Editing David Seaman

{{Short description|English footballer (born 1963)}}
{{about||the writer and conspiracy theorist|David Seaman (writer)|the DJ|Dave Seaman}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name                = David Seaman<br>{{small|{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}}}}}}
| fullname            = David Andrew Seaman<ref name=Hugman>{{Hugman|17659|access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref>
| image               = David Seaman.jpg
| caption             = Seaman in 2012
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1963|9|19|df=y}}<ref name=Hugman/>
| birth_place         = [[Rotherham]], England
| height              = {{convert|1.93|m|order=flip}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/david-seaman-5/ |title=David Seaman |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=8 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/1/David-Seaman/overview |title=David Seaman Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=8 October 2021}}</ref>
| position            = [[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
| currentclub         = 
| youthyears1         = 1981–1982 |youthclubs1 = [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
| years1              = 1982–1984 |clubs1 = [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]] |caps1 = 91 |goals1 = 0
| years2              = 1984–1986 |clubs2 = [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] |caps2 = 75 |goals2 = 0
| years3              = 1986–1990 |clubs3 = [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] |caps3 = 141 |goals3 = 0
| years4              = 1990–2003 |clubs4 = [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] |caps4 = 405 |goals4 = 0
| years5              = 2003–2004 |clubs5 = [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] |caps5 = 19 |goals5 = 0
| totalcaps           = 731 |totalgoals = 0
| nationalyears1      = 1984–1986 |nationalteam1 = [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]] |nationalcaps1 = 10 |nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2      = 1987–1992 |nationalteam2 = [[England national football B team|England B]] |nationalcaps2 = 6 |nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3      = 1988–2002 |nationalteam3 = [[England national football team|England]] |nationalcaps3 = 75 |nationalgoals3 = 0
}}
'''David Andrew Seaman''' (born 19 September 1963) is an English former [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]]. In a career lasting from 1981 to 2004, he is best known for his time playing for [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]. He won 75 [[Cap (sport)|caps]] for [[England national football team|England]], and is the country's second-most capped goalkeeper, after [[Peter Shilton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamGkprs/GkprsMstApps.html |title=England's Goalkeepers in Most Appearance Order |work=England Football Online |access-date=20 May 2009 }}</ref> In 1997, he was awarded the [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] for services to football.

Seaman began his career in the [[Football League]] for [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]], [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] and [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]. The peak of his career was during his period as Arsenal and England goalkeeper in the 1990s and early 2000s. During his time at Arsenal, he won three league championships (1991, 1998, 2002), four [[FA Cup]]s (1993, 1998, 2002, 2003), the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] in 1993 and the [[Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners Cup]] in 1994. During this time he also played for England in the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] and [[2002 FIFA World Cup]]s, and [[UEFA Euro 1996|Euro 96]] and [[UEFA Euro 2000|Euro 2000]]. After leaving Arsenal, he played in the [[Premier League]] for [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. He retired in 2004 due to a recurring shoulder injury. In June 2012, he was appointed goalkeeping coach of [[Combined Counties League]] club [[Wembley F.C.|Wembley]].

Seaman is considered to be one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time,<ref name="defiant">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2371204/Seaman-conjured-defiant-moments.html |title=Seaman conjured defiant moments |work=The Telegraph |last1=Winter |first1=Henry |date=14 January 2004 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/none-of-southgates-euro-96-team-mates-is-working-for-the-fa-lmq2s2lq9 |title=None of Southgate's Euro '96 team-mates is working for the FA |work=[[The Times]] |last1=Martland |first1=Charles |date=30 June 2016 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/best-of-times-worst-of-times-david-seaman-czk8vn83b95 |title=Best of Times, Worst of Times: David Seaman |work=[[The Times]] |date=11 June 2006 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-24 |title=Ranking the 15 greatest goalkeepers in football history |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/ranking-the-15-greatest-goalkeepers-in-football-history-38974080 |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=OneFootball |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Will |date=2020-04-15 |title=Ranking the 20 Greatest Goalkeepers in Football History |url=https://www.givemesport.com/football-soccer-best-goalkeepers-history/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=GiveMeSport |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-19 |title=Best Soccer Goalkeepers of All Time |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/best-soccer-goalkeepers-of-all-time |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=SI |language=en-US}}</ref> as well as one of the best shot-stoppers in Premier League and English football history.<ref name="10 best goalkeepers in Premier League history"/><ref name="legends"/> He placed second in the [[IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper]] of the Year award in 1996, behind [[Andreas Köpke]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-gkoy96.html |title=IFFHS' World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year 1996 |last1=Pierrend |first1=José Luis |date=25 January 2000 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref> while he placed 32nd, alongside [[Enrico Albertosi]], in the European Keeper of the Century vote, which was organised by the same organisation, the fourth–highest ranked English goalkeeper.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-century.html |title=IFFHS' Century Elections: Europe - Keeper of the Century |last1=Stokkermans |first1=Karel |date=30 January 2000 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref> In 2013, James McNicholas of [[Bleacher Report]] described Seaman as "the greatest goalkeeper in Arsenal's history."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1706864-5-best-arsenal-goalkeepers-of-all-time |title=5 Best Arsenal Goalkeepers of All Time |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=McNicholas |first1=James |date=19 July 2013 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref> In addition to his goalkeeping ability, Seaman was also a highly recognisable figure on the pitch due to his moustache and the [[ponytail]] hairstyle he wore for part of his career.<ref name="tragedy"/>

Seaman's save from [[Paul Peschisolido]] of [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] in the [[2002–03 FA Cup]] semi-final was described in the media as one of the best ever. Notable lows came with two costly errors, both from long-range efforts—conceding a [[last-minute goal]] in the [[1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final]] to [[Nayim]] of [[Real Zaragoza]], and conceding to a [[Ronaldinho]] free kick against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]] [[2002 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#England vs Brazil|quarter-final]]. Seaman is [[Handedness|left-handed]], but threw the ball with his right arm and kicked with his right foot.

