Jerzy Dudek

Jerzy Dudek (born March 23, 1973 in Rybnik, Poland) is a Polish football player. He is currently playing as a goalkeeper for Liverpool F.C. and has the squad number 1.

Related Topics:
March 23 - 1973 - Rybnik - Poland - Football - Goalkeeper - Liverpool F.C.

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Signed by Liverpool on August 31, 2001 as a replacement for Sander Westerveld, Dudek also plays regularly for the Polish national team. After suffering a stressful {{Wc|2002}} Dudek was dropped from the Liverpool team after several bad performances in the English Premier League (especially after a number of errors against Manchester United F.C. on December 1, 2002) but has since regained his place in the team after Chris Kirkland suffered an injury.

Related Topics:
August 31 - 2001 - Sander Westerveld - Polish national team - English Premier League - Manchester United F.C. - December 1 - 2002 - Chris Kirkland - Injury

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Prior to Liverpool, Dudek played for Concordia Knurów, Sokó? Tychy, and Feyenoord Rotterdam.

Related Topics:
Concordia Knurów - Sokó? Tychy - Feyenoord Rotterdam

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On 25 May 2005, Dudek became an instant hero in Liverpool after a characteristically mercurial performance in the Champions League final in Istanbul against A.C. Milan. Dudek made an incredible double save in the dying minutes of extra-time to prevent Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko from scoring a goal which would almost certainly have been the match winner. Dudek helped to win the trophy for Liverpool with two saves in the penalty shoot-out. Prior to each of the Milan penalties, Dudek performed a variety of movements (later called the Dudek Dance) in an attempt to distract the penalty takers.

Related Topics:
25 May - 2005 - Liverpool - Champions League - Istanbul - A.C. Milan - Andriy Shevchenko - Dudek Dance

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During the post-match interview, Dudek stated that his flamboyant approach to the penalty shoot-out had been influenced by Bruce Grobbelaar, a former Liverpool goalkeeper. Grobbelaar was the hero of the 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory over A.S. Roma in the 1984 Champions League Final after provoking Francesco Graziani to miss by wobbling his legs in mock fear.

Related Topics:
Bruce Grobbelaar - A.S. Roma - 1984 - Francesco Graziani

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Since that final, Dudek has been replaced in the first team by Spanish keeper Pepe Reina.

Related Topics:
Spanish - Pepe Reina

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Dudek married his wife Mirella (b. December 1974) in June 1996, and they have one son, Alexander, born in December of that year.

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