Aim. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of goalkeepers from PFC Levski Sofia U17 by analyzing their actions during both offensive and defensive phases of the game throughout the 2023/2024 season. The objective was to assess their influence on the match beyond traditional shot-stopping, including their role in ball distribution and initiating team actions. Methods. An observational analysis was conducted on ten official U17 matches using LongoMatch software. Qualified experts carried out the evaluation and included all goalkeeper actions during the entire match. Specific offensive indicators were analyzed, such as passes by foot and hand (short, medium, long), attack transitions, line-breaking passes, and defensive actions and decision-making quality rated as poor, good, or excellent. Results. Goalkeepers primarily used short passes by hand and foot to initiate attacks, with foot passes achieving an 81% line-breaking rate. Transitions by foot occurred more frequently but with less accuracy. Only one goal was conceded due to a possession error. Defensively, goalkeepers showed consistent involvement in organizing play and responding to threats. Conclusions. The modern goalkeeper plays a vital role in both phases of play, emphasizing the need for technical proficiency, game intelligence, and decision-making under pressure in elite youth football.
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