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Chelsea star Thibaut Courtois makes shock admission
CHELSEA star Thibaut Courtois has revealed he used to be a talented outfield player before becoming a goalkeeper.
Thibaut Courtois has admitted he used to be a promising defender
Thibaut Courtois has established himself as one of world's best goalkeepers and is on course to win the Golden Glove this season with Chelsea.
The Belgium international has kept 13 clean sheets in the Premier League this term - three more than Tottenham's Hugo Lloris.
However, Courtois has revealed his career as a footballer could have been very different because at a young age he was a promising full-back.
Thibaut Courtois is on course to win the Golden Glove with Chelsea this season
Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois scores free-kick in training
"I was good as an outfield player," he told Chelsea FC Magazine.
"At the ages of seven, eight, nine and 10, there were two groups – an A group and a B group – and I was always in the A group, so I had quality to play.
"But we needed a goalkeeper for this tournament and, because I played volleyball when I was really young, I enjoyed diving around and making saves at that age.
"So when the manager asked me if I wanted to play in goal I said yes because I knew I would play every game then."
Courtois began his career with his local team Bilzen, before being snapped up by Belgian giants Genk - where he was converted into a goalkeeper.
He signed for Chelsea in 2011 and has since made 97 appearances for the Blues, keeping 36 clean sheets in all competitions.
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