Artur Boruc

Artur Boruc
Personal information
Full name	Artur Boruc
Date of birth	February 20, 1980 (1980-02-20) (age 29)
Place of birth	Siedlce, Poland
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Celtic
Number	1
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1998–1999 1999–2005 2000 2005 2005–	Pogoń Siedlce Legia Warszawa → Dolcan Ząbki (loan) → Celtic (loan) Celtic	12 (0) 69 (1) 12 (0) 09 (0) 110 (0)
National team2
2004–	Poland	38 (0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:27, September 21, 2008 (UTC). 2 National team caps and goals correct as of October 11, 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Artur Boruc (pron. IPA: [ˈartur ˈbɔruts]; born February 20, 1980 in Siedlce) is a Polish football player. He is a professional goalkeeper for Celtic and also represents the Poland national football team. On October 20, 2008, Artur Boruc was one of 55 players (including 5 goalkeepers) shortlisted for the FIFPro World XI Player Awards.^[1]

Club career

In Poland

Boruc began his career in 1998 at Pogoń Siedlce, in his hometown. The next season he joined Legia Warszawa, initially playing for the reserve team, as well as being loaned out for half a season to Dolcan Ząbki.

In March 2002, Boruc played his first league match for Legia. In the second half of the 2002/03 season he established himself as the club's first choice goalkeeper.

In June 2004, Boruc scored his only goal for the club, converting a penalty kick in a home game against Widzew Łódź (final score: 6–0) and then celebrated by waving the corner flag.^[2]

In Scotland

On July 20, 2005, he signed with Celtic from the Polish club Legia Warszawa. The deal was initially a year's loan, with an option to make it permanent. It has since been made permanent, with Boruc penning a 3½-year deal with Celtic until 2009. On January 5, 2008, it was reported that Boruc had signed a new contract with Celtic keeping him at the club until 2011.^[3]

On November 21, 2006, in a Champions League match against Manchester United at Celtic Park, Boruc helped Celtic through to the knockout stage of the competition by saving Louis Saha's 89th-minute penalty. He was named player of the month for December 2006 in the Scottish Premier League, a very uncommon event for a goalkeeper. His form was also recognised with a nomination for the Scottish PFA's player of the year award for 2007.^[4] Celtic was drawn against Russian champions FC Spartak Moscow in the third qualifying round for the UEFA Champions League 2007–08. The tie ended in a penalty shootout, with Boruc saving twice to ensure Celtic's passage to the next round.

International career

Boruc' debut for Poland came on April 28, 2004 in a friendly against Ireland, the match ending in a goalless draw. To date Boruc has made a total of 38 appearances for his country.

World Cup 2006

He was selected to the 23-men national squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals held in Germany. He had been battling with Tomasz Kuszczak and also Lukasz Fabianski for the starting slot, but was first-choice goalkeeper during the World Cup. He produced an amazing performance against Germany but was powerless to prevent a late winner from Oliver Neuville.

Euro 2008

Boruc was named in Poland's Euro 2008 squad, starting their first game against Germany, holding his place through to the important second game against co-hosts Austria in which the Poles conceded a penalty in the 92nd minute to draw the game. In the same match he saved all three shots by the Austrians leading to a one to one final score.

Curfew breaking

On August 27, 2008 Boruc, along with his national team mates Dariusz Dudka and Radosław Majewski, was suspended from the team for breaching a curfew after Poland's loss in a friendly against Ukraine, a game in which Boruc had not played.^[5] PZPN President Michał Listkiewicz stated that Boruc was not involved in the trashing of a hotel room.^[6] Having served a two-match suspension Boruc returned to Poland's starting line-up for the World Cup qualifying match against the Czech Republic on October 11.^[7]

Controversy

On August 25, 2006 he was cautioned by the Strathclyde Police for a breach of the peace for making gestures in front of Rangers fans before a game earlier that year.^[8] According to the Sunday Herald, "police reports highlighted three hand gestures made by 26-year-old Boruc … a V sign at the crowd, another obscene gesture at the crowd and a blessing". The gestures were not caught on video and the caution was issued on the basis of police reports and witness statements.^[8] This incident has led to him attaining the nickname "The Holy Goalie".^[9]

