Former Everton goalkeeper Joel Robles celebrates his 35th birthday today
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Joel Robles lays injured during the match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on April 4, 2017
Joel Robles lays injured during the match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on April 4, 2017
(Image: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Some of the legendary players in his position like Peter Bonetti are sometimes given the nickname ‘The Cat’ because of their astonishing reflexes and graceful agility but Everton goalkeeper Joel Robles once had to deal with a feline pitch invader at Goodison Park. The Spaniard celebrates his 35th birthday today – ensuring that he is now eligible for veterans’ league football – although having penned a contract extension with current club Estoril last month, his deal with the Portuguese Primeira Liga side now runs until 2028.
With Joe Royle’s ‘Dogs of War’ and Myra the Belgian Shepherd who was carried through the crowds outside of Goodison ahead of Everton’s 1-0 win over Chelsea on May 1, 2022, the Blues are perhaps better known for their canine connections but back on January 9, 2016, Robles had to deal with a mischievous moggy in that had made its way towards his goal. Despite manager Roberto Martinez making eight changes from his side who had defeated Manchester City 2-1 in their League Cup semi-final first leg three days earlier, Everton strolled to a routine 2-0 win in their FA Cup third round tie at home to League Two Dagenham & Redbridge, ensuring that the cat taking to the turf was probably the biggest threat to Robles’ goal all afternoon on a day that Uruguayan striker Leandro Rodriguez came on as an 89th minute substitute for his only senior outing for the club.
Unable to win a spot-kick from any potential challenge from the keeper as it stopped on the line, just tantalisingly short of entering the Blues’ penalty area, the Madrid-born player had to sneak up behind it and while he was unable to catch the cat – those who witnessed Robles’ FA Cup quarter-final display at Arsenal two years’ later would just have been glad he didn’t punch it, given that’s what he did with everything that came his way at the Emirates Stadium – the presence of his 6ft 6in frame creeping increasingly close finally spooked the animal which eventually sprinted off behind the goal.
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When asked whether the cat’s presence could be seen as a good sign, typically, Everton manager Martinez, who took the positives from most situations, replied: “Hopefully. I thought he had great style and movement!”
Perhaps Robles, who won the FA Cup with Martinez at Wigan Athletic with a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in 2013, before following his manager to Merseyside, alongside Arouna Kone, Antolin Alcaraz and James McCarthy, should have whistled at the cat, in the way he often communicated with his team-mates instead of shouting at them? Only on loan with the Latics, he joined the Blues for an undisclosed fee from Atletico Madrid and would go on to make 65 appearances over five years before leaving on a free transfer when his contract expired.
Goalkeeper Joel Robles attempts to catch a cat during the FA Cup third round match between Everton and Dagenham & Redbridge at Goodison Park on January 9, 2016
Goalkeeper Joel Robles attempts to catch a cat during the FA Cup third round match between Everton and Dagenham & Redbridge at Goodison Park on January 9, 2016
(Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
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Robles spent his first couple of seasons as understudy to Tim Howard but with the USA international form faltering in 2015/16 - what proved to be his final campaign at Goodison after a decade of service – the Spaniard made 24 appearances. The following year he battled it out with new manager Ronald Koeman’s fellow Dutchman Maarten Stekelenburg for the number one spot, but once Everton splashed out £25million on Jordan Pickford in the summer of 2017, with the signing from Sunderland soon establishing himself as first choice with England, opportunities became scarce.
On departing the Blues in 2018 though, Robles showed his class with a heartfelt letter to everyone associated with the club. He wrote:
Dear Everton family,
I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to wear the shirt of such a great club like Everton and be able to play at Goodison Park in front of such great fans for the past five years.
It has been five unforgettable seasons in which I have worked hard every day to improve on the pitch and represent the greatness of the club off it.
I want you all to know that I will always remember every game I have played for Everton with pride and honour; also I would like to mention that I will always be grateful for the treatment I received from the president, managers, coaching staff, team-mates and club officials throughout my time at the club.
But, above all, I want to say ‘thank you’ to each and every one of you for making me feel like one of your own.
Yours sincerely,
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Joel Robles. #COYB