Eddie Niedzwiecki

Eddie Niedzwiecki
Personal information
Full name Andrzej Edward Niedzwiecki
Date of birth 3 May 1959 (1959-05-03) (age 52)
Place of birth Bangor, Wales
Playing position Goalkeeper (retired)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1977–1983 Wrexham 111 (0)
1983–1988 Chelsea 136 (0)
Total 247 (0)
National team
1985–1987 Wales 2 (0)
Teams managed
1991 Reading (Caretaker Manager)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Eddie Niedzwiecki ( /njɛdzˈvɛtski/; born 3 May 1959 in Bangor) is a retired Welsh footballer of Polish origin who played as a goalkeeper for Wrexham and Chelsea.

Starting at Wrexham at the age of 14, Niedzwiecki stayed with the club until the summer of 1983, when he was signed for Chelsea by former Wrexham manager, John Neal. He quickly won a regular place in the Chelsea starting line-up and was impressive as the side romped to the Second Division title in his first season. He also earned two caps for Wales during his playing career.

Niedzwiecki was forced to retire aged 28, after failing to recover from numerous injury problems. He later went on to become a coach at Chelsea, leaving the club in November 2000 after the arrival of Claudio Ranieri. He joined Arsenal the following month, succeeding the late George Armstrong as reserve team coach. He also worked part-time as coach with Wales during this time. In September 2004, he joined Blackburn Rovers, under Mark Hughes, as first-team coach. Four years later, when Hughes left for Manchester City, he was among the several backroom staff from Blackburn to follow him in making the switch. However he became unemployed on 19 December 2009 when Mark Hughes and his complete backroom staff were relieved of their duties at the club. In 2010 he once again linked up with Mark Hughes at Fulham as part of the new Fulham manager's coaching staff.

External references
Reading F.C. – managers
(c) = caretaker manager