Romanian footballer (1959–2024)
Helmut Duckadam Duckadam in 1986
Personal information Date of birth (1959-04-01 ) 1 April 1959Place of birth Semlac , RomaniaDate of death 2 December 2024(2024-12-02) (aged 65) Place of death Bucharest , RomaniaHeight 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Position Goalkeeper Youth career 1974–1975 Semlecana Semlac 1975–1977 Școala Sportivă Gloria Arad 1977–1978 UTA Arad Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 1977–1978 → Constructorul Arad (loan) 1978–1982 UTA Arad [ a] 53 (0) 1983–1986 Steaua București 80 (0) 1989–1991 Vagonul Arad 1993–1994 CPL Arad Total 133 (0) International career 1979–1983 Romania U21 4 (0) 1982–1985 Romania B 2 (0) 1982 Romania 2 (0) * Club domestic league appearances and goals
Helmut Duckadam (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈhelmut footballer who played as agoalkeeper .
Duckadam was dubbed "the Hero ofSeville " due to his performance in the1986 European Cup final , won by his clubSteaua București , where he saved all four penalties against Barcelona in thepenalty shootout , for the first time in football history. He represented four other teams in a 12-year senior career.
Duckadam was born on 1 April 1959 inSemlac ,Arad County , Romania, being ofBanat Swabian (German ) descent, growing up as a fan of goalkeepersGordon Banks ,Luis Arconada andStere Adamache .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 5] [ 1] [ 2] UTA Arad .[ 1] [ 2] [ 4] [ 6] Divizia C club, Constructorul Arad where he was wanted by coachNicolae Dumitrescu .[ 1] [ 2] [ 4] [ 6] moustache , being inspired to do so by goalkeeperEnver Marić .[ 3] Divizia A debut when coachIon Ionescu sent him on the field for the last 20 minutes of a 2–0 loss againstCS Târgoviște , managing not to concede any goals.[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 6] first season , but Duckadam stayed with the club, helping it achieve promotion back to the first league after two seasons, managing in this period to score a goal with a long-shot from his box in a game againstFCM Reșița .[ 1] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] The Old Lady was relegated once again and after one more half a season spent in the second league, he went to play forSteaua București .[ 1] [ 2] [ 9] [ 10]
In his first two seasons with Steaua, Duckadam had to compete withVasile Iordache andGheorghe Nițu .[ 2] The Double in the1984–85 season when he was used in 31 league matches by coachesFlorin Halagian andEmerich Jenei , managing to not concede any goals for 606 consecutive minutes.[ 1] [ 2] [ 4] [ 11] [ 12] Cupa României final overUniversitatea Craiova .[ 1] [ 2] [ 4] [ 13] A.S. Roma in the first round of theEuropean Cup Winners' Cup , managing to save a penalty executed byUbaldo Righetti .[ 1] [ 2] [ 4] [ 14] following season , Duckadam won another championship title, playing 32 league games under the guidance of Jenei.[ 1] [ 2] [ 4] [ 11] European Cup campaign in which Duckadam conceded only five goals.[ 1] [ 2] [ 15] final he saved four consecutive penalty shots in theshoot-out , fromJosé Ramón Alexanko ,Ángel Pedraza ,Pichi Alonso andMarcos in the eventual 2–0 victory againstBarcelona .[ 1] [ 2] [ 4] [ 15] commentator Teoharie Coca-Cosma enthusiastically yelled the famous phrase:"Duckadam saves! We are finalists! We won the Cup!"[ 16] The Guinness Book of World Records [ 17] Progresul București in theCupa României quarter-finals in which Duckadam scored the second goal of his career from a penalty, encouraged by the 70,000 fans who chanted his name when it was awarded.[ 3] [ 6] [ 7] [ 18] [ 19] Romanian Footballer of the Year award in 1986 and in the same year he was nominated for theBallon d'Or .[ 2] [ 20] [ 21] [ 22] [ 23]
In the summer of 1986, while at a campfire inArad , Duckadam suffered an accident as he slipped on the grass, leaning on his right arm, which resulted in great pain and his hand bruised.[ 4] [ 24] [ 25] [ 24] Vagonul Arad where he stayed from 1989 until 1991, then between 1993 and 1994 he was at CPL Arad, with both spells in the Romanian lower leagues.[ 1] [ 9] [ 18] [ 24]
International career [ edit ] Between 1979 and 1985, Duckadam made four appearances forRomania's under-21 squad and two for the B side.[ 26]
