29. Tomasz Kuszczak
Sunday, 07 September 08, 03:19 AM
| Birthdate: | 20 Mar 1982 |
|---|---|
| Birthplace: | Krosno Odrzanskie |
| Position: | Goalkeeper |
| Appearances: | 29 |
| Goals: | 0 |
| Joined United: | 10 Aug 2006 |
| United Debut: | 17 Sep 2006 v Arsenal (H) |
| International | Poland |
When Tomasz Kuszczak was given the no.29 jersey and Ben Foster the no.12, many Reds fans assumed the Pole would be third choice between the sticks during the 2007/08 season. However,
a cruciate ligament injury kept Foster out until March, by which time Kuszczak had proved his worth to United on numerous occasions.
Kuszczak made 16 appearances in United's double-winning campaign, keeping no fewer than eight clean sheets. And that statistic is all the more admirable when you consider that
playing as a substitute goalkeeper is no easy task. Warming the bench for weeks on end, it would be easy for any keeper to lose focus and
sharpness – dangerous considering they might be required to step in at a moment’s notice. But Kuszczak was rarely found wanting and while he was sent off for a foul leading to the decisive
penalty in the FA Cup against Portsmouth, even that decision seemed harsh.
Kuszczak arrived at United having already made one outstanding appearance at Old Trafford, for his former club West Bromwich Albion. With the Baggies' top-flight status at stake in May 2005,
the Pole was called upon when regular keeper Russell Hoult went off injured after just 22 minutes. The Baggies had just gone 1-0 down to a Ryan Giggs goal, but Kuszczak made
The Reds duly embarked on a relentless pursuit for his services throughout the summer of 2006 and, having already turned down three offers, the Midlanders finally relented on 10 August, fulfilling a childhood dream for the 6ft 3in stopper.
He instantly made a big impression at Old Trafford, saving a penalty by Arsenal's Gilberto Silva on his debut. And although he played only six games in 2006/07, he did received a title
winner's medal when the club applied to the Premier League.
Tomasz's first Poland cap, against Malta in December 2003, followed 14 appearances at U-21 level. He was in Poland's 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008 squads, as cover for Celtic's Artur Boruc,
but did not play in either tournament.
Did You Know? 'Tomasz Kuszczak' would fetch a score of 53 in Scrabble. It's pronounced 'Tomash Koosh-shack'.
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