== Club career ==
=== Early career ===
Seaman was born in [[Rotherham]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]]<!-- not South Yorkshire, which didn't exist until 11 years after Seaman's birth -->. He attended [[Kimberworth Comprehensive School]].<ref>[http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/article130783.ece]{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He began his career at [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]], the club he supported as a boy. Much to his disappointment, he was not wanted by then-manager [[Eddie Gray (footballer, born 1948)|Eddie Gray]], who had been his favourite player. Seaman went to Fourth Division club [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]] for a £4,000 fee in August 1982, where he began to make a name for himself.

Just over two years later, in October 1984, [[Football League Championship|Second Division]] [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] paid £100,000 for Seaman's services. They ended up being promoted at the end of that season, but were relegated again at the end of the following season. Seaman was not to follow them back to the Second Division, as in August 1986, he moved to [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] for £225,000. Playing for a higher profile club on a plastic pitch, he would be called up by the [[England national football team]] for the first time in November 1988. Whilst at QPR, Seaman was coached by [[Bob Wilson (footballer, born 1941)|Bob Wilson]] (Arsenal's double-winner in 1971), who was to work with him for more than a decade.

=== Arsenal ===

In 1990, long before the current [[transfer window]] system had come to English football, there was still a transfer deadline a few weeks before the end of the season. [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], who had won the league in 1989, wanted to sign Seaman, but the deal involved Arsenal's keeper [[John Lukic]] heading the opposite way on loan. Lukic did not want to do this, and the deal broke down and remained unresolved when the deadline passed. As soon as the season ended and clubs were allowed to buy players again, Arsenal manager [[George Graham (footballer, born 1944)|George Graham]] came back for Seaman, with £1.3 million (at the time a British record for a goalkeeper)<ref>{{cite news |last=Rich |first=Tim |date=13 May 2003 |title=Seaman's standing unfairly undermined by rare mistakes |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/seamans-standing-unfairly-undermined-by-rare-mistakes-590470.html |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |access-date=29 September 2010}}</ref> being the agreed fee. Lukic, who was highly popular amongst Arsenal fans, left to rejoin Leeds.

Seaman's time at Arsenal coincided with one of the most successful periods in the club's history. The [[1990–91 Arsenal F.C. season|1990–91 season]] saw Seaman concede only 18 goals when playing in every match of the 38-game season as Arsenal regained the [[List of English football champions|league title]].

Arsenal won both the [[1992–93 FA Cup|FA Cup]] and the [[1992–93 Football League Cup|League Cup]] in 1993 and supplemented this a year later with the [[1993–94 European Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]]. Arsenal began their victorious League Cup campaign against [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] and after two legs the game went to a penalty shootout. Seaman saved three of the four Millwall penalties from [[Malcolm Allen (footballer)|Malcolm Allen]], [[Jon Goodman]] and [[Colin Cooper]] to help his side progress.<ref>{{cite news |last=Haylett |first=Trevor |date=8 October 1992 |title=Football / Coca-Cola Cup: Seaman shines in shoot-out to deny Millwall: Winterburn hurt by coin thrower |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-coca-cola-cup-seaman-shines-in-shoot-out-to-deny-millwall-winterburn-hurt-by-coin-thrower-1556223.html |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=20 September 2016}}</ref>

In 1995, George Graham was sacked, and Arsenal came close to becoming the first club to retain the [[1994–95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|Cup Winners' Cup]], with Seaman earning a reputation as a [[penalty kick (association football)|penalty]]-saving specialist after saving from [[Siniša Mihajlović]], [[Vladimir Jugović]] and [[Attilio Lombardo]] in Arsenal's semi-final [[Penalty shootout|shoot-out]] against [[U.C. Sampdoria]], all the while playing with two cracked ribs.<ref name="penalties">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/seaman-secures-arsenal-triumph-1616550.html |title=Seaman secures Arsenal triumph |newspaper=The Independent |last=Moore |first=Glenn |date=21 April 1995 |access-date=20 September 2016 }}</ref> Arsenal lost in the [[1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final|final]] to [[Real Zaragoza]], at the [[Parc des Princes]] in Paris, when [[Nayim]] scored a goal in the final minute of extra time with a 40-yard lob over Seaman.<ref name=NAYIM>{{cite web|url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/news/kind=4/newsid=3429.html|title=1994/95: Nayim's bolt from the blue sinks Arsenal|publisher=UEFA|date=1 June 1995|access-date=28 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822203449/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/news/kind%3D4/newsid%3D3429.html|archive-date=22 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="looking at Seaman the whole night">{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/021b-0f8a73dd18bd-5c4abf051943-1000--nayim-was-looking-at-seaman-the-whole-night/|title=Nayim was 'looking at Seaman the whole night'|publisher=UEFA|last=Martin|first=Richard|date=13 November 2014|access-date=2 June 2017}}</ref>

In August 1996, [[Arsène Wenger]] became the new manager of Arsenal. Wenger rated Seaman highly and in [[1997–98 Arsenal F.C. season|1998]], Seaman helped the team to the [[1997–98 FA Premier League|Premier League]] and [[1997–98 FA Cup|FA Cup]] [[Double (association football)|double]]. In [[1998–99 Arsenal F.C. season|1998–99]], Seaman played all 38 league matches, conceding only 17 league goals as Arsenal came within one point of retaining the [[1998–99 FA Premier League|Premier League]] and lost in the [[1998–99 FA Cup|FA Cup]] semi-finals to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]. The following season Seaman managed to reach the [[2000 UEFA Cup Final]], which Arsenal drew 0–0 with [[Galatasaray S.K. (football team)|Galatasaray]], but lost on penalties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/752751.stm|title=BBC News - FOOTBALL - Penalty heartbreak for Arsenal|website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref name="Galatasaray win historic UEFA Cup">{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0221-0e90c1e2d4d0-6b6135fa4c69-1000--snap-shot-galatasaray-win-historic-uefa-cup/ |title=Snap shot: Galatasaray win historic UEFA Cup |publisher=[[UEFA]] |last1=Tozar |first1=Türker |date=17 May 2015 |access-date=5 November 2019 }}</ref>