Duckadam was first called-up to play forRomania's national team while playing forUTA Arad inDivizia B , as coachMircea Lucescu wanted to use him in a match againstSwitzerland .[ 3] [ 27] [ 3] Dumitru Moraru played in the 0–0 draw against the Swiss.[ 3] [ 28] The Tricolours took place on 1 September 1982, managing to keep a clean sheet as Lucescu used him the entire match in the 1–0 friendly win overDenmark .[ 29] [ 30] East Germany .[ 29] [ 31]
After retiring from football, Duckadam worked for a while in the late 1990s as a major for theRomanian Border Police inArad County .[ 3] [ 18] [ 32] [ 33] [ 34] Arad , named after himself.[ 33] Romanian Humanist Party , but left it in 2004 to join theNew Generation Party where he served as the party's vice-president.[ 34] [ 35] [ 36] Diversity Immigrant Visa organized by theAmerican embassy from Bucharest and emigrated with his family to theUnited States .[ 32] [ 34] [ 35] [ 37] [ 32] [ 34] [ 35]
In 2006 he worked for a few months as the general manager ofUTA Arad .[ 38] President of Romania ,Traian Băsescu , with the Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" – (The Medal "The Sportive Merit") – class II, for his part in winning the 1986 European Cup.[ 39] FCSB .[ 32] [ 34] [ 35] [ 40]
He was named Honorary Citizen ofBucharest in 2017.[ 41] Digi Sport 's "Fotbal Club" programme.[ 35] [ 42]
He wrote one autobiographical book:[ 43]
Duckadam, Helmut (1989).O victorie aplaudată [An applauded victory ] (in Romanian). București: Editura Militară.ISBN 978-9-7332-0102-1 In 2022, author Milan Radin wrote a book inspired from the life of Duckadam titledDer Tormann (The Goalkeeper) .[ 15] [ 44]
Duckadam died on 2 December 2024 in the Military Hospital inBucharest , at the age of 65.[ 15] [ 45] President Klaus Iohannis awarded him post-mortem with theOrder of the Star of Romania in the rank of Knight.[ 46]
On 30 January 2025, during aEuropa League match againstManchester United ,FCSB 's fans displayed ascenography consisting of a giant image of Duckadam holding theEuropean Cup , beneath which was written:"Legends never die".[ 47]
On 13 November 2025, a bronze statue depicting him holding four balls was unveiled to the public in his nativeSemlac .[ 48] [ 48]
UTA Arad
Steaua București
Individual
^a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Helmut Duckadam at RomanianSoccer.ro(in Romanian) ^a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Cum a ajuns Duckadam la Steaua, deși o altă mare echipă din România insista să-l transfere. "Mi-a fost teamă să merg acolo" [How Duckadam ended up at Steaua, although another big team from Romania insisted on transferring him. "I was afraid to go there"] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 3 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^a b c d e f g h "Duckadam: "Eu am avut o singură avere, numele meu!" [Duckadam: "I had only one fortune, my name!"] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 3 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^a b c d e f g h i j "Helmuth Duckadam" (in Romanian). Steauafc.com. Archived fromthe original on 28 December 2018. Retrieved2 January 2015 .^ "Top Interviuri: Helmuth Duckadam" [Top Interviews: Helmuth Duckadam] (in Romanian). Orangesport.ro. 25 May 2020. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^a b c d e "Dialog printre fotografii cu Helmut Duckadam" [Dialogue between photographs with Helmut Duckadam] (in Romanian). Agerpres.ro. 31 May 2018. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^a b "Helmuth Duckadam, despre cele două goluri pe care le-a marcat de-a lungul carierei: "Prima oară am înscris din poartă în poartă" [Helmuth Duckadam, about the two goals he scored throughout his career: "The first time I scored from goal to goal"] (in Romanian). Orangesport.ro. 22 May 2020. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "România, în topul mondial al țărilor cu cei mai mulți portari care au marcat goluri: 25 din 468" [Romania, in the world top of the countries with the most goalkeepers who scored goals: 25 out of 468] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 31 May 2021. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^a b "Rămas bun, Helmut Duckadam!" [Farewell, Helmut Duckadam!] (in Romanian). Uta-arad.ro. 3 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "Meciul celor două echipe ale lui Duckadam" [The match between Duckadam's two teams] (in Romanian). Welovesport.ro. 26 January 2025. Retrieved28 January 2025 .^a b "Romania National Champions" . RomanianSoccer. