Peter Shilton vs Bixente Lizarazu: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, England (born 1949, retired 1997) · Left-Back, France (born 1969, retired 2006)
Line up Peter Shilton next to Bixente Lizarazu and the contrasts come quickly. Reputations harden into legacies, and few careers cast longer shadows than these two. Peter Shilton finishes with 1 career goals from 1005 games — a 0.00 strike rate — against Bixente Lizarazu's 15 from 600 at 0.03 per match. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Peter Shilton is credited with 0 and Bixente Lizarazu with 30. In major honours Peter Shilton collected 4 — headlined by 2× European Cup (1979, 1980) — whereas Bixente Lizarazu amassed 7, led by 1× FIFA World Cup (1998). Their legacies diverge in texture: Peter Shilton is remembered as sweeper-keen, Bixente Lizarazu as uncompromising. Club journeys add another layer, with Peter Shilton reaching his representative peak around 1980 across Leicester City, Stoke City, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Derby County, Plymouth Argyle, Wimbledon, Leyton Orient and Bixente Lizarazu doing so around 2001 with Bordeaux, Athletic Bilbao, Bayern Munich, Marseille. Arguments will run and run, which is exactly why the matchup endures.
182 words · comparison angle: legacy
Player profiles
The most-capped England player in history with 125 caps, Shilton set an English record of 1,005 league appearances and won back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest.
“A commanding, remarkably consistent shot-stopper whose positioning and reflexes made him one of the most reliable goalkeepers of his generation.”
A world judo champion off the pitch, Lizarazu was one of the finest left-backs of his generation, winning the World Cup, European Championship and Champions League with Bayern Munich.
“A compact, combative full-back whose low centre of gravity and stamina let him bomb up and down the flank all match.”
Head-to-head stats
Career goals by season
Representative career seasons — goals per season for each player across their documented clubs.
Attribute radar
Attribute ratings are peak-era, 0–100. Different positions naturally skew the profile.
Attribute comparison
Trophy breakdown
- 2× European Cup (1979, 1980)
- 1× English First Division (1978)
- 1× League Cup (1979)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (1998)
- 1× UEFA European Championship (2000)
- 4× Bundesliga (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2001)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1966 Professional debut for Leicester City
- 1979 Won European Cup with Nottingham Forest
- 1979 Won League Cup with Nottingham Forest
- 1980 Reached the peak of his powers at Nottingham Forest
- 1997 Retired after a final spell at Leyton Orient
- Finished his career with 1 goals in 1005 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 1 goals in 1005 appearances and 4 major honours.
- 1988 Professional debut for Bordeaux
- 1998 Won FIFA World Cup with Bayern Munich
- 2001 Won UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich
- 2001 Reached the peak of his powers at Bayern Munich
- 2006 Retired after a final spell at Marseille
- Finished his career with 15 goals in 600 appearances and 7 major honours. Finished his career with 15 goals in 600 appearances and 7 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Bixente Lizarazu the lead — a clear margin, courtesy of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Bixente Lizarazu edges it (a clear margin)
