Group G Goalkeeper Coaches
Germany – Andreas Kopke
Andreas Kopke was a goalkeeper in the German squad that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup, and was also part of the 1994 FIFA World Cup squad. Though he did not appear in any of the matches, with Bodo Illgner preferred in goal, Kopke’s chance to shine came soon after.
Having been chosen as the best player in Germany in 1993, his biggest achievement came in 1996, winning the European Championship and playing a pivotal role in Germany’s campaign (he saved Gareth Southgate’s penalty kick and ensured Germany reached the final). Due to these achievements he was voted FIFA goalkeeper of the year.
Kopke was also Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper during their 1998 FIFA World Cup campaign, which ended in a 3–0 loss to Croatia in the quarter finals. Having already made his decision to retire at the end of the World Cup prior to the tournament, Kopke was true to his word; his retirement paved the way for another great German keeper, Oliver Kahn. In total, Kopke played 59 matches for his country.
Kopke began his professional club career at Holstein Kiel in the summer of 1979, he retired from goalkeeping at 1. FC Nürnberg at the end of the 2000–01 Bundesliga season. He also played at Eintracht Frankfurt to where he transferred to from 1. FC Nürnberg in the summer of 1994, for the amount of €516,200, returning to 1. FC Nürnberg five years later via Olympique Marseille. Up to this day Kopke is still very much involved in German football. He currently is the goalkeeping coach of the German national team.
Portugal
Ghana – Nassam Yakubu
Nassam Yakubu serves as Goalkeeper Coach for both Ghana club Medeama and the Ghanian National Team.
USA – Chris Woods
Chris Woods is a former England international football goalkeeper, who played in the Football League and Premier League for Nottingham Forest, Queens Park Rangers, Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Southampton and Burnley, in the Scottish Football League for Rangers,[4] and in Major League Soccer for the Colorado Rapids.[5] He was working as the goalkeeping coach at Everton and United States. Recently he was working as Goalkeeper Coach for Manchester United but was dismissed shortly after the sacking of David Moyes.
Woods was Peter Shilton’s long-time understudy in the England team in the mid to late 1980s, finally claiming the number one shirt for himself in the early 1990s. In all, he managed to accrue 43 caps in an eight-year international career.
He has served as the U.S. Men’s National Team Goalkeeper Coach since 2011.