 Kuszczak in 2016 withBirmingham City | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tomasz Mirosław Kuszczak[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1982-03-20)20 March 1982 (age 43)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Krosno Odrzańskie, Poland | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1998–1999 | Śląsk Wrocław | ||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | Uerdingen | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2000–2004 | Hertha BSC II | 87 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2001–2004 | Hertha BSC | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2004–2007 | West Bromwich Albion | 31 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | →Manchester United (loan) | 6 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2007–2012 | Manchester United | 26 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2012 | →Watford (loan) | 13 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2012–2014 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 84 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 13 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2015–2019 | Birmingham City | 89 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 349 | (0) | |||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Poland U16 | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2000 | Poland U18 | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2001–2003 | Poland U21 | 14 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2003–2012 | Poland | 11 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Poland (goalkeeping coach) | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
Tomasz Mirosław Kuszczak (Polish pronunciation:[ˈtɔmaʂˈkuʂt͡ʂak]ⓘ; born 20 March 1982) is a Polish former professionalfootballer who played as agoalkeeper. He was most recently the goalkeeping coach of thePoland national team.
Born inKrosno Odrzańskie, Kuszczak previously played forŚląsk Wrocław in Poland, as well as for the German clubsKFC Uerdingen 05 andHertha BSC, before moving in 2004 to England withWest Bromwich Albion. During the summer of 2006 he transferred toManchester United, where as backup goalkeeper toEdwin van der Sar he won threePremier League titles, twoFootball League Cups, threeFA Community Shields, theFIFA Club World Cup and theUEFA Champions League. In 2012 Kuszczak joinedBrighton & Hove Albion, who released him at the end of the 2013–14 season. After spending the latter part of the 2014–15 season withWolverhampton Wanderers, he signed for Birmingham City in July 2015, playing for the club until his retirement in 2019.
Kuszczak made 14 appearances for thePoland under-21 side and wascapped 11 times atsenior level. He was a member of the nation's squad at the2006 FIFA World Cup.
Kuszczak was born inKrosno Odrzańskie, Poland. He joined German clubHertha BSC in 2000, spending a year with theirreserve team before being promoted to thefirst team in 2001. He subsequently spent three seasons as the third-choicegoalkeeper at the club, behindGábor Király andChristian Fiedler, and failed to make a single appearance in theBundesliga. He was out of contract with Hertha when he was signed byWest Bromwich Albion managerGary Megson on 14 July 2004.[2]
He made his debut for West Brom on 18 September 2004 in a Premier League match againstFulham atThe Hawthorns, which ended in a 1–1 draw. He then played in aLeague Cup match againstColchester United on 21 September 2004, Albion losing 2–1.
Kuszczak had only kept goal in one match in the Premier League before West Brom's game against Manchester United on the penultimate match day of the2004–05 season, with theBaggies facing a tough relegation battle. He put in a striking performance, having to step in front of the goal after the first choice keeperRussell Hoult was injured in the first half. West Bromwich drew the match 1–1, with Kuszczak remaining unbeaten during his 68 minutes on the pitch. This performance helped Kuszczak earn his firstman of the match award in the Premier League. The following week, in the season's last match againstPortsmouth, Kuszczak had another impressive game, enabling West Bromwich to win 2–0, and hence stay up in the league.
In2005–06, Kuszczak was supposed to be the reserve keeper behindChris Kirkland. With Kirkland injured, Kuszczak kept goal in his first Premier League match of the season on 30 October 2005, but could not preventNewcastle United from winning 3–0. His performances then improved, allowing him to become the first-choice keeper. This continued despite Kirkland's return from injury. On 15 January 2006, Kuszczak had an impressive game againstWigan Athletic, making a match-winning save late on fromJason Roberts, with West Bromwich winning the game 1–0. The save was voted "Save of the Season" by viewers of BBC TV'sMatch of the Day programme. Nonetheless, his club were relegated at the end of the season.
