Sports speaker and prolific goalkeeper Bruce “Brucie” Grobbelaar is known all around the world as one of the most adored players to grace the Liverpool team; now a coach and football speaker, Grobbelaar has saved a number of clubs from league relegation and worked as a coach for teams all over the world. The man in goal for Liverpool in the tragic Hillsborough Disasterin April 1989, Grobbelaar has the knowledge of the highs and lows of football and life.
Widely recognised for his gymnastic-like athletic ability, unflappable confidence and eccentric and flamboyant style of play, words not often associated with a goalkeeper, Bruce really is a personality for the ages. Infamous for his distraction techniques during penalties where Grobbelaar performed his notorious ‘wobbly legs’ routine to great effect.
Born and raised in South Africa, Grobbelaar played for a number of British teams including a fourteen-year stint at Liverpool as well as at Southampton, Stoke City and Plymouth Argyle. Grobbelaar also played as part of the Zimbabwean national team at two world cups; however, a career that was dogged by tabloid coverage, libellous allegations and court appearances Bruce Grobbelaar now works almost solely as a coach and football speaker.
A 14-year career at Anfield resulted in Grobbelaar winning six league title medals, three FA Cup winner’s medal, three Football League Cup winner’s medals and a European Cup winner’s medal. ‘Brucie’, as he is affectionately known, made a monumental 440 appearances for Liverpool and still is fondly remembered as a legend at the club.
Grobbelaar’s 34-year career included 19 different teams, meaning if Bruce’s stint at Liverpool was removed from the equation, he played for an incredible 18 different teams in just 20 years, at almost a new team every season on average there are sure to be a host of stories and accounts from such a diverse plethora of experiences.
Before becoming a dedicated football-speaker Bruce Grobbelaar made a number of guest appearances as the goal keeper on struggling teams or in charity matches, including a rematch of the 1986 >cite>FA Cup Final where he was reunited with his old Liverpudlian team mates in a game against Everton. A testament to his popularity, Grobbelaar, also known as ‘Brucie’, is still a firm favourite amongst the Anfield faithful, and was voted as No.17 in a poll 100 Players Who Shook ‘The Kop’ conducted in mid-2006 by the official Liverpool Football Club website.
Despite his success as an international sports speaker Grobbelaar has stated a desire to one day return to Anfield as the manager of the Liverpool team. Until such a time, Grobbelaar remains one of the most prolific and impressive football speakers from his native South Africa, his vast and eclectic experience as well as his status as one of the most well-travelled players of his era, mark him as one a thoroughly engaging and entertaining sports speaker. A career filled with controversy and media attention, guests have a chance a true insight into the happenings inside the career and mind of a Liverpool legend. A truly riveting football speaker, Bruce Grobbelaar is guaranteed to entice and enthral any audience.