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ " ["I raised a bear in the locker room!". GSP rediscovered the first footballer to play for Dinamo, Rapid and Steaua, the holder of the all-time record of minutes in a row without a goal received in Division A] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 30 July 2018. Retrieved2 May 2025 ."Andrei Vlad, #1 în istoria FCSB! Locul 6 într-un top uriaș: peste Prunea și Duckadam" [Andrei Vlad, # 1 in the history of FCSB! 6th place in a huge top: over Prunea and Duckadam] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 12 April 2021. Retrieved2 May 2025 .^ "Romanian Cup – Season 1984–1985" . Romaniansoccer.ro. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "Steaua-Roma, acum 24 de ani…" [Steaua-Roma, 24 years ago…] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 25 July 2008. Retrieved29 December 2024 ."36 de ani de la Steaua – AS Roma 0-0 în Ghencea. Marcel Pușcaș: "A durut! Eugen Barbu a scris în revista Săptămâna că sunt străin de fotbal" [36 years from Steaua - AS Roma 0-0 in Ghencea. Marcel Pușcaș: "It hurt! Eugen Barbu wrote in the Săptămâna magazine that I am a foreigner of football"] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 3 October 2020. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^a b c d "A murit Helmut Duckadam, eroul Stelei '86 în finala de la Sevilla" [Helmut Duckadam, the hero of Steaua '86 in the final in Seville, died] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 2 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 ."Romanian football loses 'heroic' goalkeeper Duckadam" . Bbc.com. 2 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "A murit Teoharie Coca-Cosma. Istoria unei gafe, de ce a strigat "Suntem finaliști!": "Ura și fuga la aeroport!" [Teoharie Coca-Cosma died. The history of a blunder, why he shouted "We are finalists!": "Hooray and run to the airport!"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 22 January 2025. Retrieved22 January 2025 ."Teoharie Coca-Cosma s-a stins din viață la 84 de ani" [Teoharie Coca-Cosma died at the age of 84] (in Romanian). Tikitaka.ro. 22 January 2025. Retrieved22 January 2025 .^ "Helmut Duckadam a intrat în World Records Academy, după finala de la Sevilla dintre Steaua București și Barcelona" [Helmut Duckadam entered the World Records Academy, after the final in Seville between Steaua Bucharest and Barcelona] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 2 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 ."Cum a ajuns regretatul Helmut Duckadam să fie înregistrat oficial în Cartea Recordurilor Guinness" [How the late Helmut Duckadam came to be officially recorded in the Guinness Book of Records] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 2 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 ."Performanţa lui Helmuth Duckadam, înscrisă în World Records Academy" [Helmuth Duckadam's performance, entered in the World Records Academy] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 9 May 2011. Retrieved29 December 2024 ."Cum a fost omologat recordul lui Duckadam. De ce nu a primit "Eroul de la Sevilla" certificat de la World Record Academy. Ilie Dobre are 10: "M-au costat mii de euro" [How Duckadam's record was approved. Why didn't the "Hero of Seville" receive a certificate from the World Record Academy. Ilie Dobre is 10: "They cost me thousands of euros"] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 9 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 ."România în Guinness World Records: Zeci de performanțe extraordinare făcute de români au intrat în Cartea Recordurilor" [Romania in Guinness World Records: Dozens of extraordinary performances by Romanians entered the Book of Records] (in Romanian). Alba24.ro. 28 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^a b c "Cum era să rămînă Duckadam fără mina" [How was Duckadam to be without a hand] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. Archived fromthe original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved29 April 2011 .^ "Helmut Duckadam, fotbalistul complet! A înscris un gol în Cupa României imediat după cele 4 penalty-uri apărate la Sevilla" [Helmut Duckadam, the complete footballer! He scored a goal in the Romanian Cup immediately after the 4 penalties saved in Sevilla] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 2 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^a b "Romania – Player of the Year Awards" .RSSSF . Retrieved18 January 2018 .^a b "European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 1986" .RSSSF . 