Costel Pantilimon

Costel Fane Pantilimon (born 1 February 1987) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Watford and the Romania national team. At six foot, eight inches (203 cm) tall, he is currently the tallest player in the Premier League.

He began his career at Politehnica Timișoara, becoming their first-choice goalkeeper. In 2011 he signed for Manchester City, initially on loan, as back-up for Joe Hart. Pantilimon was first choice for City in the 2013–14 Football League Cup, which they went on to win. After being released in 2014, he remained in the Premier League with Sunderland, spending one-and-a-half seasons there before a transfer to Watford. He has been a full international for Romania since 2008.

Club career

Early career

Born in Bacău, Pantilimon started his career at Aerostar Bacău and got his share of limelight at the Romania national under-19 team before transferring to Timișoara on 1 February 2006, his nineteenth birthday.

Politehnica Timișoara