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In the first 28 seasons of the competition, 17 Polish players have featured – many of them goalkeepers, and they’ve built a reputation for their tenacity and courage.

But no Pole captured the spotlight quite like Jerzy Dudek, whose calm under fire would go on to spur him into Anfield legend.

He not only pulled off two stunning saves in extra time and a penalty stop in the shootout, but he also perfected the “spaghetti legs” mind-games that unsettled Milan’s takers.

As Dudek told The Guardian, “It is my favorite place, my lucky place, and it stays with me all the time.” In this article, we’ll explore why Liverpool bet on this Pole to save a city, and how his story sits among the best Polish goalkeepers in history.

A Quick Look at Polish Goalkeepers History

Back in 1973, Jan Tomaszewski shocked the football world by keeping England scoreless in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

Of all the Polish goalkeepers in the Premier League, he stood out for two things: calm nerves and clever tactics.

I was absolutely shitting my pants”.

Even Diego Maradona was in awe: “Even the Brazil team that won the 1970 World Cup could not have staged a comeback with Milan leading 3-0… I’ve now made Liverpool my English team.’’

In those few nervous moments on the penalty spot, Dudek proved exactly why Liverpool had trusted a Polish goalkeeper to save a city.

Famous Polish Goalkeepers Who Came Before (and After)

Jerzy Dudek racked up 127 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, keeping his net untouched in over 40 of those matches.

Jan TomaszewskiLong before Dudek, Jan Tomaszewski put Polish goalkeepers history on the map with his legendary 1973 performance at Wembley, earning “The Man of the Match” tag and the title of Best Goalkeeper at the 1974 World Cup.2.

Wojciech Szcz?sny Broke into Arsenal’s first team in 2009, went on to win Serie A titles with Juventus and a Premier League crown with Arsenal.Conclusion

Whether in the Premier League or beyond, Polish goalkeepers have proven they belong on football’s biggest stages.
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