In [[2001–02 Arsenal F.C. season|2002]], Seaman won the [[2001–02 FA Premier League|Premier League]] and the [[2001–02 FA Cup|FA Cup]] again to complete his second career double, although Arsenal's other goalkeepers [[Stuart Taylor (footballer born 1980)|Stuart Taylor]] (10 appearances) and [[Richard Wright (footballer)|Richard Wright]] (12 appearances) also won championship medals, due mainly to Seaman's absence through injuries. A highlight of this season was when Seaman dramatically saved a [[Gareth Barry]] penalty as Arsenal won 2–1 at [[Aston Villa]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1873883.stm|title=Arsenal see off Villa|publisher=BBC|date=17 March 2002 |access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref>

Despite his international career ending so flatly and accusations his mobility had faded with age, the [[2002–03 Arsenal F.C. season|2002–03 season]]—Seaman's last at Arsenal—ended on a high note. He began the season with saving a [[Freddie Kanoute]] penalty in a draw at [[Boleyn Ground|Upton Park]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2210776.stm|title=Hammers hold Arsenal|publisher=BBC |date=24 August 2002 |access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref> In the [[2002–03 FA Cup|FA Cup]], he made a save against [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]'s [[Paul Peschisolido]] in the semi-finals, which former Manchester United goalkeeper [[Peter Schmeichel]], a pundit for the [[BBC]] on the day, dubbed "the best save I've ever seen".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2944701.stm | title=Schmeichel leads Seaman praise | work=BBC Sport | date=2004-04-13 | access-date=2010-01-02}}</ref> Arsenal were defending a 1–0 lead, when with less than ten minutes to go, Peschisolido had a header towards an apparently open goal from six yards out with Seaman seemingly stranded at the near post. Seaman leapt sideways and backwards, managing to stretch his right arm behind him and scoop the ball back and away from both his goal and the opposing players ready to pounce on a rebound. The match was Seaman's 1,000th professional career game. Seaman went on to [[Captain (association football)|captain]] the team during the [[2003 FA Cup Final]] in the absence of injured [[Patrick Vieira]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/16/newsstory.sport1 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=16 May 2003 |access-date=12 March 2012 |first=Jon |last=Brodkin |title=Able Seaman is captain for final}}</ref> and keep another clean sheet at the [[Millennium Stadium]] as they defeated [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] 1–0.<ref name=repod>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/17/minutebyminute.sport |work=theguardian.com |date=17 May 2003 |access-date=1 March 2013 |first=John |last=MacLeary |title=Arsenal v Southampton: minute-by-minute}}</ref> His final act with Arsenal was to lift the FA Cup, which was his ninth major trophy with his team. Seaman played in goal for Arsenal more times than anyone else, and is second after [[Ray Parlour]] in the all-time [[FA Premier League|Premier League]] appearances chart for Arsenal, with 325 to his name. In June 2008 he was voted seventh in the list of 50 Gunners' Greatest Players.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/gunners-greatest-players-7.-david-seaman |title=Gunners' Greatest Players – 7. David Seaman |work=Arsenal.com |access-date=2009-04-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210065413/http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/gunners-greatest-players-7.-david-seaman |archive-date=10 December 2008}}</ref>

=== Manchester City ===
Released by Arsenal, Seaman joined up with [[Kevin Keegan]] at [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] in the summer of 2003, but Seaman's career at the [[City of Manchester Stadium]] did not last long. Whilst out of action due to injury, Seaman announced his immediate retirement in January 2004 at the age of 40. His last act at City was to help Keegan select his successor in goal, [[David James (footballer, born 1970)|David James]] — the man who had ousted him as England's first-choice goalkeeper a little over a year earlier.

In November 2005, [[Paul Merson]] and [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] approached Seaman, and later ex-[[Wales national football team|Wales]] goalkeeper [[Neville Southall]] and [[Chris Woods]], to play in an [[FA Cup]] game at [[Merthyr Tydfil F.C.|Merthyr Tydfil]] as their two first-choice keepers, [[Joe Murphy (footballer, born 1981)|Joe Murphy]] and [[Andy Oakes (footballer)|Andy Oakes]], were unavailable. Seaman was forced to turn this offer down, as it would have constituted a breach in the terms of his retirement insurance pay-out for his recurring shoulder injury.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ley |first=John |date=3 November 2005 |title=Seaman bid falls flat |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2367636/Seaman-bid-falls-flat.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |access-date=26 October 2011}}</ref>

== International career ==
Seaman made his England debut in 1988 and appeared for the side in fifteen consecutive years, a national record, since equalled by [[Rio Ferdinand]].

Seaman earned his first England cap under [[Bobby Robson]] in a friendly against [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] in November 1988. Robson selected him as England's third-choice goalkeeper behind [[Peter Shilton]] and [[Chris Woods]] at the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]], but after arriving in [[Italy]] he had to pull out of the squad due to injury and was replaced by [[Dave Beasant]].

