Stat attack: Barcelona veteran on the brink of making 400th appearance, but what do the other number say
On Friday, when Barcelona host Mallorca, goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will enter the list of elites, if selected, as he will become the 17th player and only the third keeper for the Blaugrana to make 400 appearances.
Having joined Barcelona in the summer of 2014 from Borussia Monchengladbach, the 31-year-old stopper needed at least two seasons to make the first-team spot his own but once done, there has been no looking back.
In his 399 matches for the Blaugrana, the German keeper has kept 167 clean sheets while conceding just 388 goals, tallying a mere 0.97 goals per match.
A super breakdown of a legendary tenure
Ter Stegen, acquired by Barcelona for €12 million plus an additional €750,000 in variables, is now in his tenth season with the club.
A breakdown of his 399 appearances includes 272 matches in La Liga, 81 outings in the Champions League, 28 in Copa del Rey, 9 in the Spanish Super Cup, 8 in the Europa League and one in the UEFA Super Cup.
Accumulating a total of 36,021 minutes for Barcelona, the goalkeeper has received 10 yellow cards and no marching orders.
His impressive contributions have contributed to the team’s success, securing 16 titles, including 5 La Liga championships, 5 Copa del Rey titles, 3 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Champions League, 1 UEFA Super Cup, and 1 Club World Cup.
On an individual level, Ter Stegen clinched the Zamora trophy for the goalkeeper with the fewest goals conceded in the 2022-23 season, allowing only 18 goals in 38 games.
Wait, there is more!
Ter Stegen was acquired during the regime of Andoni Zubizarreta as the club’s sporting director and over the years, the German has emerged as a goalkeeper of the modern era for Barcelona.
His professionalism and dedication, combined with consistent performance, have solidified his role as a reliable asset. In the current season, he serves as the team’s second captain, standing behind Sergi Roberto.
Speaking of donning the captain’s armband, the 31-year-old received the honour on 28 occasions across various seasons: 2017-18 (1), 2018-19 (1), 2020-21 (2), 2022-23 (4), and 2023-24 (20).
It is to be noted that Ter Stegen has a contract with Barcelona until 2028 and if he fulfils his commitment, he would stand a chance to be within the top 10 list of most appearances for the team.
