Today's Polish goalkeepers are not world famous. Yes, of course, they have a fairly high level, however, they can not be compared with a goalkeeper like Jerzy Dudek. This Polish goalkeeper became known throughout the world and played for the strongest clubs in Europe. Now he is already 43 years old and he completed his career, however, they will remember him for a long time. Jerzy Dudek was once one of the strongest goalkeepers in the world.
Carier start
However, Jerzy Dudek did not immediately become a world celebrity. At the age of 18, he signed a professional contract with the Polish club “Concordia”, which was practically unknown to anyone and even in Poland he did not have a very high profile. There Dudek played for a long time: for four years, during which he became the main goalkeeper and played 119 matches. A promising goalkeeper at 22 years old was noticed by the more serious Polish club Sokul, which signed it, but for a very short time - only for six months. Jerzy Dudek was the goalkeeper who was waiting for a much more exciting fate.
Six months at Sokul
Jerzy Dudek, whose biography is just beginning to unfold, did not stay in Sokul. He played there only fifteen matches, after which he was spotted by one of the strongest Dutch clubs - Feyenord. It is here that the goalkeeper’s rise begins, which was remembered not only by contemporaries, but also by football fans of all generations.
New house
We can say that it was Feyenord that became Dudek's second home, a club that was closest to his heart. The goalkeeper spent six years there, having played 139 matches. In the first season, when he first came to the club, he was not trusted with a place at the base, he had to compete with more experienced goalkeepers, so Dudek played only three matches. But then in each subsequent season he went out in absolutely all the matches of Feyenord. Jerzy Dudek, whose statistics were already amazing, only at the age of 28 made a decision that he wants to try something else. If he was a field player, then this could be a problem, as they often end their careers in 32-33 years, but goalkeepers can safely play up to 38-40 years. So, having won the Holland Championship and the Johan Cruyff Cup in 1999 with Feyenord, Dudek decided to change his club registration - for seven and a half million euros he moved to London Liverpool.
Success at Liverpool
As in Feyenorde, in Liverpool Dudek literally found his calling again. He spent his next six years here until he was 34 years old. He played a little fewer matches - 127, however, unlike the Dutch club, from which the goalkeeper left “to increase” of his own free will, Dudek’s services were simply not needed here. The last two years he spent on the bench, going on the field a couple of times a season. That is why he decided to change the situation before ending his career. It is worth noting that with Liverpool the Polish goalkeeper achieved the greatest success - in 2003 he became the owner of the League Cup, and in 2005 every football player's dream came true. Dudek, being the main goalkeeper of the club, won the Champions League Cup, and then the UEFA Super Cup. In the local arena, he still managed to win the FA Cup, although he no longer played at the base. And in the summer of 2007, the 34-year-old goalkeeper moved to the club that all players dream of - Real Madrid FC.
Dream on the bench
An experienced goalkeeper moved to Real Madrid FC, fulfilling his dream, and became one of the key figures there. However, unfortunately, not on the football field. In “Real” at that time Iker Casillas reigned supreme on the gates, so in the four years spent in the royal club, Dudek appeared on the field only 15 times. However, at the same time, he was still a kind of talisman, mentor, patron, who influenced all players exclusively in a positive way.
Team appearances
In the Polish national team, Jerzy Dudek played a very important role - he spent sixty matches for his home team, while he began his appearances back in 1998, at the very height of his stay at Feyenorde, and only finished in 2013. Of course, he didn’t go to major tournaments in recent years, but he participated in both friendly and qualifying games, thereby supporting young football players and showing everyone that his days are far from past and that he is capable of much more in football matters .