“The Slovenian Wall”-Jan Oblak

On January 7th, 1993, at the city of Sokfja Lka, Slovenia, was born one of the best goalkeepers of the actuality, the Atlético de Madrid’s player Jan Oblak.

Oblak’s family have always love sports, specially those in which hands are required for the game. His mother played Handball, his father was a goalkeeper, and Jan’s idol , and finally his only brother chose basketball.

At the age of 10, Jan joined his first Football Club, at the Olimpija Ljubljiana academy, but he made his debut at the age of 16. At that age, he set a record, being the youngest player that has ever played in the Slovenian national team.

Oblak did a great advance as a professional when he was 17 years old and joined the Portuguese club of Benfica, but during three years he was loaned to other clubs like Beira-Mar, Olhanense, Uniao de Leiria, and Rio Ave.

It was on the 2013/14 season, the first one in which the Slovenian could spent time in the first team of Benfica. Although he played only half of the season as Benfica’s main goalkeeper, he was awarded on that season as the best Portuguese League’s goalkeeper, because of the impression he left on the pitch.

After many different offers around the world, the Slovenian joined his actual Football Club, Atlético de Madrid, and after a period of adaptation of new cultures and language, he became another “Colchonero”.

After he was considered the main goalkeeper of the club, he won the Zamora award (Award to the goalkeeper of La Liga, who concedes less goals), for three consecutive seasons.

Without any doubt, the Slovenian goalkeeper is considered nowadays as one of the world’s best goalkeepers.