Seaman remained a member of the England squad under new manager [[Graham Taylor]], although he was not selected for [[UEFA Euro 1992|Euro 1992]] in [[Sweden]]. During qualification for the [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994 World Cup]], Seaman played in the crucial game against the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]], which England lost 2–0;<ref>{{cite news|last=Lovejoy |first=Joe |date=14 October 1993 |title=Football: Koeman leaves England in tatters: Referee condemned as Ronald Koeman escapes red card to break brave resistance with deft free-kick |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-koeman-leaves-england-in-tatters-referee-condemned-as-ronald-koeman-escapes-red-card-to-1510736.html |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=9 May 2018}}</ref> he also played in the final match against [[San Marino national football team|San Marino]], in which [[Davide Gualtieri]] scored after 8.3 seconds before England recovered to win 7–1. England ultimately failed to qualify for the tournament in the [[United States]].

Seaman cemented his place as the undisputed number-one keeper with the arrival of [[Terry Venables]] as manager, and played every minute of every match during [[UEFA Euro 1996]] on home soil. Seaman saved two spot-kicks in the tournament; the first a penalty in normal play from [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]'s [[Gary McAllister]] in a group match, while England were 1–0 up ([[Paul Gascoigne]] scored soon after to make it 2–0). Then, after England's quarter-final against [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]] ended scoreless, Seaman saved [[Miguel Ángel Nadal]]'s kick in the shootout to knock Spain out of the tournament. England eventually were eliminated in the semi-final by Germany on penalties, after [[Andreas Köpke]] saved the penalty taken by [[Gareth Southgate]].<ref name="en.e_Euro">{{Cite web| title = Euro '96: From piece of history to Pizza Hut| work = ESPN.co.uk| date = 7 June 2012| access-date = 18 January 2020| url = http://en.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/154038.html}}</ref> Seaman was named alongside Golden Boot winner [[Alan Shearer]] and winger [[Steve McManaman]] in the [[UEFA]] "Team of the Tournament".<ref name="team"/> Euro 96 sponsor [[Philips]] named him "Player of the Tournament".{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

Seaman remained the first choice under the management of [[Glenn Hoddle]] for the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]] in [[France]]. Seaman kept two clean sheets in the group stage as England finished second behind [[Romania national football team|Romania]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/112965.stm |title=Sport: Football England beat Tunisia |date=15 June 1998 |publisher=BBC |access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/121369.stm |title=Sport: Football England keeps France 98 dream alive |date=27 June 1998 |publisher=BBC |access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref> In the round of 16 England faced [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]]. Seaman conceded a penalty as the game finished 2–2, before England lost on penalties.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/123666.stm |title=Sport: Football England pay penalty again |date=30 June 1998 |publisher=BBC |access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref> [[Kevin Keegan]] selected him for [[UEFA Euro 2000]] in [[Belgium]] and the [[Netherlands]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/euro2000/teams/england/772145.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031030556/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/teams/england/772145.stm |archive-date=31 October 2019 |title=Keegan names Euro 2000 squad |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=1 June 2000 |access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref> where he started against both [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] and [[Germany national football team|Germany]] but sustained an injury in his warm-up exercises for the third game against [[Romania national football team|Romania]] and was replaced by [[Nigel Martyn]]. England lost the match and went out in the first round.

Seaman was part of [[Sven-Göran Eriksson]]'s [[2002 FIFA World Cup]] squad and played every game in [[South Korea]] and [[Japan]] as England reached the quarter-finals, turning back a second-half offensive to shut out arch-rivals Argentina 1–0 in the group stage after English captain [[David Beckham]] scored a penalty. In the quarter-final against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]], Seaman was caught off his line by [[Ronaldinho]]'s long-range free kick, as England lost 2–1; he blamed himself for the error.<ref>{{cite news |last=McNulty |first=Phil |date=21 June 2002 |title=Seaman says sorry |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/matches_wallchart/england_v_brazil/newsid_2057000/2057696.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=11 February 2007}}</ref>

The result led to a debate about whether Seaman should remain England's number one.<ref>{{cite news |title=Time for Seaman to go? |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/sports_talk/2214193.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 August 2002 |access-date=11 February 2007}}</ref> He remained England's first-choice goalkeeper until a [[UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying|Euro 2004]] qualifier in October 2002 against [[Macedonia national football team|Macedonia]]. In this match, he let in a goal directly from a corner kick by [[Artim Šakiri]] in a 2–2 draw and brought further press criticism.<ref>{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Richard |date=17 October 2002 |title=Sorry Seaman must step down |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/oct/17/newsstory |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=11 February 2007}}</ref> This was Seaman's last appearance for the England national team, as Eriksson dropped him in favour of [[David James (footballer, born 1970)|David James]].

