Helmuth Duckadam
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| Helmuth Duckadam | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Helmuth Duckadam | |
| Date of birth | April 1, 1959 | |
| Place of birth | Semlac, Romania | |
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1978-82 1982-86 1989-91 |
UTA Arad Steaua Bucureşti Vagonul Arad |
53 (0) 80 (0) ? (?) |
| National team2 | ||
| 1982 | Romania | 2 (0) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Helmuth Duckadam (born April 1, 1959) is a former Romanian footballer, dubbed "the hero of Seville".
In 1982 played twice for Romania and as a result he is signed by Steaua Bucharest.
He was the goalkeeper of Steaua Bucharest during the 1986 European Cup Final against F.C. Barcelona, which was played in Seville, on May 7, 1986. Amazingly, he saved four consecutive penalty shots in the penalty shoot-out, from José Ramón Alexanko, Ángel Pedraza, Pichi Alonso and Marcos, being the first one to do so in an official European competition. Steaua Bucharest won the shoot-out 2-0, and the European Cup for the first time, and much of the credit for the surprise victory was given to Duckadam.
Duckadam started his career playing in the regional league of Arad county, before moving to UT Arad in 1978 to become professional. In 1982 played twice for Romania and as a result he is signed by Steaua Bucharest.
In 1986 he suffered a rare blood disorder only few weeks after the Seville performance. According to a personal interview given in 1999, Duckadam is a major with the Romanian Border Police (Poliţia de Frontieră) in the town of Semlac, Arad County. Also, he seems to have opened a football school in the town of Semlac, named after himself.[1]