1 February 2006. Retrieved15 December 2020 .^a b "Dumitru Macri, primul fotbalist român nominalizat la Balonul de Aur! Gică Hagi, aproape de succes în 1994" [Dumitru Macri, the first Romanian footballer nominated for the Golden Ball! Gica Hagi, almost successful in 1994] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 30 November 2018. Retrieved15 December 2020 .^ "Helmut Duckadam, "Eroul de la Sevilla", și-a încheiat cariera la doar 27 de ani. Palmaresul goalkeeper-ului" [Helmut Duckadam, the "Hero of Seville", ended his career at only 27 years old. The goalkeeper's achievements] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 2 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^a b c "Cum și-a încheiat cariera Helmut Duckadam. Accidentul suferit la braț, la un grătar cu prietenii" [How Helmut Duckadam ended his career. The accident suffered on the arm, at a barbecue with friends] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 3 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "Duckadam inspires Steaua" .UEFA . 18 April 2006. Archived fromthe original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "Helmuth Duckadam profile" . 11v11.com. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "Reacția lui Mircea Lucescu, după moartea lui Helmut Duckadam" [The reaction of Mircea Lucescu, after the death of Helmut Duckadam] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 3 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 ."Motivul pentru care Helmut Duckadam a avut doar 2 selecții la naționala României. Episod incredibil cu Mircea Lucescu" [The reason why Helmut Duckadam had only 2 selections for the Romanian national team. Incredible episode with Mircea Lucescu] (in Romanian). As.ro. 3 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "Switzerland 0-0 Romania" . European Football. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^a b "Helmut Duckadam" . European Football. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "Romania 1-0 Denmark" . European Football. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "East Germany 4-1 Romania" . European Football. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^a b c d "Legendary Romanian goalkeeper Helmuth Duckadam passes away" (in Romanian). Romania-insider.com. 2 December 2024. Retrieved2 December 2024 .^a b "Știrile zilei" [The news of today] (in Romanian). Virtualarad.net. 28 December 1999. Archived fromthe original on 23 March 2002. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^a b c d e "Moartea bruscă a lui Duckadam a șocat lumea fotbalului: "Nici nu mai știu să vorbesc" /"Eroul de la Sevilla" avea 65 de ani / Cel care a mers până la capăt" [The sudden death of Duckadam shocked the world of football: "I don't even know how to speak anymore" / "The hero of Sevilla" was 65 years old / The one who went to the end] (in Romanian). Hotnews.ro. 2 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^a b c d e " ["Duckadam died without returning the money with the shovel" What income did the former great goalkeeper have] (in Romanian). Ziare.com. 3 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "Duckadam si Leu s-au inscris in Partidul Umanist" [Duckadam and Leu joined the Humanist Party] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 3 February 2002. Retrieved29 December 2024 ."Casa lui Helmuth Duckadam este sediu de partid" [Helmuth Duckadam's house is the party headquarters] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 17 February 2004. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "Duckadam a plecat in SUA" [Duckadam left in USA] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 15 October 2003. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "Helmut Duckadam renunta la conducerea clubului "UTA" Arad" [Helmut Duckadam resigns from the management of the club "UTA" Arad] (in Romanian). Romanialibera.ro. 18 April 2006. Retrieved29 December 2024 ."Dilemă în jurul lui Helmut Duckadam. A primit sau nu bani de la UTA Arad? Fostului mare portar i se bate obrazul: "Buzunarul sacoului era umflat" [Dilemma around Helmut Duckadam. Did he receive money from UTA Arad or not? The former great goalkeeper is slapped on the cheek: "The jacket pocket was swollen"] (in Romanian). Playsport.ro. 11 January 2023. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "DECRET privind conferirea Ordinului și Medaliei Meritul Sportiv" (PDF) . Monitorul Oficial al României Nr. 241. 