Matz Sels has arguably been Nottingham Forest’s most consistent player as they have mounted an unlikely challenge for a Champions League place, keeping 13 clean sheets and conceding just 38 goals in 32 games.
His 13 clean sheets are two more than Arsenal’s David Raya in second, putting him in pole position to make history as the first ‘keeper from outside the traditional “big six” to win the Premier League Golden Glove award since its creation in 2004/05.
Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels on Track to Win Historic Premier League Golden Glove
What Makes Sels So Good?
Signed on a three-year deal from Strasbourg in January 2024, Matz Sels’ arrival in English football was slightly under the radar, with the experienced 33-year-old costing just £5 million. However, the Belgian international has been nothing short of a revelation for Nottingham Forest, who have been struggling to find a solid, reliable long-term goalkeeper since they achieved Premier League promotion in 2022.
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The 6’2” goalkeeper, who previously had an unsuccessful spell at Newcastle, is a fantastic shot-stopper, making the third most saves in the league with 104. Sels also boasts an excellent passing range, completing the sixth-most passes (766) of any Forest player, and launching 230 accurate long balls. The Belgian’s proficiency in long passing makes him an excellent offensive weapon, as the Tricky Trees regularly look to launch fast breaks by getting the ball up the pitch as quickly as possible.
The Penalty Master
Alongside his excellent league form, the 33-year-old has also shown a remarkable calmness and uncanny ability to save penalties during Nottingham Forest’s FA Cup run, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have progressed to the semi-finals for the first time in 34 years. The Forest manager, a former goalkeeper himself, hailed Sels’ “amazing” impact as the club chase their first ever FA Cup trophy.
Both Forest’s fifth-round clash with Ipswich Town and quarter-final tie against Brighton went to penalty shootouts, and Sels was the hero on both occasions. Against Ipswich, the Belgian kept his cool and saved the opposition’s fifth penalty to send Forest through. In the semis, the stopper went one better and saved two spot kicks, keeping out efforts from Diego Gomez and Jack Hinshelwood to set up a semi-final tie with Manchester City.
Should the semi-final go to a penalty shootout, Forest fans will be hoping Sels can channel the 2022 play-off final heroics of Brice Samba and become another Wembley hero for the Reds.
A Problem Solved for Forest
Prior to Sels’ arrival at the City Ground in January 2024, Forest had tried a number of different goalkeepers but failed to find a long-term solution to what had evidently become a persistent problem. Loan signings Dean Henderson and Keylor Navas both had impressive spells at the club during the 2022/23 season, but they were unable to sign Henderson permanently, and Navas was 37 years old.
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The 2023/24 season began with USMNT ‘keeper Matt Turner as the club’s number one, but his poor form and lack of consistency left them desperate to sign a replacement in January. Enter Sels, who immediately established himself as the club’s standout stopper, making 16 appearances in the second half of the campaign, even winning the Premier League Save of the Month in March, becoming the first Forest player to win a monthly award.
The Belgian’s consistency, calmness from dead ball and crossing situations and adept defensive organisation make him invaluable for Nuno’s side, and it is no surprise that he has kept so many clean sheets.