== Style of play ==
At his peak during the 1990s, Seaman was regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, earning praise from other goalkeepers such as [[Sepp Maier]] and [[Francesco Toldo]].<ref name="fortuna">{{cite news |url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,31/articleid,0679_01_1995_0275_0029_9185951/ |title=Toldo: ho preso al volo la fortuna |work=La Stampa |page=31 |language=it |last1=Rialti |first1=Alessandro |date=10 October 1995 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="spent force">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/sports_talk/1516619.stm |title=Is Seaman a 'spent force'? |work=BBC Sport |date=30 August 2001 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref> A tall and well–rounded keeper, with a large frame, he was known for his bravery, quick reflexes, agility, and excellent positional sense, as well as his reliable handling and ability to judge the ball, which allowed him to come out and collect crosses and command his area effectively, earning him the nickname "safe hands" in the media;{{refn|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arsenal.com/history/gunners-greatest-players-7.-david-seaman |title=Greatest 50 Players - 7. David Seaman |publisher=Arsenal |date=31 May 2017 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="England player by player">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/sep/03/newsstory.sport5 |title=How they rated: England player by player |work=The Guardian |date=3 September 2000 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="tragedy">{{cite news |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-tragedy-of-david-seaman-getting-lobbed-by-ronaldinho-at-the-2002-world-cup/ |title=The Tragedy Of David Seaman Getting Lobbed By Ronaldinho at the 2002 World Cup |work=Vice News |last1=Magee |first1=Will |date=21 June 2017 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="first choice">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/867250.stm |title=Seaman still first choice |work=BBC Sport |date=5 August 2000 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="10 best goalkeepers in Premier League history">{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/ranked-10-best-goalkeepers-premier-league-history |title=Ranked! The 10 best goalkeepers in Premier League history |publisher=FourFourTwo |last1=Miller |first1=Nick |date=19 October 2018 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="one-on-one">{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/david-seaman-one-one |title=David Seaman: One-on-One |publisher=FourFourTwo |last1=Massarella |first1=Louis |date=1 January 2004 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="power ranking">{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2517330-power-ranking-the-arsenal-goalkeepers-of-the-arsene-wenger-era |title=Power Ranking the Arsenal Goalkeepers of the Arsene Wenger Era |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=McNicholas |first1=James |date=8 July 2015 |access-date=25 April 2020 }}</ref>}} although he was not particularly flashy in his style of goalkeeping, he was regarded as an efficient and generally reliable goalkeeper, who was known for his cool demeanour, authoritative presence, and calm composure in goal, as well as his leadership and ability to organise his back–line, which inspired a sense of confidence in his teammates.{{refn|<ref name="fortuna"/><ref name="one-on-one"/><ref name="power ranking"/><ref name="safer hands">{{cite news |url=http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/11/17/england-were-in-safer-hands-in-the-days-of-perms-and-sideburns/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123072324/http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/11/17/england-were-in-safer-hands-in-the-days-of-perms-and-sideburns/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 November 2007 |title=England were in safer hands in the days of perms and sideburns |work=Reuters |last1=Herman |first1=Martyn |date=17 November 2007 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="cult">{{cite news |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-cult-david-seaman/ |title=The Cult: David Seaman |work=Vice News |last1=Usher |first1=Tom |date=3 June 2016 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="legends">{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/136813-arsenal-legends-during-arsene-wengers-era-david-seaman |title=Arsenal Legends During Arsene Wenger's Era: David Seaman |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Chow |first1=Vincent |date=10 March 2009 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/sep/15/sport.comment |title=The Monday Interview: David Seaman: Ha ha ha ha ha... |work=The Guardian |last1=Brockes |first1=Emma |date=15 September 2003 |access-date=6 May 2020 }}</ref>}} He was also adept at stopping penalties.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/12/27/premier-league-goalkeeper-has-best-penalty-record/dave-seaman-which-premier-league-goalkeeper-has-best-penalty/ |title=Which Premier League goalkeeper has the best penalty record? |work=The Telegraph |date=27 December 2016 |access-date=7 May 2020 }}</ref> Seaman is left-handed,<ref name="left">{{cite web|url=http://www.fanclub-family.com/on_tour/2000-01/2000-01wembley.htm |title=Wembley 2000 |publisher=Fanclub-family.com |date=7 October 2000 |access-date=20 May 2009 }}</ref> but threw the ball with his right arm, and also kicked with his right foot.<ref name="right">{{cite web |url=http://www.soccermemo.com/ebay/DavidSeamann.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=15 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217234800/http://www.soccermemo.com/ebay/DavidSeamann.jpg |archive-date=17 December 2008}}</ref>

Despite his ability in his prime, and his overall longevity, he was also known for being inconsistent and prone to errors on occasion, in particular in his later career, following a series of injuries, and also due to his own advancing age, which ultimately led to his physical decline and a series of less convincing performances;{{refn|<ref name="spent force"/><ref name="safer hands"/><ref name="first choice"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/2191247/seaman-its-a-balls-up |title=SEAMAN-IT'S A BALLS UP |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/jan/23/newsstory.sport7 |title=On your Marcos, get set, go Seaman |work=The Guardian |date=23 January 2003 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/2336097.stm |title=Calamity keeper - handle with care |work=BBC Sport |date=17 October 2002 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref>}} he also frequently struggled to deal with long–range shots throughout his career.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/oct/17/newsstory |title=Sorry Seaman must step down |work=The Guardian |last1=Williams |first1=Richard |date=17 October 2002 |access-date=24 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="defiant"/> In 2014, when recounting his famous lobbed goal against Seaman in the 1995 Cup Winners' Cup final, Nayim stated that his attempt was premeditated, as during his time in England, he came to learn that Arsenal usually played with a high defensive line, with Seaman essentially acting as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)#Sweeper-keeper|sweeper-keeper]] due to his tendency to stay off his line.<ref name="looking at Seaman the whole night"/> In 2006, ''[[The Irish Times]]'' described Seaman as a "serial choker," due to several high-profile errors he committed in key matches, in particular at international level, and described him as one of several unreliable keepers that played for England since the end of the "tradition of solid goalkeeping which seemed unbreakable through the era of [[Gordon Banks|Banks]], [[Ray Clemence|Clemence]], Shilton, etc.",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/robinson-a-real-plus-for-england-1.1019242 |title=Robinson a real plus for England |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=20 June 2006 |access-date=6 May 2020 }}</ref> a notion with which Sriram Ilango of [[Bleacher Report]] concurred in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/301683-where-are-englands-keepers-are-they-a-lost-breed |title=Where Are England's Keepers? : Are They a Lost Breed? |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Ilango |first1=Sriram |date=3 December 2009 |access-date=6 May 2020 }}</ref> In 2018, [[Eurosport]] noted that: "Since the retirement of Peter Shilton, the position of England's goalkeeper has claimed plenty of casualties. Even the most stable of its occupants, David Seaman, will be remembered for the embarrassment caused when Ronaldinho sent a free-kick floating over his head at the 2002 World Cup."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/world-cup/2018/world-cup-2018-semifinal-why-jordan-pickford-is-breaking-all-the-rules-for-england_sto6842686/story.shtml |title=Why Jordan Pickford is breaking all the rules for England |publisher=Eurosport |date=11 July 2018 |access-date=6 May 2020 }}</ref> While Seaman possessed a deep goal kick and a long throw, which suited Arsenal's quick counter–attacking style of play under manager Arsène Wenger, he was not particularly adept with the ball at his feet, and his distribution was also not always reliable; as such he preferred to clear the ball away when receiving back-passes, rather than attempting to play it out from the back.<ref name="England player by player"/><ref name="legends"/>

