Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign teenage Polish goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek, with the youngster set to move to Anfield once he turns 16, as reported by Sportowe Fakty [via Read Liverpool].
The 15-year-old will go to Merseyside with a compatriot to try and emulate in Jerzy Dudek, another goalkeeper from Poland who made the move to Liverpool.
When Sander Westerveld fumbled Dean Holdsworth’s shot to gift newly-promoted Bolton victory over Liverpool in August 2001, Reds manager Gerard Houllier ruthlessly purchased two new goalkeepers in Dudek and Chris Kirkland four days later, as reported by The Guardian.
The Poland international instantly became first choice between the sticks at Anfield and had an excellent first season, keeping 26 clean sheets in 49 appearances (53% of games) and conceding just 37 goals (0.76 per game), along with being nominated for UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year, as noted by talkSPORT.
The 2002/03 campaign was a more difficult one for Dudek as Liverpool dropped from second to fifth in the Premier League and were knocked out of the Champions League at the first hurdle. The goalkeeper let in 48 goals in 46 games (1.04 per game) and managed just 18 clean sheets (39.1% of games).
He had an afternoon to forget in the Reds’ 1-2 defeat at home to Manchester United that season, allowing a bouncing ball to slip through his palms and legs before Diego Forlan opened the scoring and then being beaten by the Uruguay forward for his second goal a few minutes later, as reported by The Telegraph.
Dudek’s Liverpool career would come to be best remembered for the right reasons, though, following his performance in the 2005 Champions League final. His stunning point-blank double save from Andriy Shevchenko denied AC Milan a winning goal towards the end of extra time after the Reds had drawn level from 0-3 down, as reported by BBC.
He then made two saves in the ensuing penalty shoot-out, thwarting Shevchenko again with the moment that secured Liverpool’s fifth European Cup victory. [via BBC]
Despite those heroics, Reds manager Rafael Benitez signed another goalkeeper in Pepe Reina that summer and Dudek would make just 12 more appearances in the next two seasons at Anfield before leaving for Real Madrid in 2007.
The Poland international ended a six-year Liverpool career with 186 appearances to his name, keeping 78 clean sheets (41.9% of games) and conceding just 177 goals (0.95 per game), along with winning the Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Dudek’s double blunder against Manchester United could have been the ruination of his Liverpool career – look at how Loris Karius was dispatched on loan to Besiktas following his two costly mistakes in the 2018 Champions League final – but he had the strength of character and goalkeeping ability to put that behind him and make his mark on a European triumph for the Reds.
The Polish goalkeeper route worked well for Liverpool before with Dudek, who should be a role model for Mrozek to try and emulate at Anfield.
Liverpool fans, what did you think of Dudek in his time at the club? Share your views in the comments section below!
