Almunia set to retire due to heart problem

[1989]

Failed 3 medicals at Cagliari and is set to retire with immediate effect. Not the best keeper to play for us by any stretch of the imagination but good luck to the fella.

[wilko49er]

Yeah agreed, sad way too end his career, good luck too him.

[TurnipMasher]

Sad news, hope he is ok.

[Herd]

A lack of heart never stopped him flapping around and earning big bucks at Arsenal !

[QuartzGooner]

Wish him well.

Got critcised but got himself to decent level for a season before regressing.
I never blamed him, he was plucked from obscurity and thrust into the spotlight.

[donaldo71]

Watching him gave every Gooner heart attacks

[storrmin571]

Sad hope his health improves, btw he's still a clumsy twat.

[SPUDMASHER]

Always sad to hear a young fit person having such problems.
I never rated him as a goalkeeper though. He reminded me of the goalie on my playstation that always seemed to be hanging around the corner flag when the other team was attacking.

Almunia essentially did nothing wrong. He was an average keeper that got the opportunity to play for a big club and earn good wages. Who could blame him for taking that opportunity?

I wish him well.

[arseofacrow]

Sad hope his health improves, btw he's still a clumsy twat.

Agree with both.

Good luckto him.

[augie]

One of my biggest regrets is the fact that I never seen him play a full international game for engerland

[Bradywasking]

One of my biggest regrets is the fact that I never seen him play a full international game for engerland

Said like a true Irishman.. Obviously he wasn't good enough to play for a top Premier team, he did make a few decent saves but too many mistakes. Took over from Mad Jens who took over from Seaman..so it was never going to be easy..

Wish him well on the health front...

[brucegrove]

He was never a top level keeper but that wasn't his fault. On the contrary, he played at a level above himself and, considering that, he did very well..you might even say excelled. I'll always remember his astonishing performance in the first half of the 2-2 at home to Barcstads when he made 5 top level saves and denied us an embarrassing 2-8esque humiliation. Unfortunately he came haring off his line at the beginning of the 2nd half allowing Ibra to lob him and that really summed up the fact that altho he had ability there were limits to his talents. Having said that he cost peanuts and look how much money was wasted on average English goalkeepers during his tenure. Good luck to him

[Bendtners Drinking Buddy]

I remember a first leg CL semi at OT when we lost 1-0 but he pretty much stopped that game being 6 or 7, also came on at the Nou Camp one year and was excellent - he had talent.

Not good enough for a top level PL side but much like Fab now, a mid table side where his concentration wouldnt dip and without so much pressure in his prime years would have suited him better.

A great moment for him in the PL Semi v Leicester too.

[DB10GOONER]

Wish him no ill and hope he will be ok.

But my over-riding memory will always be Paris 06, after the Idiot Lehmann got himself sent off and Almunia came on. The Whores' second goal was going for a throw-in on the far side and hit the inside of Almunia's shin and went in. It was an own goal.

[franksav63]

1162. Almunia