== Later career ==
Seaman began working on his coaching badge with a view to coaching goalkeepers but decided to pause after learning that he would first need a badge in outfield coaching in which he had no interest.<ref name=telegraphfeb2011>{{cite news |last=Liew |first=Jonathan |date=26 February 2011 |title=Arsenal v Birmingham: David Seaman sits quietly on the fence in Carling Cup Final |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/8348242/Arsenal-v-Birmingham-David-Seaman-sits-quietly-on-the-fence-in-Carling-Cup-Final.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=26 February 2011}}</ref> His on-screen presence made him a popular choice for chat shows and televised appearances during his sporting career, and he can occasionally be spotted on British television. Whilst still a player, he acted in a cameo role in a [[BBC]] film based around the events of [[England national football team|England]]'s successful Euro 1996 tournament, starring [[Rachel Weisz]] and [[Neil Morrissey]], entitled ''My Summer with Des''. He also became the [[spokesman]] for [[Yorkshire Tea]] during the early 1990s. He briefly replaced [[Gary Lineker]] as team captain on the television quiz ''[[They Think It's All Over (TV series)|They Think It's All Over]]'', before producers decided to drop him in favour of former Arsenal teammate [[Ian Wright]].

In December 2004, following his retirement from professional football, he became one of the celebrities to take part in ''Strictly Ice Dancing'', an ice dance version of ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'', in which celebrities are paired with professional dancers. He joined the show at late notice, replacing [[Paul Gascoigne]]. With just eight days to prepare for the show, broadcast on [[BBC One]] on 26 December, Seaman and his professional partner Zoia Birmingham managed to win the competition. The other competitors spent a month in training for the show.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Akinwumi |first1=Stella |title=The Masked Dancer's David Seaman ghosted Ian Wright before big reveal |url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/10/03/the-masked-dancer-david-seaman-ghosted-ian-wright-before-reveal-17494008/ |website=Metro |access-date=4 October 2022 |language=en |date=3 October 2022}}</ref>

In late 2005, he had his trademark [[ponytail]] cut off on live television for charity, which ended negotiatory talks with such companies as L'Oréal, who wanted to sponsor his hair as they had with [[David Ginola]]. He returned to the ice for another ice-dancing series, ''[[Dancing on Ice]]'', broadcast on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]. The series started on 14 January 2006, and Seaman ended in fourth place. He has also appeared on ''[[All Star Family Fortunes]]''.

Seaman also hosts a "Safe Hands" charity golf event annually, and has released two football-themed [[DVD]]s entitled ''David Seaman's Goalkeeping Nightmares'' in 2003 and ''Jeepers Keepers'' in 2004. Seaman has also played in all six [[Soccer Aid]] matches for [[England national football team|England]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1131753/|title='Soccer Aid' (TV mini-series 2006)|website=IMDb.com|access-date=2017-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Andrew McNair |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/55285-soccer-aid-2008-a-real-problem-for-football |title=Soccer Aid 2008: A Real Problem For Football |publisher=[[Bleacher Report]] |date=2008-09-08 |access-date=2017-03-19}}</ref><ref>[http://www.unicef.org.uk/press/news_detail_full_story.asp?news_id=1532]{{dead link|date=March 2017}}</ref>

In June 2012, Seaman joined [[Combined Counties League]] club [[Wembley F.C.|Wembley]] as goalkeeping coach for their [[2012–13 FA Cup]] campaign, as part of a television documentary following the club's attempt to play at [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]]. Former international players [[Graeme Le Saux]], [[Ray Parlour]], [[Martin Keown]], [[Claudio Caniggia]] and [[Brian McBride]] joined the playing squad, with former England manager [[Terry Venables]] as technical advisor.<ref>{{cite web|title=Terry Venables' Wembley FC recruit former stars for FA Cup|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18534739|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=22 June 2012|date=21 June 2012}}</ref>

In 2019 and 2020, Seaman featured in both seasons of [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] show ''[[Harry's Heroes]]'', which featured former football manager [[Harry Redknapp]] attempting get a squad of former England international footballers back fit and healthy for a game against Germany legends.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/david-seaman-leeds-united-itv-17576838 | title=Harry's Heroes returning to ITV with former Leeds man David Seaman confirmed | date=16 January 2020 }}</ref>

In 2021, he began presenting his own podcast series [http://www.seamansays.co.uk ''Seaman Says'']. The series followed England throughout [[UEFA Euro 2020]], with a second series starting at the beginning of the new season in August.

In October 2022, Seaman and his wife [[Frankie Poultney]] appeared in the [[The Masked Dancer (British series 2)|second series]] of ''[[The Masked Dancer (British TV series)|The Masked Dancer]]'' as "Pillar and Post". They were unmasked in the fifth episode.

