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Birthdate:
23.03.1973
Birthplace: Rybnik, Poland
Other clubs: Sokol Tychi, Feyenoord, Real Madrid
Bought from: Feyenoord
Signed for LFC: £4850000 31.08.2001
International debut: 25.02.1998 vs. Israel
International caps: 59/0 - 14.10.2009
Liverpool debut:
08.09.2001
Last appearance: 28.04.2007
Contract expiry: 01.07.2007
LFC league games/goals: 127 / 0
Total LFC games/goals: 186 / 0
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Player Notes:
After only playing 15 games for his local team he joined Feyenoord in 1996. When Ed De Goey was sold to Chelsea Dudek grabbed his opportunity. In the championship 1998/99 season he was voted the best keeper in the Dutch League. His coach Leo Beenhakker described Dudek as the "the best goalkeeper I've seen in 30 years." He almost joined Arsenal instead of Liverpool but the move fell through.
Dudek was simply outstanding in his first season at Liverpool, but struggled in the 2002-2003 season along with other key players losing his place to Kirkland, regaining it after Kirkland's injury.
Dudek gained hero status at Liverpool following the European Cup win in Istanbul. His wobbly legs impression of Bruce Grobbelaar will be remembered just as his saves from Schevchenko will be. Denying the Ukranian in normal play from just a few yards out seemed impossible, and when the same man stepped up from 12 yards, Dudek's save clinched the trophy for the fifth time in the club's history. Dudek lost his place as number one to Jose Reina. However the "Big Pole in Our Goal" will forever be a part of Anfield history.
Disappointed with lack of first team opportunities at Liverpool, Dudek rather curiously chose Real Madrid as his next destination where he has been understudy to Spain's number one, Iker Casillas. No doubt it's not bad to be on Real's books, but if he wanted first team football this hardly was the place. Dudek made one league appearance in Real's championship 2007-2008 season.
After not being involved with the Polish squad for a couple of years, Dudek made a return to the Poland starting number 11 in a 0-1 loss to Slovakia in the World Cup qualifiers on 14th October 2009.
Jerzy again found it impossible to displace Iker Casillas in the Real Madrid goal during the 2009-10 season, a season during which he passed his 37th birthday. His first-team appearances were restricted to both legs of a humbling 4-1 aggregate loss to lower League opposition in the Copa del Rey. It looks as if Dudek's time in Madrid is coming to an end, although media reports in Spain claim that Real are looking to retain the experienced Pole for another season.
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