28 March 2008. p. 3. Retrieved29 December 2024 ."Decorarea unor personalități ale fotbalului românesc" . Administrația Prezidențială. 25 March 2008. Archived fromthe original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "Duckadam, presedinte la Steaua: Astept de 15 ani clipa aceasta!" [Duckadam, president of Steaua: I have been waiting for this moment for 15 years!] (in Romanian). Stirileprotv.ro. 11 August 2010. Retrieved29 December 2024 ."Duckadam, noul presedinte al Stelei: "De 15 ani astept sa primesc o functie in club, vreau Steaua in Liga!" [Duckadam, the new president of Stela: "For 15 years I have been waiting to receive a position in the club, I want Steaua in the League!"] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 11 August 2010. Retrieved29 December 2024 ."CFR CLUJ - FCSB. Helmuth Duckadam și-a anunțat în direct demisia, cu 30 de minute înainte de derby: "Nu mai sunt dorit. Mai bine plec eu, decât să mă dea afară" [CFR CLUJ - FCSB. Helmuth Duckadam announced his resignation live, 30 minutes before the derby: "I'm no longer wanted. I'd rather leave than be fired"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 14 June 2020. Retrieved29 December 2024 ."Câți bani a câștigat Duckadam în 10 ani la FCSB și în câte deplasări a fost. Becali: "Vreau să-l acuz, fără să se supere, de minciună" [How much money has Duckadam earned in 10 years at FCSB and how many trips has he been on. Becali: "I want to accuse him, without getting upset, of lying"] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 14 July 2020. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "Cetățeni de onoare" [Honorary Citizens] (in Romanian). Pmb.ro. Retrieved26 November 2025 .^ "Helmuth Duckadam a împlinit 61 de ani!" [Helmuth Duckadam turned 61 years old!] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 1 April 2020. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "Cartea lui Duckadam" [Duckadam's book] (in Romanian). Welovesport.ro. 3 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "Romanul istoric al timișoreanului Milan Radin, "Der Tormann" (Portarul), inspirat din viața "Eroului de la Sevilla" Helmut Duckadam, nominalizat în Germania pe lista scurtă pentru "Cartea Anului 2022" [The historical novel by Milan Radin from Timisoara, "Der Tormann" (The Goalkeeper), inspired by the life of the "Hero of Seville" Helmut Duckadam, nominated in Germany on the short list for "Book of the Year 2022"] (in Romanian). Gazetadinvest.ro. 3 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "A murit Helmut Duckadam, legendarul portar al echipei Steaua București" [Helmut Duckadam, the legendary goalkeeper of the Steaua Bucharest team, has died] (in Romanian). Digi24.ro. 2 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 ."Care a fost cauza morții lui Helmut Duckadam. Fostul mare sportiv se afla în spital de joi seară" [What was the cause of Helmut Duckadam's death. The former great athlete was in the hospital on Thursday evening] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 2 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 ."Helmuth Duckadam dead aged 65 as tributes paid to legendary goalkeeper known as the 'Hero of Seville' . Dailyrecord.co.uk. 2 December 2024. Retrieved29 December 2024 .^ "Helmut Duckadam, decorat post-mortem cu "Steaua României" în grad de Cavaler" [Helmut Duckadam, posthumously decorated with the "Star of Romania" in the rank of Knight] (in Romanian). Eurosport.ro. 4 December 2024. Retrieved26 November 2025 .^ "Portretul lui Helmut Duckadam, la Arena Națională! Manchester United a văzut scenografia emoționantă a Peluzei Nord" [The portrait of Helmut Duckadam, at the National Arena! Manchester United saw the exciting scenery of the North Lawn] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 30 January 2025. Retrieved31 January 2025 .^a b "A fost dezvelită statuia în memoria lui Helmut Duckadam: regretatul portar, alături de cele 4 mingi salvate la Sevilla" [The statue in memory of Helmut Duckadam was unveiled: the late goalkeeper, alongside the 4 balls saved in Seville] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 13 November 2025. Retrieved13 November 2025 ."Imagini emoționante de la inaugurarea statuii lui Helmut Duckadam! Cine a fost prezent din partea FCSB" [Emotional images from the inauguration of the statue of Helmut Duckadam! Who was present from FCSB?] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 13 November 2025. Retrieved13 November 2025 .
