Over the course of a long and distinguished career, Seaman earned 75 England caps and was a multi medal winner with Arsenal before joining City in the summer of 2003.
Now a respected observer of the game, Seaman credits Ederson for being at the forefront of helping usher in a sea change in the way goalkeepers operate thanks to his comfort and skill in playing out from the back.
And, speaking on the latest edition of the Official Manchester City Podcast, Seaman described our 28-year-old Brazilian as possessing the complete armoury of skills required by the very best modern day ‘keepers.
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“Goalkeeping has changed so much recently - just as much as it did when the rule preventing back passes was brought in when I was playing,” Seaman told the Official Man City Podcast.
“What you have seen is goalkeepers try to get used to playing out from the back.
“And when you have a keeper who is really good at it, like Ederson, it really does help.
“Some have done it really well – the two Brazilians (Ederson and Alisson) have done it fantastically.
“In terms of Ederson - now there is a goalkeeper.
“He doesn’t just play it out from the back, he can also set up an attack.
“He has that long, raking pass, and he is so accurate as well.
“But it’s not just about that with him because his goalkeeping is really good as well. I really like the way that he does his goalkeeping.
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“He’s not a flash goalkeeper. He’s no show-off, he makes the save and if he has to dive, he dives; if he doesn’t have to dive, he doesn’t dive
“Some keepers do what we call ‘camera saves’: it’s there and instead of touching it over they do three twists and a somersault!
“Ederson doesn’t do that… he’s my type of goalkeeper.
“And all the kids now are taught that they are told to play outfield at a young age so they can practice their control and passes.”
Though his one season at City in 2003/4 was ultimately curtailed by an injury that saw him retire from the game, Seaman still looks back fondly on his time at the Etihad playing under Kevin Keegan.
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And he says to see how far the Club has come in the intervening 17 years since he hung up his boots, fills him with a sense of enormous pride.
“I loved it being here,” added Seaman, who was back at the Etihad last month to take part in the 2021 Soccer Aid for UNICEF charity match alongside a host of celebrities from the world of sport and showbusiness.
“I decided to move on from Arsenal after I got a phone call from Arsene Wenger telling me I would be third choice keeper.
“Bearing in mind my last game for Arsenal was being captain of the 2003 FA Cup winning team against Southampton, raising the trophy.
“Arsene also said: ‘I want you to be my goalkeeping coach’, which was something I was really interested in – but then he added ‘there’s a 75 per cent wage drop.’
“And I just started laughing and said I’ll play elsewhere for another year!
“City were in for me and also Birmingham. But I loved Kevin Keegan and loved him when he was in charge with England so there was no question (where I would go).
“It was the first season at the Etihad and I was looking forward to it and it’s just a shame that it was more or less for half a season.
“But I loved seeing City win that first Premier League title in 2012. From being a City player I know what it means to the fans.
“It was great and to see where they have got to now is amazing.
“They are winning trophies, playing attractive football, attracting the best players.
“It gives me a nice smile!”
