**Jan Oblak: The Wall of Atletico Madrid - Career, Team, and Top 5 Legendary Moments**
## **Introduction** Jan Oblak, the Slovenian shot-stopper, is widely considered as one of the finest goalkeepers in modern football. Playing with **Atletico Madrid**, he has established himself as a defensive fortress, receiving praises for his exceptional reflexes, dominating presence, and consistency. With **Atletico Madrid possessing a team of roughly 25-30 players** (depending on the season), Oblak is the uncontested No. 1, a leader between the posts.
In this blog article, we’ll go deep into Oblak’s career, his effect on Atletico Madrid, and **his five most memorable moments** that have sealed his status as one of the best goalkeepers of all time.
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## **Jan Oblak’s Career Overview** Born on **January 7, 1993**, in Škofja Loka, Slovenia, Oblak began his career with **Olimpija Ljubljana** before transferring to **Benfica** in 2010. His achievements in Portugal grabbed the attention of **Atletico Madrid**, who bought him in **2014 for €16 million**—a record cost for a goalkeeper in La Liga at the time.
Since then, Oblak has: - Won **La Liga (2020-21)**
- Lifted the **Europa League (2017-18)** - Claimed the **UEFA Super Cup (2018)** - Earned **5 Zamora Trophies** (award for La Liga’s top goalie)
- Been named **UEFA’s Best Goalkeeper (2017-18, 2020-21)**
His **540+ career saves** and **200+ clean sheets** say much about his supremacy.
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## **Atletico Madrid’s Squad Size**
Atletico Madrid traditionally keeps a **25-30 player squad**, balancing seasoned veterans with young potential. Key teammates of Oblak include: - **Antoine Griezmann** (Forward) - **Koke** (Captain & Midfielder) - **José Giménez** (Defender) - **Álvaro Morata** (Striker) - **Rodrigo De Paul** (Midfielder)
Oblak’s leadership has been important in sustaining Atletico’s defensive stability under **Diego Simeone’s** system.
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## **Top 5 Most Iconic Jan Oblak Moments**
### **1. The Penalty Save against. Thomas Müller (2016 UEFA Champions League Semi-Final)** **Date:** April 27, 2016 **Match:** Atletico Madrid vs. Bayern Munich (1st Leg)
In a high-stakes **UCL semi-final**, Atletico led 1-0 when Bayern won a penalty. **Thomas Müller**, one of the world’s top penalty takers, stepped up. Oblak **dove to his left**, producing a sensational save to retain Atletico’s advantage. The match concluded **1-0**, giving Atletico a significant edge.
**Why It Matters:** This save established Oblak’s elite mindset in crucial games, enabling Atletico reach the **2016 UCL Final**.
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### **2. Heroics vs. Liverpool (2020 UEFA Champions League Round of 16) ** ** Date:** February 18, 2020 ** Match:** Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (1st Leg)
Facing **Jurgen Klopp’s unstoppable Liverpool**, Oblak made **9 saves**, including a **point-blank stop against Mohamed Salah**. Atletico triumphed **1-0**, and Oblak’s effort was acclaimed as one of the **greatest UCL goalkeeping displays ever**.
**Why It Matters:** Atletico later knocked out Liverpool in the return leg, with Oblak being the **main difference-maker**.
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### **3. Title-Clinching Save vs. Valladolid (2020-21 La Liga Final Day)** ** Date:** May 22, 2021 **Match:** Real Valladolid 1-2 Atletico Madrid
With Atletico needing a **win to seal La Liga**, Oblak made a **crucial late save** from a Valladolid counterattack. Had he not stopped it, **Real Madrid** may have grabbed the title.
**Why It Matters:** His coolness under pressure earned Atletico’s **first La Liga championship in 7 years**.
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### **4. Record-Breaking Zamora Trophy Streak (2015-2021) ** Oblak earned **5 Zamora Trophies** (La Liga’s top goalkeeper) in **6 seasons**, shattering records with his **lowest goals conceded ratio (0.47 per game in 2015-16)**.
**Why It Matters:** His consistency puts him in the same conversation as **Iker Casillas & Victor Valdes**.
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### **5. Superhuman Performance versus. Barcelona (2019-20 La Liga)** ** Date:** November 30, 2019 ** Match:** Atletico Madrid 0-1 Barcelona
Despite losing, Oblak made **12 saves**, including **denying Lionel Messi three times**. Fans and analysts labeled it a **"one-man resistance"**.
**Why It Matters:** Even in loss, Oblak displayed why he’s **world-class**.
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## **Conclusion** Jan Oblak is more than simply a goalkeeper—he’s a **wall, a leader, and a match-winner**. His **legendary saves, trophy contributions, and unfailing consistency** make him one of the greatest of his generation.
Atletico Madrid’s success in recent years owes much to his exploits, and at **31 years old**, he still has more to contribute. Whether it’s **penalty saves, title-deciding stops, or UCL masterclasses**, Oblak continues to redefine goalkeeping perfection.
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