Olivier Giroud named as goalkeeper in Serie A’s Team of the Week after AC Milan heroics

Olivier Giroud has been named in Serie A’s Team of the Week as a goalkeeper following his heroics for AC Milan.

France’s all-time leading goalscorer made headlines at the other end of the pitch over the weekend after being drafted in as a goalkeeper in the Italian top flight clash with Genoa.

While holding a 1-0 lead, number one Mike Maignan was sent off for catching Caleb Ekuban with his knee.

With VAR deeming the challenge to be serious foul play, the goalkeeper was shown the red card with just a few minutes of stoppage time remaining.

As AC Milan had no substitutes remaining, Giroud showed that he was the ultimate team player by donning Maignan’s gloves and jersey and took his place between the sticks.

But that wasn’t the most impressive part as the 37-year-old pulled off a glorious stop as he shot off his line to intercept a ball over the top with his hands before showing cat-like reflexes to pounce on the ball and hold it safely.

That save was enough to earn a valuable three points for Milan, preserving their spot at the top of the table.

Since then, AC Milan jokingly listed Giroud as a goalkeeper on the club’s website, before even making a ‘Giroud 9’ goalkeeper top available to purchase.

But now Serie A have got in on the action, naming the French forward as the goalkeeper in their Team of the Week.

With a crunch clash against Juventus coming up next, Giroud will no doubt be played in the position where he’s made a wonderful career at the highest level of the game.

However if Stefano Pioli finds himself in a bind again, it’s good for him to know that he can rely on the now-versatile Frenchman.