== Personal life ==
Seaman married his first wife, Sandra, in 1985; the marriage lasted ten years.<ref name="express">{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/162696/Wife-divorces-cheating-Seaman|title=Wife divorces cheating Seaman|work=Daily Express|first=Mark|last=Reynolds|date=12 March 2010}}</ref> He met his second wife, Debbie Rodgers, in 1995.<ref name="country squire">{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/england/news/2000/0920/20000920seamanfeat.html |title=How PR girl turned me into the country squire |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Seaman |first1=David |date=20 September 2000 |access-date=17 May 2020 }}</ref> They were married at [[Castle Ashby House]] in [[Castle Ashby]] in [[Northamptonshire]] on 15 July 1998; the couple separated in 2009 and were divorced in 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/divorce-for-ex-footballer-david-seaman-1919787.html |title=Divorce for ex-footballer David Seaman |work=The Independent |last1=Sinclair |first1=Joe |date=11 March 2010 |access-date=17 May 2020 }}</ref> On 7 February 2015, Seaman married his third wife [[List of Dancing on Ice professional skaters#Frankie Poultney|Frankie Poultney]], best known as a professional skater on ''[[Dancing on Ice]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/2019031971037/david-seaman-wedding-frankie-poultney/|title=Look back at David Seaman and Dancing on Ice pro Frankie Poultney's wedding|website=HELLO!|date=19 March 2019|access-date=22 June 2019}}</ref> Seaman announced their engagement in December 2013; the pair met in 2008, and had been in a relationship since 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/news/david-seaman-engaged-dancing-ice-partner-frankie-poultney-125704118.html?pt=tAD1SCT8P72012-08-12.html |title=David Seaman Engaged To Dancing on Ice Partner Frankie Poultney |publisher=Yahoo.com |date=28 December 2013 |access-date=17 May 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/real-life-couples-to-dance-on-ice-29845816.html |title=Real-life couples to dance on ice |work=Belfast Telegraph|date=17 December 2013 |access-date=17 May 2020 }}</ref> He has four children: two sons from his first marriage,<ref name="express"/> and a son and daughter from his second marriage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/sep/01/sport.comment|title=Mistake or not, Eriksson is keeping with Seaman|work=The Guardian|first=Richard|last=Williams|date=1 September 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/fame-fortune/david-seaman-owning-many-houses-greedy-expensive/ |title=David Seaman: 'Owning too many houses is greedy and expensive' |work=The Telegraph |last1=Ewing |first1=Sarah |date=19 November 2017 |access-date=17 May 2020 }}</ref>

Seaman's autobiography – ''Safe Hands'' – was released in 2000, published by Orion.<ref name="country squire"/>

== Career statistics ==
=== Club ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{ENFA}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|[[FA Cup]]
!colspan="2"|[[EFL Cup|League Cup]]
!colspan="2"|Europe
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|[[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
|[[1981–82 Leeds United F.C. season|1981–82]]
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]]
|[[1982–83 Peterborough United F.C. season|1982–83]]
|[[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]]
|38||0||4||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|name=FLGC|Appearances in [[Football League Group Cup]]}}||0||49||0
|-
|[[1983–84 Peterborough United F.C. season|1983–84]]
|Fourth Division
|45||0||1||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||50||0
|-
|[[1984–85 Peterborough United F.C. season|1984–85]]
|Fourth Division
|8||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||10||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!91!!0!!5!!0!!10!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!3!!0!!109!!0
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]
|[[1984–85 Birmingham City F.C. season|1984–85]]
|[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]
|33||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||37||0
|-
|[[1985–86 Birmingham City F.C. season|1985–86]]
|First Division
|42||0||1||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||47||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!75!!0!!5!!0!!4!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!84!!0
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]
|[[1986–87 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|1986–87]]
|First Division
|41||0||4||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||48||0
|-
|[[1987–88 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|1987–88]]
|First Division
|32||0||1||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||36||0
|-
|[[1988–89 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|1988–89]]
|First Division
|35||0||3||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||4{{efn|name=QPR|Three appearances in [[Full Members' Cup]], one in [[Football League Centenary Trophy]]}}||0||46||0
|-
|[[1989–90 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|1989–90]]
|First Division
|33||0||9||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||45||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!141!!0!!17!!0!!13!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!4!!0!!175!!0
|-
|rowspan="14"|[[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
|[[1990–91 Arsenal F.C. season|1990–91]]
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|38||0||8||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||50||0
|-
|[[1991–92 Arsenal F.C. season|1991–92]]
|First Division
|42||0||1||0||3||0||4{{efn|name=EC|Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]}}||0||1{{efn|name=CS|Appearance in [[FA Community Shield|Charity Shield]]}}||0||51||0
|-
|[[1992–93 Arsenal F.C. season|1992–93]]
|[[Premier League]]
|39||0||8||0||9||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||56||0
|-
|[[1993–94 Arsenal F.C. season|1993–94]]
|Premier League
|39||0||3||0||5||0||9{{efn|name=ECWC|Appearances in [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]}}||0||1{{efn|name=CS}}||0||57||0
|-
|[[1994–95 Arsenal F.C. season|1994–95]]
|Premier League
|31||0||2||0||6||0||9{{efn|name=ECWC}}||0||2{{efn|name=ESC|Appearance in [[UEFA Super Cup|European Super Cup]]}}||0||50||0
|-
|[[1995–96 Arsenal F.C. season|1995–96]]
|Premier League
|38||0||2||0||7||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||47||0
|-
|[[1996–97 Arsenal F.C. season|1996–97]]
|Premier League
|22||0||2||0||2||0||2{{efn|name=UC|Appearances in [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||28||0
|-
|[[1997–98 Arsenal F.C. season|1997–98]]
|Premier League
|31||0||4||0||1||0||2{{efn|name=UC}}||0||colspan="2"|—||38||0
|-
|[[1998–99 Arsenal F.C. season|1998–99]]
|Premier League
|32||0||5||0||0||0||6{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||0||1{{efn|name=CS}}||0||44||0
|-
|[[1999–2000 Arsenal F.C. season|1999–2000]]
|Premier League
|24||0||2||0||1||0||9{{efn|name=ARS|Two appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]], seven in [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]}}||0||0||0||36||0
|-
|[[2000–01 Arsenal F.C. season|2000–01]]
|Premier League
|24||0||5||0||0||0||10{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||39||0
|-
|[[2001–02 Arsenal F.C. season|2001–02]]
|Premier League
|17||0||1||0||0||0||7{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||25||0
|-
|[[2002–03 Arsenal F.C. season|2002–03]]
|Premier League
|28||0||5||0||0||0||9{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|name=CS}}||0||43||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!405!!0!!48!!0!!38!!0!!67!!0!!6!!0!!564!!0
|-
|[[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
|[[2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season|2003–04]]
|Premier League
|19||0||1||0||1||0||5{{efn|name=UC}}||0||colspan="2"|—||26||0
|-
! colspan=3 | Career total
!731||0||76||0||66||0||72||0||13||0||958||0
|}