The Procurator Fiscal said Boruc "was seen by members of the public and police officers to bless himself. Witnesses describe him smiling or laughing at a Rangers section of the crowd and making 'come on' gestures. This action appeared to incense a section of the crowd to react in such a way that police officers and security personnel had to become involved to calm the situation. The police reported that it took 10 minutes to restore normality in the crowd."^[10] According to a cross-party working group of the Scottish Parliament, "the sign of the cross in itself is an expression of the Roman Catholic faith; however, using it to alarm, upset or provoke others might be a breach of the peace at common law."^[11]

The Roman Catholic Church condemned the legal action, however, expressing regret that "Scotland seems to have made itself one of the few countries in the world where this simply religious gesture is considered an offence.".^[12] Following extensive press comment, the Crown Office issued a statement on August 28, 2006 stressing that the "very limited" action had been taken against Boruc for gestures made toward Rangers supporters rather than for crossing himself, and that it would not take action against individuals for "acts of religious observance".^[13] According to BBC News Online, the caution "brought the issue of sectarianism in Scotland back into sharp focus."^[14] The Roman Catholic Church welcomed the Crown Office's clarification of the limited action taken against Boruc, particularly the statement that it "did not in any way refer to the act of blessing himself".^[15]

On December 17, 2006 Boruc again crossed himself during his first Old Firm game since the caution, drawing "a roar" from the Rangers fans behind his goal.^[16][17] A spokesman for Celtic defended his gesture, stating "the police have said they have no problem with Artur Boruc in this regard and neither does Celtic Football Club."^[16]

Career honours

• Scottish Premier League: 2006, 2007, 2008
• Scottish League Cup: 2006
• Scottish Cup: 2007

Personal life

Boruc is a Legia Warszawa fan. He attends matches whenever he is in Poland.^[18] He makes the L sign using his thumb and index finger to show his love for the Polish side. He is also a member of Legia Warsaw Supporters Association (Polish: Stowarzyszenie Kibiców Legii Warszawa) and helps supporters in their conflict with the club's authorities.

On April 21, 2007 he saved a 27-year-old pregnant Polish woman, her sister and brother-in-law when they were attacked in Glasgow ^[19]

On June 11, 2008 Boruc's wife Katarzyna (also known as Kasia) gave birth to their son, Aleks, in Warsaw.^[20][21]

Boruc and his wife separated in 2008 amid reports linking the goalkeeper to former Polski Idol competitor Sara Mannei (24).^[22]

References

External links

• Official website
• Artur Boruc career stats at Soccerbase
• Artur Boruc' national team stats on the website of the Polish Football Association (Polish)
• Polish league stats (Polish)
• Anger grows over police caution for Boruc’s blessing, Sunday Herald, August 27, 2006
• Police report Boruc flag-waving, BBC News Online, May 7, 2007

Poland squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Boruc • 2 Jop • 3 Gancarczyk • 4 Baszczyński • 5 Kosowski • 6 Bąk • 7 Sobolewski • 8 Krzynówek • 9 Żurawski • 10 Szymkowiak • 11 Rasiak • 12 Kuszczak • 13 Mila • 14 Żewłakow • 15 Smolarek • 16 Radomski • 17 Dudka • 18 Lewandowski • 19 Bosacki • 20 Giza • 21 Jeleń • 22 Fabiański • 23 Brożek • Coach: Janas

Poland squad – UEFA Euro 2008 1 Boruc • 2 Jop • 3 Wawrzyniak • 4 Golański • 5 Dudka • 6 Bąk • 7 Smolarek • 8 Krzynówek • 9 Żurawski • 10 Garguła • 11 Saganowski • 12 Kowalewski • 13 Wasilewski • 14 Żewłakow • 15 Pazdan • 16 Piszczek • 17 Łobodziński • 18 Lewandowski • 19 Murawski • 20 Guerreiro • 21 Zahorski • 22 Fabiański • 23 Kokoszka • Coach: Beenhakker