Grzegorz Szamotulski

Grzegorz Szamotulski (Polish pronunciation: [ˈɡʐɛɡɔʂ ʂamɔˈtulski]; born 13 May 1976) is a Polish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He was most recently the goalkeeping coach for Zagłębie Lubin. He has had a nomadic career, playing for 15 clubs in seven countries: Poland, Greece, Austria, Scotland, England, Slovakia and Israel.

Grzegorz Szamotulski
Szamotulski in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth (1976-05-13) 13 May 1976
Place of birth Gdańsk, Poland
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1991–1993 Lechia Gdańsk
1993–1994 Hutnik Warsaw
1994–1995 Polonia Warsaw
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–2000 Legia Warsaw 103 (0)
2000 PAOK 14 (0)
2001 Śląsk Wrocław 8 (0)
2001–2004 Amica Wronki 76 (0)
2004–2005 Admira Wacker 35 (0)
2005–2007 Sturm Graz 57 (0)
2007–2008 Dundee United 18 (0)
2008 Preston North End 0 (0)
2008 F.C. Ashdod 10 (0)
2009 Hibernian 12 (0)
2009 Jagiellonia Białystok 3 (0)
2010–2011 Dunajská Streda 5 (0)
2011 Korona Kielce 2 (0)
2011 Warta Poznań 5 (0)
2012 Olimpia Elbląg 2 (0)
2013 Legia Warsaw (oldboys)
2018 Weszło Warsaw
Total 350 (0)
International career
1996–2003 Poland 13 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Born in Gdańsk, Szamotulski 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]

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]

International career

Szamotulski represented Poland 13 times between 1996 and 2003.

International
Appearances, conceded goals and clean sheets by national team
National teamYearAppsConceded

Goals

 Clean

Sheets

Poland 1996230
1997692
1998140
2003442
Total13204

Honours

Legia Warsaw

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. Archived from the original on 4 January 2008.
  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. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. 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 (2 January 2009). "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 Archived 17 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine 14 April 2011, onet.pl
  15. Grzegorz Szamotulski podpisał kontrakt z klubem z Poznania Archived 22 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine 20 October 2011, onet.pl
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