Costa Rica – @goaliecoach00
Costa Rica will be heading to the World Cup in Brazil with their hopes of a second round qualification firmly in the hands of Levante Goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Keylor Navas (Levante)
Age: 27
Caps: 51
Keylor Navas made his professional debut with Deportivo Saprissa on 6 November 2005, in a league match against Asociación Deportiva Carmelita. He was first-choice in his two final seasons with the club, winning seven major titles including six national championships.
In July 2010 Navas signed with Albacete Balompié from Spain. He only missed six second division games out of 42 during the season, but his team suffered relegation after finishing dead last.
In the 2011–12 campaign Navas reached La Liga, being loaned to Levante UD for one year. He made his debut in the competition on 13 May 2012 in the last matchday, featuring in a 3–0 home win against Athletic Bilbao that confirmed the club’s first ever qualification to the UEFA Europa League; the move was subsequently made permanent, and he acted as backup to Gustavo Munúa in his first two seasons, becoming a starter afterwards.
Navas was part of the Costa Rican squad that played in the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship held in Finland. He was called to the full national team for the first time in August 2006, to play a friendly tournament in Europe against Austria and Switzerland, but he only gained his first cap two years later.
Navas appeared with Los Ticos in two CONCACAF Gold Cup editions, being crowned the best goalkeeper in 2009 to help his country to the semifinals. He is the likely number 1 for Los Ticos next month in Brazil.
Patrick Pemberton (Alajuelense)
Age: 32
Caps: 20
Patrick Pemberton Currently plays for L.D. Alajuelense who he has played for the past twelve seasons.
On June 15, 2012 he was awarded the prize for the best goalkeeper of the tournament delivered by Summer 2012 UNAFUT.
Daniel Cambronero (Herediano)
Age: 28
Caps: 1
Daniel Cambronero currently plays for Herediano. Having very limited playing experience with the Costa Rican National Team, Cambronero has appeared for several club including Deportivo Saprissa, Puntarenas FC, and Universidad de Costa Rica. He has appeared for Costa Rica at the youth level on the number of occasions with the U-20s and U23s.
Esteban Alvarado (AZ Alkmaar)
Age: 25
Caps: 2
Esteban Alvarado has been the first team keeper at AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands for the past three seasons.
You might remember Alvarado from an incident that occurred at Ajax in 2011. Alvarado was sent off in a KNVB Cup match against Ajax after an Ajax supporter tried attacking him by attempting to kick Alvarado but the fan slipped to the ground. Alvarado then kicked the attacker twice and was sent off for violent conduct, with AZ manager Gertjan Verbeek ordering his players to leave the pitch and head to the dressing rooms in protest and the game was consequently abandoned and red card was later rescinded.
Alvarado has only seen action in 2 matches with the Costa Rican Senior National Team and 7 matches with the U20 squad.