Asmir Begovic
#1
Goalkeeper
d.o.b: 20/6/87
Signed: February 2010
Games this season: 15/1
Goals conceded this season: 23
Clean sheets this season: 7
Total club games: 48/2
Total club goals conceded/clean sheets: 66/18
Signed for £3.5m from crisis club Portsmouth on deadline day in early 2010.
Highly rated keeper who Stoke turned too after they tired in the race for Portsmouth's other keeper David James.
Bosnian international who had loan spells at La Lourieve, Macclesfield, Bournemouth, Yeovil, twice, and Ipswich whilst at Portsmouth before eventually forcing his way into the first XI at the start of the 2009/10 season.
Turned down high fliers Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea to come to the Britannia Stadium but had to bide his time before replacing Potters number one Thomas Sorensen in the winter of 2010/11.
Made his debut as a substitute for the injured Sorensen in the 7-0 defeat at Chelsea in March 2009, but bounced back to claim clean sheets in the home game with Everton and the away win at Fulham before the 4-0 final day defeat to Manchester United in the 2009/10 season.
Played all of pre-season for 2010/11 but had to settle for a space on the bench when the competitive action got under way. Interest from Chelsea saw him refuse to play against Shrewsbury in a Carling Cup tie before a clear the air meeting with manager Tony Pulis reassured him about his forthcoming chances and after some impressive displays in the Carling Cup, and a niggling injury to Thomas Sorensen, Begovic was given his league recall in November. He then played every minute of every league game for the remainder of the season but was forced to watch the Potters FA Cup run as Sorensen stepped in for those matches.
Still attracting interest, but signed on a long term contract, the Potters will be hoping the Bosnian keeps up his fine form, but also that they can keep the vultures from the door and hold onto a truly top drawer young keeper.