Grzegorz Szamotulski

Grzegorz Szamotulski
Personal information
Full nameGrzegorz Szamotulski
Date of birth13 May 1976
Place of birthGdańsk, Poland
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Youth career
1991–1993Lechia Gdańsk
1993–1994Hutnik Warszawa
1994–1995Polonia Warsaw
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1995–2000Legia Warsaw103(0)
2000–2001PAOK14(0)
2001Śląsk Wrocław8(0)
2001–2004Amica Wronki76(0)
2004–2005Admira Wacker35(0)
2005–2007Sturm Graz57(0)
2007–2008Dundee United18(0)
2008Preston North End0(0)
2008F.C. Ashdod10(0)
2009Hibernian12(0)
2009Jagiellonia Białystok3(0)
2010–2011FK DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda5(0)
2011Korona Kielce2(0)
2011Warta Poznań5(0)
2012Olimpia Elbląg2(0)
National team‡
1996–2003Poland13(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16 February 2012.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 April 2011

Grzegorz Szamotulski (Polish pronunciation: [ˈɡʐɛɡɔʂ ʂamɔˈtulski]; born 13 May 1976 in Gdańsk) is a Polish footballer.

He has had a nomadic career, playing for 15 different clubs in seven different countries: Poland, Greece, Austria, Scotland, England, Slovakia and Israel.

Career

He started his career with Lechia Gdańsk before making over 100 appearances for Legia Warsaw. Grzegorz then went on to play for PAOK FC, Śląsk Wrocław, Amica Wronki, Admira Wacker Mödling and Sturm Graz.

Dundee United signed Szamotulski in July 2007 on a six-month contract to cover for the absence of his countryman Łukasz Załuska, who had broken a bone in his foot.[1] He made his debut in a friendly against Barcelona on 26 July 2007. He was nicknamed "The Monk" by Dundee United fans due to his resemblance to the character from the film Mean Machine.[2] Craig Levein admitted that Szamotulski would be leaving the club at the end of his six-month contract, as he had rejected a contract offered by Dundee United.[3] After he left Tannadice, he was named goalkeeper of the world, beating the likes of Iker Casillas and Edwin Van Der Sar to the award.

Szamotulski signed a six-month deal with Preston North End on 6 February 2008,[4] but soon suffered a knee injury.[5] Two months later, and without making an appearance, Szamotulski left Deepdale by "mutual consent".[6]

Szamotulski joined Israeli side F.C. Ashdod in August 2008, but he was released on 3 December.[7] After leaving Ashdod, Szamotulski was linked with a move to Hibernian.[8] Initially a contract could not be agreed with Hibs,[9] but he signed for them on 2 January 2009 until the end of the 2008–09 season.[10]

Szamotulski made his first appearance for Hibs against Hearts as a half-time substitute for Yves Ma-Kalambay. He kept a clean sheet in his first start in a 2–0 league win against St. Mirren.[11] Later in the season he kept four successive clean sheets, the first time a Hibs goalkeeper had achieved that feat since 1991.[12] Injury problems affected Szamotulski after this, however, and he left Hibs at the end of the season.

On 26 February 2010 FK DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda from Slovakian first division signed the former Polish international, who was a free agent.[13]

In April 2011, he signed a contract with Korona Kielce.[14] In October 2011, he signed a contract with Warta Poznań.[15]

Honours

Legia Warsaw

International career

Szamotulski represented Poland 13 times between 1996 and 2003.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Keeper in on loan at Tannadice". BBC Sport website. 25 July 2007.
  2. ↑ "Szamotulski's skills impress Thomson". The Courier. 18 September 2007.
  3. ↑ "Szamotulski nears Tannadice exit". BBC Sport. 7 November 2007.
  4. ↑ "Preston swoop for Polish keeper". BBC Sport. 7 February 2008.
  5. ↑ "Keeper to miss Watford clash". Lancashire Evening Post. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
  6. ↑ Stanton, Chris (16 April 2008). "Preston release Polish keeper". Setanta Sports. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
  7. ↑ "Szamotulski zagra w izraelskim Ashdod SC" (in Polish). www.reprezentacja.com. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
  8. ↑ Johnstone, Darren (8 December 2008). "Riordan could stay on bench for Hibs". The Scotsman (Johnston Press).
  9. ↑ "No Hibs contract for Szamotulski". BBC Sport (BBC). 23 December 2008. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  10. ↑ Lomax, Andrew. "Hibs sign Polish goalkeeper Grzegorz Szamotulski". www.telegraph.co.uk (Telegraph Media Group Limited). Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  11. ↑ "Hibernian 2–0 St Mirren". BBC Sport (BBC). 17 January 2009.
  12. ↑ "Hibs' Chris cross at number of stalemates". Edinburgh Evening News (Johnston Press). 24 March 2009.
  13. ↑ Szamotulski w 1.FC DAC Dunajská Streda
  14. ↑ Grzegorz Szamotulski wzmocnił Koronę Kielce 14 April 2011, onet.pl
  15. ↑ Grzegorz Szamotulski podpisał kontrakt z klubem z Poznania 20 October 2011, onet.pl

External links