Lev Ivanovich Yashin (Russian: Лев Ива́нович Я́шин), popularly known as the "Black Spider" or the "Black Panther", was a Soviet footballer, widely regarded as the best goalkeeper in the history of the sport. He was the first goalkeeper to use gloves and knee pads, accessories not used at that time by the goalkeepers, in addition to directing his defense and going out to stop the game since he did not stay in the area, but participated as a defender more and more including, originating attack