with Enyimba. In real life, he went on to become Nigeria’s most-capped player, played at three World Cups and enjoyed an outstanding spell with Lille, where he was recognised as one of Ligue 1’s best goalkeepers.
Gladly, Nigeria recognise him as one of their best ever stoppers, too. But if I was in charge, he’d have a statue in their airport.
Ben Foster (Manchester United) | Age: 22 | Loan or £2-3m
Ben Foster wasn’t always available immediately, but if you could secure him on loan or persuade Manchester United to sell, he became one of the safest long-term investments in the game.
His combination of Handling (17), Aerial Ability (17) and Positioning (16) meant he developed into a commanding goalkeeper capable of performing consistently at Premier League level. His physical attributes also improved nicely with age, making him an ideal long-term number one. Give Foster regular first-team football and he’d often become England’s goalkeeper for years.
And it’s a shame that Fabio Capello didn’t give him the time he deserved in net for the national team while he was in charge with the setup – but he did give a chance to Emile Heskey, so I suppose I can let him off for that.
When FM06 was released, Foster had only recently joined Manchester United and was making his name during an excellent loan spell at Watford. He eventually won Premier League titles with United, earned eight England caps and enjoyed lengthy spells with Birmingham, West Brom and Watford before becoming one of football’s biggest YouTube personalities through The Cycling GK.
Craig Gordon (Heart of Midlothian) | Age: 22 | Approx. £2m
Craig Gordon was slightly more expensive than the others on this list, but every penny was worth it.
Already Hearts’ first-choice goalkeeper, Gordon possessed excellent all-round attributes from the beginning of the game. His Handling (18), Positioning (17) and Jumping (18) made him incredibly dependable, while his consistency meant he rarely made costly mistakes.
Unlike many young goalkeepers, Gordon didn’t require years of development before becoming elite. He was good enough to start immediately and usually remained your first-choice keeper for the next decade.
Real life mirrored the game remarkably well. Just a year after FM06, Gordon became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper when Sunderland signed him for around £9 million. Despite suffering serious injuries, he rebuilt his career with Celtic, won numerous league titles and remarkably returned to become Scotland’s first-choice goalkeeper well into his late thirties.
If you want to read more about the Scottish stopper, here’s the full article I wrote – after I got to meet him in person! Whereupon I questioned why he handed in a Transfer Request before our UCL knockout stage, but he took it well.
Benoît Costil (Caen) | Age: 18 | Approx. £30k
Every Football Manager game has that hidden bargain almost nobody knows about.
In FM06, Benoît Costil was one of them.
Available for little more than £30,000, Costil represented incredible value if you were managing outside Europe’s elite. His starting attributes weren’t spectacular, but Reflexes (15), Determination (16) and Handling (14) gave him an excellent platform to develop.
Given regular football and good coaching, Costil regularly matured into a reliable Ligue 1-quality goalkeeper, making him one of the best value-for-money signings in the game.
When FM06 launched, Costil was still breaking through at Caen. His career eventually took him to Rennes, Bordeaux, Auxerre and the French national team, proving Sports Interactive’s scouts were once again ahead of the curve.
Júlio César (Corinthians) | Age: 20 | Approx. £1.7m
If your budget stretched a little further, Júlio César was one of the highest-upside goalkeepers available.
Although his release clause meant he’d cost around £1.7 million, he was still exceptional value considering the goalkeeper he could become.
His standout strengths included Reflexes (18), Agility (17) and Communication (16), making him one of the most complete young goalkeepers in Football Manager 2006. By his mid-twenties, he frequently ranked among the very best goalkeepers in the database.
Unlike some wonderkids who never fulfilled their promise, Júlio César’s real-life career arguably surpassed his in-game reputation. After leaving Corinthians, he became Inter Milan’s number one, won five Serie A titles, lifted the 2010 UEFA Champions League and represented Brazil at three FIFA World Cups. Oh, and that whole QPR thing, but ah well…
Which FM06 Goalkeeper Should You Sign?
If you’re managing on a tight budget, Vincent Enyeama is probably the best value signing on this list. His combination of low transfer fee and elite shot-stopping makes him one of the greatest goalkeeper bargains in Football Manager history.
Craig Gordon offers the safest long-term option if you have a little more money to spend, while Ben Foster is perfect if you can secure him on loan. Costil is ideal for lower-league saves where every pound matters, and Júlio César provides genuine world-class potential for clubs with slightly larger budgets.
Oh, and if you prefer the next edition of the game and you want a feature on cheap outfield players to sign on FM 07, then we’ve got you covered there, too! I also wrote about Vincent Enyeama there as well – because he deserves it!
Which of these goalkeepers did you personally sign on FM 06?