Robert Olejnik

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For the World War II fighter pilot, see Robert Olejnik (pilot).
Robert Olejnik
Personal information
Full nameRobert Olejnik[1]
Date of birth (1986-11-26) 26 November 1986
Place of birthVienna, Austria
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current clubPeterborough United
Number1
Youth career
–2003Austria Wien
2003–2007Aston Villa
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2007Aston Villa0(0)
2007→ Lincoln City (loan)0(0)
2007–2011Falkirk102(0)
2011–2012Torquay United46(0)
2012–Peterborough United71(0)
National team
2008–2009Austria U2113(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:59, 27 November 2013 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Robert Olejnik (26 November 1986) is an Austrian footballer who plays for Peterborough United as a goalkeeper. Olejnik came through the youth teams of Austria Vienna and Aston Villa and has played professionally for Falkirk and Torquay United as well as the Austria U21 team.

Club career

Youth career

Olejnik, born to Polish parents in Vienna, Austria, started playing football from a young age first playing for Rapid Vienna and then moved to Austria Vienna's youth system where he remained until 2003 when Olejnik move to England to join Aston Villa's youth system after impressing Eric Steele, then goalkeeping coach at Aston Villa, before landing his first professional contract.

Aston Villa

Olejnik is a product of Aston Villa's youth system. He joined League Two side Lincoln City on a loan deal until the end of the 2006–07 season, to help The Imps in their promotion push.[2] Whilst there, he helped their Reserve side to lift the Pontin's Reserves League Cup. They had beaten Premiership sides Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers on the way. After a 1–1 draw in 90 minutes against Hartlepool United, the match went to a penalty shoot-out. Olejnik saved two of the first five, making it 3–3 after each side having taken five. The scores made it to 6–6 before Olejnik saved a penalty, to then step up himself and score the winning goal.

Falkirk

However, on 30 May 2007, Olejnik was released by Villa manager Martin O'Neill and the following day joined Scottish club Falkirk.[3] At the start of the season, Olejnik became second choice to Tim Krul who made 22 appearances. Olejnik made his debut for the club in a 1–0 win over Kilmarnock on 2 January 2008, coming on a substitute for Russell Latapy after Krul got sent off for unsportsmanlike conduct. Krul would later return to his parent club after Krul suffered a shoulder injury[4] and Olejnik would later became a first choice goalkeeper for the rest of the season. Olejnik managed to keep his first clean sheet for the club in a 0–0 draw against Aberdeen on 5 January 2008.

The following season, Olejnik managed to get playing time as a first choice goalkeeper. However, Olejnik made a blunder by scoring an own goal against Hamilton Academical but Falkirk managed to win 4–1 over them on 29 September 2008.[5] Olejnik made too many mistakes, which resulted in back to back losses for Falkirk. Because of that, this led the club signing Scott Flinders from Crystal Palace and replacing Olejnik as a first choice goalkeeper until Olejnik made a return in goal in a 1–1 draw against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 12 November 2008 but the next game Olejnik once again replaced as a first choice goalkeeper in the next game and remained there since. After 8 games with Flinders in goal, Olejnik replaced him and Flinders would later on return to his parent club. Once again, Olejnik made too many mistakes in the middle of the season and his first choice goalkeeper status was replaced by new signing Dani Mallo. Since then, Olejnik became a second choice goalkeeper for the rest of the season. At the end of the season on 11 June 2009, Olejnik signed a two-year extension with the club, keeping him at the club until 2011.[6]

The following season with Mallo left Falkrik, Olejnik resumed his first choice goalkeeper status, having played all 38 games in the league. However, the club was relegated after failing to beat Kilmarnock on 9 May 2010 in a 0–0 draw. During the season, Olejnik made his European debut in the UEFA Europa League in the second round against Vaduz. In the first leg, Falkirk won 1–0, giving Olejnik his first clean sheet in Europe competition on 16 July 2009. In the second leg on 23 July 2009, Vaduz strike back and won 2–0, eliminating Falkirk in the Europa League, in process. In a 0–0 draw against Aberdeen, Olejnik was in a confrontation with team-mate Scott Arfield, whom he believed had not properly defended a cross. As a result, referee Alan Muir booked the pair. After the match, Olejnik made an apology for an incident[7]

Falkirk manager, Steven Pressley confirmed Olejnik would be leaving the club after his contract ran out on 30 June 2011.[8] At the club, Oleknik made 100 more appearance.

