voice in no man's land | COSTEL PANTILIMON
At 15:45 on 2 March 2014, Manchester City stopper Costel Fane Pantilimon achieved his third winners’ medal under the Sky Blues after an exhilarating Capital One Cup Final against Sunderland AFC. Amidst a poignant sea of 84,697 red, white and blue tides, the Romanian knew he had found something in himself once lost. It was over two decades earlier; a young Costel would use sign language to communicate with his deaf mother and father of his dream, wishing to emulate his footballer hero, Gheorghe Hagi. The shy boy’s father however advised him how his stature was better suited to a destiny between the sticks. Twenty years later, and Costel Pantilimon held his reward in the most lucrative football league in the world. And there at Wembley, the boy who did not speak found his lost want – his voice.
For Sunderlands new acquisition has had a unspoken career since his 16-year old self first laced up for Aerostar Bacãu in 2003. From Romania’s third division, Costel was spirited upward to FC Politehnica Timişoara for UEFA Champions League challenges until the clubs ill-licensed relegation in 2011. Roberto Mancini salvaged £3m Pantilimon to Premier League splendour until casting him down into the shadows of the goalkeeping subs bench.
In a league where substitute goalkeepers are habitually content with their minimal contribution, Pantilimons role across consecutive League and FA Cup competitions was insightful to the Citizens. 6”8 Romanians instant reflexes and credible long-range shot-stopping was disrespected by Mancini, rewarded by Manuel Pellegrini and recognised by supporters who tempted at shunning the maligned Joe Hart entirely. Over 16 games in his 2013/14 campaign, Pantilimon amassed a 50% clean sheet record, including a 53% save rate and 43% clean sheet record in the Premier League.
It is a record the 2010 Romanian Goalkeeper of the Year brings to Sunderland; the sensible option of a stopper in esteemed form. He remains consistent against the flaying form of outgoing erratic reactor Kieran Westwood but his credentials offer more. Pantilimon is beneficially the tallest player in the Premier League. He has 135 domestic apps. He has 38 international apps. He is a Premier League winner, Capital One Cup winner, FA Community Shield winner. A character of the Romanians experience is not brought to be complacent. Gus Poyet and Lee Congerton have identified a player capable of entering no man’s land: a rare zone between first choice goalkeeper and interchangeable alternative to challenge the status quo.
Vito Mannone ended his inaugural Sunderland campaign statistically the standout goalkeeper in the Premier League. He follows the trend of successful Wearside stoppers and cannot be denied the starting role. The Italian bosses Pantilimon mathematically, having saved 72% of the 137 shots fired at him in the EPL, second only to David Marshall at the slaughter of Cardiff City. Yet Pantilimon holds a stronger clean sheet record so legitimate competition stands. For Pantilimon, the Sunderland no man’s land is one of opportunity and his encouraging words of trust he holds for Gus Poyet insinuate he has the Head Coachs promise. Whether it be further journeys in cup glory or a positive alternative to his Italian counterpart, the once introvert Pantilimon has a smaller stage to release his loudest voice.
