Record-breaking Grohe’s brilliance in goal for Al Ittihad sets them on course to compete for Roshn Saudi League success
Observers wondered when Nuno Espirito Santo took the Al Ittihad job last summer whether he would look to Europe for a new goalkeeper.
But then anyone in Saudi Arabia could have told the former Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur tactician that there was already a fine custodian in Jeddah.
Marcelo Grohe has been the coach’s number one throughout 2022/23 and made history in terms of foreign ‘keepers in Saudi Pro League.
The Brazilian was his usual steady self in late February as Al Ittihad drew 0-0 with Al Raed.
The point helped his team, temporarily at least, into first place. The clean sheet also took the former Gremio shot stoper onto number 33 in Saudi Arabia’s top tier and a new record for a foreign goalkeeper.
It is no surprise that he was named as the ‘Best Goalkeeper’ in the competition’s Monthly Awards for February, though with eight goals in four games, a certain Cristiano Ronaldo was named ‘Best Player’.
That is not all. The record for the most clean sheets in a season currently stands at 14 and is held by the legendary Mohamed Al Deayea, Saudi Arabia’s international goalkeeper from the early nineties to the 2006 World Cup.
The former Al Tai and Al Hilal star expects that his long-standing record will be beaten by Grohe, who now has 12 clean sheets to his name this season in Roshn Saudi League and with promoted Al Khaleej to visit on Friday.
With more than a third of the campaign still to play, it is logical that not only will Grohe match the existing record, but break it.
“Grohe is a distinguished goalkeeper and I consider him the best in our league,” Al Deayea told SBC’s Saudi Stadium. ”He deserves to break my record.”
Al Daeyea believes that Grohe has been better than ever.
He added: “His presence, brilliance, and influence with Al Ittihad continues with every match. I support the goalkeepers, whether they are local or foreign, and I am happy when I see all goalkeepers in our league doing well and leading their teams to victories.”
In a league where prolific goal scorers and talented playmakers naturally get many of the headlines, it is refreshing to see goalkeepers get at least some of the spotlight.
Grohe is not the only Brazilian shot stopper impressing. Paulo Victor is at Ettifaq and Victor Braga is at Al Tai, they have kept six clean sheets each.
Mailson at Al Taawoun and Douglas Friedrich at Al Khaleej have managed to keep attacks at bay for five games, quite an achievement given the attacking talents that exist in the competition.
Al Ittihad’s number one is leading the way, however, and if Grohe maintains his current form then not only will he break records but the Tigers have a real chance of lifting the top-flight prize which has eluded them since 2009.