Istanbul hero quits football

[lickedlollipop]

Istanbul hero Jerzy Dudek hung up his goalkeeping gloves for good last night after playing his final game of professional football for Real Madrid against Almeria.

The man who made that unforgettable extra time save from Shevchenko in the 2005 Champions League final and then followed that up with crucial saves in the penalty shoot-out, received a rapturous ovation from fans and teammates alike as he left the field for the final time after Madrid's 8-1 victory on the final day of the La Liga campaign.

Dudek's name will forever be etched into Anfield folklore following his Istanbul heroics - and back in 2007, two years after that nerve-shredding final, we caught up with our big Pole to ask for his memories of that dramatic night.

Here is that interview once again in full.

If you're reading this, Jerzy, then best of luck in whatever you choose to do next from everybody at Liverpool Football Club

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/istanbul-hero-quits-football

edit: move this to general football, please, it's my mistake

[Bender]

Istanbul hero Jerzy Dudek hung up his goalkeeping gloves for good last night after playing his final game of professional football for Real Madrid against Almeria.

The man who made that unforgettable extra time save from Shevchenko in the 2005 Champions League final and then followed that up with crucial saves in the penalty shoot-out, received a rapturous ovation from fans and teammates alike as he left the field for the final time after Madrid's 8-1 victory on the final day of the La Liga campaign.

Dudek's name will forever be etched into Anfield folklore following his Istanbul heroics - and back in 2007, two years after that nerve-shredding final, we caught up with our big Pole to ask for his memories of that dramatic night.

Here is that interview once again in full.

If you're reading this, Jerzy, then best of luck in whatever you choose to do next from everybody at Liverpool Football Club

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/istanbul-hero-quits-football

edit: move this to general football, please, it's my mistake

No leave it here he's a Liverpool LEGEND

[Craig_H]

Yeah leave it here, it'll serve as a remind to Bender for next week, when he'll be ready to post a thread about it.

[Cormack74]

Not one of our best keepers, but one of the most important.

[Bender]

Yeah leave it here, it'll serve as a remind to Bender for next week, when he'll be ready to post a thread about it.

Has an element of truth to it

[Galb]

Not one of our best keepers, but one of the most important.

For his first season or so, he was absolutely top class and undoubtedly the best keeper in the league.

He was never the same reliable player after those mistakes against United but, for me, he was the best keeper we had for many years before Reina.

[Jaymo]

We've got a big pole, in our goal..

What a legend that man was I heard that a firecracker went off very close to his ear when he was playing for Poland, and that caused damage to his ear and therefore suffered a loss of balance after his first season. Don't know how much truth is in that story mind you, still a legend all the same!

[CJ]

the coal man.

a great first season and who can forget Istanbul

[Exiled_red]

Dudek

Enjoy retirement! Does anyone know if he has any plans to stay in football (coaching or anything)?

[Rudo]

Good man Jerzy. Happy Retirement.

[Molby]

For posterity, here it is........ (i still love his face after he saves it!!)

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEwcj81nX5k&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEwcj81nX5k&feature=related[/ame]

[rnevitt]

Best of luck Jerzy. That Shevchenko double-save was the greatest I have ever seen.

[Rudo]

For posterity, here it is........ (i still love his face after he saves it!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEwcj...eature=related

unbelievable.

[Daniel 7]

That first season he was amazing - I think we all thought we had a top number one for years to come. I remember Arsenal being in for him as well.

I don't know if it was the Man Utd game - I remember him coming back from the 2002 World Cup a less commanding / less confident player. Who could blame him, Poland were terrible in that WC.

I remember him telling a story of how awkward it was him flying in to Liverpool to be LFC's new keeper, and Westerveld was on the same Easyjet....

Legend status for destroying Shevchenko.

[Leyton388]

Liverpool Legend.