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Date of Birth: Tuesday, March 23, 1982
Birth Place: Poland
Height: 190cm
Position: Goalkeeper
Former Clubs/Teams: West Bromwich Albion, Hertha BSC Berlin

Biography

Tomasz Kuszczak is a goalkeeper for Poland and Manchester United in the English Premier League. He is an acrobatic goalkeeper who is used as the substitute keeper at United – constantly ready to step in should Edwin van der Sar get injured. His arrival at United was unexpected, but he has proven that he has the ability to play for a top club in Europe. He is a member of the Poland squad, but until he has consistent first-team football he will struggle to become the Polish number 1.

Childhood

Tomasz Kuszczak was born on 20th March 1982, in Krosno Odranskie, in western Poland, near the German border. He was brought up in communist Poland, and football became one of his few pleasures. He has always played as a goalkeeper, and was at his happiest when he was making spectacular saves in front of his friends. Kuszczak obviously had a talent for goalkeeping, and was signed up by Wroclaw.

Early Career

Kuszczak spent two years learning and training with Wroclaw before earning a big move to Hertha Berlin. He became the club’s third-choice goalkeeper at the age of 19, but with Hungarian international Gabor Kiraly ahead of him in the pecking order, his chances of playing in big games were slim. Kuszczak did not feature in Hertha’s league games in the entire duration of his three-year contract, and joined Gary Megson’s West Bromwich Albion on a Bosman free-transfer in June 2004.

At West Brom, Kuszczak was back-up keeper to Chris Kirkland and Russell Hoult. He made his debut in September 2004, but his next league match came in the penultimate game of the season – against Manchester United. He was subbed on because of an injury to Hoult, and performed some fantastic last-ditch saves to win a point for WBA.

He started the 05/06 season as the reserve keeper, but seized his chance when Kirkland was injured – doing enough to keep the number one jersey even when Kirkland returned to fitness. He made the Match of the Day ‘Save of the Season’, which put him in the spotlight, and was linked with a big-money move when West Brom were relegated.

Current Club

Tomasz Kuszczak signed for Manchester United on 10th August 2006 – initially on loan, but with the option for United to complete his signing in July 2007 for £2.5m. He was again signed as back-up, this time to veteran Edwin van der Sar. In the few games he was called upon, Kuszczak performed well – saving a penalty in his debut against title-rivals Arsenal helped win the fans over. United went on to win the Premier League, with Kuszczak having a medal specially made for him by United because he had not played enough games to qualify for a medal.

Edwin van der Sar remained the first-choice goalkeeper in 07/08 as Manchester United won the Premier League and Champions League double. Ben Foster joined the goalkeeping team in 2007, and will be the main challenger to Kuszczak for the number 1 shirt when van der Sar steps down.

International

Tomasz Kuszczak won his first call-up when he was a substitute goalkeeper at Hertha Berlin, making his debut and keeping a clean-sheet against Malta in December 2003. Because of his form at West Brom, in his one season as first-choice goalkeeper, he was included in the Poland squad for the World Cup 2006. He started out as the fresh-faced first-choice goalie, but somehow managed to concede a goal from the opposition goalie’s goal-kick, and was pushed down the goalkeeper pecking-order.

He was included in the Euro 2008 squad, but had to pull out because of a back-injury.