---
title: "Flashback: Jerzy Dudek’s Liverpool success gives Fabian Mrozek an inspiration to emulate"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/flashback-jerzy-dudeks-liverpool-success-gives-fabian-mrozek-an-inspiration-to-emulate/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Features"
published: "2019-09-23T15:15:32Z"
modified: "2019-09-23T15:15:32Z"
---

# Flashback: Jerzy Dudek’s Liverpool success gives Fabian Mrozek an inspiration to emulate

**In the latest instalment of the *Transfer Flashback* feature, we look at Jerzy Dudek’s move to Liverpool in 2001 in the wake of the Reds agreeing a deal for another Polish goalkeeper in Fabian Mrozek this week.**

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](https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/pilka-nozna/844386/polski-bramkarz-ma-trafic-do-liverpoolu-anglicy-zachwyceni-talentem-fabiana-mroz) \[[via Read Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2019/09/21/liverpool-agree-deal-to-sign-fabian-mrozek/)\].

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](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/aug/28/match.sport4) 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](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/aug/31/newsstory.sport14).

The [Poland international](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jerzy-dudek/profil/spieler/3209) instantly became first choice between the sticks at Anfield and had an excellent first season, keeping [26 clean sheets in 49 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jerzy-dudek/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3209) (53% of games) and conceding just [37 goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jerzy-dudek/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3209) (0.76 per game), along with being nominated for UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year, as noted by [talkSPORT](https://talksport.com/football/196308/classic-transfer-liverpool-sign-two-goalkeepers-replace-first-choice-anfield-hero/).

The 2002/03 campaign was a more difficult one for Dudek as Liverpool [dropped from second to fifth in the Premier League](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-liverpool/platzierungen/verein/31) and were [knocked out of the Champions League at the first hurdle](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-liverpool/pokalhistorie/verein/31). The goalkeeper let in [48 goals in 46 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jerzy-dudek/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3209) (1.04 per game) and managed just [18 clean sheets](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jerzy-dudek/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3209) (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](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/3038889/Forlan-to-fore-as-he-puts-the-dud-in-Dudek.html).

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](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4573159.stm).

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. \[[via BBC](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4573159.stm)\]

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](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jerzy-dudek/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3209) at Anfield before leaving for Real Madrid in 2007.

The Poland international ended a six-year Liverpool career with [186 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jerzy-dudek/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3209) to his name, keeping [78 clean sheets](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jerzy-dudek/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3209) (41.9% of games) and conceding just [177 goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jerzy-dudek/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3209) (0.95 per game), along with [winning the Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Super Cup](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jerzy-dudek/erfolge/spieler/3209).

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](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45311332) following his [two costly mistakes in the 2018 Champions League final](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-stand-loris-karius-despite-14711508) – 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!***