{{notelist}}

=== International ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{NFT player|13792|name=David Seaman}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/seaman-intl.html |title=David Andrew Seaman - International Appearances |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=2017-03-19}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="15"|[[England national football team|England]]
|1988||1||0
|-
|1989||1||0
|-
|1990||1||0
|-
|1991||4||0
|-
|1992||2||0
|-
|1993||3||0
|-
|1994||4||0
|-
|1995||5||0
|-
|1996||11||0
|-
|1997||6||0
|-
|1998||9||0
|-
|1999||8||0
|-
|2000||7||0
|-
|2001||5||0
|-
|2002||8||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!75!!0
|}

== Honours ==
'''Arsenal'''
*[[Football League First Division]]: [[1990–91 Football League First Division|1990–91]]
*[[Premier League]]: [[1997–98 FA Premier League|1997–98]], [[2001–02 FA Premier League|2001–02]]<ref name=PL>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/1/David-Seaman/overview |title=David Seaman: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref>
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1992–93 FA Cup|1992–93]], [[1997–98 FA Cup|1997–98]], [[2001–02 FA Cup|2001–02]], [[2002–03 FA Cup|2002–03]]
*[[EFL Cup|Football League Cup]]: [[1992–93 Football League Cup|1992–93]]
*[[FA Community Shield|FA Charity/Community Shield]]: [[1991 FA Charity Shield|1991]] (shared), [[1998 FA Charity Shield|1998]], [[2002 FA Community Shield|2002]]
*[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1993–94 European Cup Winners' Cup|1993–94]]
*[[European Super Cup]] runner-up: [[1994 European Super Cup|1994]]<ref name=UEFA>{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/1994/|title=Masterful Milan march on|website=[[UEFA]]}}</ref>
*[[UEFA Cup]] runner-up: [[1999–2000 UEFA Cup|1999–2000]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/64414/|title=UEFA Cup Final|website=[[UEFA]]}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*[[Premier League Player of the Month]]: [[1994–95 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|April 1995]]<ref name=PL/>
*[[UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament]]: [[UEFA Euro 1996#Awards|1996]]<ref name="team">{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/491990.pdf |title=UEFA Euro 2008 Information |access-date=30 June 2008|publisher=UEFA |page=88 }}</ref>
*[[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[1990–91 Football League#First Division|1990–91 First Division]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=148}}</ref> [[PFA Team of the Year (1990s)#FA Premier League 5|1996–97 Premier League]]<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The 1997–98 Official PFA Footballers Factfile |year=1997 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=Harpenden |isbn=978-1-85291-581-0 |page=317}}</ref>
*[[Ballon d'Or]] Nominated: [[1998 Ballon d'Or|1998]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.topendsports.com/sport/soccer/awards/ballondor-1995.htm|title=Ballon d'Or Results |publisher=TopEndSports|access-date=14 October 2024}}</ref>

*[[Premier League 10 Seasons Awards]] (1992–2002):
**Domestic Team of the Decade
**Goalkeeper with most clean sheets (130)
*Most [[Premier League]] clean sheets: [[1993–94 FA Premier League|1993–94]], [[1998–99 FA Premier League|1998–99]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/players/clean_sheet|title=Premier League Player Stats - Clean sheets|website=premierleague.com|access-date=19 May 2022|quote=Select season in the "Filter by season" drop-down menu.}}</ref>
*[[English Football Hall of Fame]]: 2016<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/david-seaman/|title=David Seaman Hall of Fame Profile|website=NationalFootballMuseum.com|date=19 October 2016}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of men's footballers with the most official appearances]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book |last1=Seaman |first1=David |title=Safe Hands: My Autobiography |publisher=Orion |location=London |isbn=07-52831-83-6 |date=2000 |pages=256 |ref=bio }}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/searchresults.asp?ButtonLeap=0&countryLinkDescription=+matching+search+results&FootballHeroName=seaman&FootballHeroClubCountry=&FootballHeroDecade=Select+One&SearchButton=Search Photos and stats] at sporting-heroes.net
* {{Soccerbase|7142}}
* {{Englandstats | 1007 }}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20190520001106/http://www.uptheposh.com/people/2939/ Profile]}} at {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070205233152/http://www.uptheposh.com/ UpThePosh! The Peterborough United Database]}}
* {{IMDb name|0780594}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081205064047/http://www.goalkeeping-museum.com/david-seaman-38 David Seaman in the Goalkeeping Museum]

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
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{{1990–91 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1996–97 Premier League Team of the Year}}
{{UEFA Euro 1996 Team of the Tournament}}
{{Arsenal F.C. Player of the Season}}
{{English Football Hall of Fame}}
{{Peterborough United F.C. Hall of Fame}}
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{{England squad 1990 FIFA World Cup}}
{{England squad UEFA Euro 1996}}
{{England squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}}
{{England squad UEFA Euro 2000}}
{{England squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seaman, David}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Bovingdon]]
[[Category:Footballers from Rotherham]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:Leeds United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Peterborough United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Birmingham City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Arsenal F.C. players]]
[[Category:Manchester City F.C. players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:England men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:England men's B international footballers]]
[[Category:England men's international footballers]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1996 players]]
[[Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2000 players]]
[[Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Association football goalkeeping coaches]]