Torquay United

On 1 July 2011, Olejnik signed with League Two side Torquay United.[9] Olejnik made his debut in a 2–1 friendly win over Tiverton Town. He started his first League 2 match of the season with Torquay, at home to Burton Albion. Despite conceding two goals, he was man of the match after pulling off a string of fine saves.

Olejnik's impressive commanding form continued during his 2011–2012 season resulting in him leading Torquay into the club's record books by breaking United's previous record number of 19 clean sheets, set in the 1960s, with 20 shut outs. On 16 February 2012, Olejnik signed a contract extension, keeping him until 2014.[10]

In April 2012, Olejnik was named in the PFA Team of the Year of League Two along with teammate Kevin Nicholson, Eunan O'Kane and Lee Mansell.[11]

Peterborough United

On 18 June 2012, Olejnik signed a three-year contract with Championship side Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee.[12][13] Olejnik was a replacement for both Joe Lewis and Paul Jones who left for Cardiff City and Crawley Town respectively. Olejnik made his debut on for Peterborough United on 14 August 2012 with a clean sheet in a 4–0 win over Southend in the cup. Olejnik made his Championship debut against Leicester City on 20 August 2012. Although having lost 2–0, Bobby pulled off a number if fine saves to keep Peterborough afloat. Manager Darren Ferguson was later quoted saying "Bobby's a really good goalkeeper. The save he made in the first-half was outstanding, but he also gives us something we haven't had from our goalkeepers in recent seasons and that's excellent communication skills."[14]

International career

Olejnik was also called up for the Austria U-21 squad to play Italy U-21 in late August 2006.

Career statistics

As of match played 26 November 2013.
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Falkirk 2007–08[15] Scottish Premier League 1301000—140
2008–09[16] Scottish Premier League 1501020—180
2009–10[17] Scottish Premier League 38010102[lower-alpha 1]0420
2010–11[18] Scottish First Division 36020301[lower-alpha 2]0420
Total 10205060301160
Torquay United 2011–12[19] League Two 46020102[lower-alpha 3]0510
Peterborough United 2012–13[20] Championship 4601020—490
2013–14[21] League One 18010302[lower-alpha 4]0240
Total 640205020730
Career total 212090120702400
  1. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ↑ Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup
  3. ↑ Appearances in League Two play-offs
  4. ↑ Appearances in Football League Trophy

Honours

Individual

  • Football League Two PFA Team of the Year: 2011–12

References

  1. ↑ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 23. Retrieved 23 June 2013. 
  2. ↑ "Villa keeper heads to Lincoln". Sky Sports. 8 March 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2013. 
  3. ↑ "A saving grace". Falkirk Herald. 31 May 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2013. 
  4. ↑ "Krul faces long spell on sidelines". Falkirk Herald. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2013. 
  5. ↑ "Falkirk 4 Hamilton Academical 1". Falkirk Herald. 28 September 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2013. 
  6. ↑ "Bairns keeper agrees new deal". Sky Sports. 11 June 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2013. 
  7. ↑ "Bairns minder says sorry". Falkirk Herald. 17 September 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2013. 
  8. ↑ "Bairns keepers will not be kept". Falkirk Herald. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2013. 
  9. ↑ "Gulls reel in young stopper". Sky Sports. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2013. 
  10. ↑ "Olejnik pens new Gulls deal". Sky Sports. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012. 
  11. ↑ "PFA Team of the Year: League Two". Team Talk. 22 April 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012. 
  12. ↑ "Posh complete Olejnik deal". Sky Sports. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012. 
  13. ↑ "Posh have bid accepted". Sky Sports. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012. 
  14. ↑ "Bobby revels in the atmosphere". Peterborough Today. 19 August 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2013. 
  15. ↑ "Games played by Bobby Olejnik in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 26 November 2013. 
  16. ↑ "Games played by Bobby Olejnik in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 26 November 2013. 
  17. ↑ Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "Games played by Bobby Olejnik in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 26 November 2013. 
    "Falkirk 1–0 Vaduz". BBC Sport. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2013. 
    "Vaduz 2–0 Falkirk (agg 2–1)". BBC Sport. 23 July 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2013. 
  18. ↑ Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "Games played by Bobby Olejnik in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 26 November 2013. 
    "Stirling Albion 0 – 0 Falkirk". Scottish Professional Football League. 24 July 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2013. 
  19. ↑ "Games played by Bobby Olejnik in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 26 November 2013. 
  20. ↑ "Games played by Bobby Olejnik in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 26 November 2013. 
  21. ↑ "Games played by Bobby Olejnik in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 26 November 2013. 

External links

2011–12 Football League Two PFA Team of the Year
Peterborough United F.C. – current squad
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