I faced David de Gea, Thibaut Courtois, and Iker Casillas but surprise Tottenham goalkeeper was toughest
Darren Bent went toe-to-toe against the best goalkeepers the Premier League had to offer in a career spanning 18 years.
The former Ipswich, Tottenham and Aston Villa striker netted 106 Premier League goals but it didn’t come without its duels.
In an era dominated by world-class goalkeepers such as Petr Cech and David de Gea and Champions League outings against Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas, one surprising name provided Bent with his toughest challenge of all.
“I would put Heurelho Gomes,” said Bent when asked who would take the No.1 spot in his ‘toughest Premier League XI’. “He was the hardest I played against, he saved four penalties from me.”
Gomes signed for Tottenham in an £8million deal from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in 2008 and quickly split opinion with a host of high-profile blunders.
Thankfully, the Brazilian went on to establish himself as the club’s number one and got the better of former teammate Bent in a chaotic clash against Sunderland in 2010 when he saved two of the striker’s three penalties in the game.
But his time at Spurs became compromised after the acquisition of 40-year-old goalkeeper Brad Friedel in 2011 before Hugo Lloris swapped Lyon for north London a year later.
The Brazilian, who earned 11 caps for his country, went on to become a fan-favourite during a six-year spell at Championship side Watford following a brief loan at Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim.
He played a key role in the Hornets’ return to the Premier League in 2015 and was named Watford’s Player of the Season the following year.
Gomes called time on his career shortly after moving back to his native Brazil in 2021 to sign for Democrata SL, where he failed to make an appearance for the club.
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