On 7 July 2006, it was confirmed by West Bromwich Albion managerBryan Robson thatManchester United had made a bid of around £2 million for Kuszczak. On 3 August, West Brom rejected a £2.5 million bid for Kuszczak from United, citing that a one-year loan spell for United starletGiuseppe Rossi would also have to be included along with the cash to result in a deal. On 10 August 2006, Kuszczak joined Manchester United in a deal involving the transfers of England Under-18 goalkeeperLuke Steele and defenderPaul McShane to West Brom. When officially announcing the move, United failed to state the terms of the deal, leading to suggestions that it was a merely a loan deal. Chief executiveDavid Gill clarified the situation, stating, "Tomasz will be a Manchester United player for the next four years, he has come to us on loan for the first year, and then will join us permanently in July 2007."[3]
Kuszczak made his debut againstArsenal on 17 September 2006, he conceded an early penalty but did redeem himself by saving the ensuing spot-kick fromGilberto Silva. Despite saving the penalty, Arsenal'sEmmanuel Adebayor scored a late goal which gave them a 1–0 win atOld Trafford, which was the club's first defeat of the season.[4] His first start came in a 2–1 away win overCrewe Alexandra in theLeague Cup on 25 October.[5] He had his name misspelled on the back of his shirt during this game, with it incorrectly reading "Zuszczak".[6] Although Kuszczak did not play enough Premier League games in the 2006–07 season, he received a winners medal by special application to the Premier League.
On 2 July 2007, Manchester United announced that the permanent transfer had been completed,[7] for a fee of £2.125 million.[8] Due to Dutch keeperEdwin van der Sar's continued good form andBen Foster's knee injury, Kuszczak was named Manchester United's number 2 for the 2007–08 season. During an interview in May 2007 Kuszczak stated that he wanted one day to become the number 1 at Manchester United.
On 8 March 2008, in anFA Cup tie againstPortsmouth, Kuszczak replaced the injured Van der Sar at half-time, only to receive a straight red card for a foul onMilan Baroš 30 minutes later.Rio Ferdinand was forced to take over in goal, but failed to saveSulley Muntari's penalty, resulting in United being knocked out of the competition.[9]
In September 2008, Kuszczak signed a two-year extension which would keep him at Old Trafford until 2012.[10] However, after being overlooked in favour of Foster for the2009 League Cup Final, Kuszczak faced problems in aiming to become United's new first choice after Van der Sar's retirement and expressed discontent with his situation at Manchester United. In 2009, he was said to be considering his long-term future at the club.[11] Kuszczak kept a clean sheet in his first game of the 2009–10 season, a 1–0 home win overWolverhampton Wanderers in the third round of theLeague Cup. After Van der Sar suffered an injury, Kuszczak returned to the side for a match againstPortsmouth on 28 November. He retained his position in the starting line-up for United's League Cup fifth round match againstTottenham Hotspur, the next league game againstWest Ham United and the last game of the Champions League group stage againstWolfsburg. Kuszczak kept another clean sheet in United's final game of the decade as they beatWigan Athletic 5–0 at Old Trafford. However, Van der Sar's return to the team in January 2010 saw him lose his place in the side. He started, however, in the2010 Football League Cup Final againstAston Villa, which saw him fail to save a penalty in the first minutes of the game, although United went on to win the trophy, after a 2–1 victory.
Kuszczak revealedAlex Ferguson blocked his move toLeeds United on loan.[12] On 3 February 2012, Ferguson confirmed that Kuszczak would be out of contract in the summer and that he would not be signing a new contract with the club.[13] On 21 February, Kuszczak moved on an emergency loan to joinChampionship sideWatford until the end of the season. He stated afterwards that he had joined Watford because he missed being involved on a matchday and wanted to have a chance of being involved in the Euro's in his home country this summer. He started 13 games during his loan spell, missing just one game which was againstMiddlesbrough on 28 April due to his wife giving birth.
On 1 June 2012 Kuszczak's release from Manchester United was confirmed on the club's website.[14] After leaving Manchester United, Kuszczak made the accusation that Ferguson held his career back – specifically that he was prevented from joining other clubs by inflating his asking price.[15]
On 19 June 2012, Kuszczak joinedBrighton & Hove Albion, signing a two-year contract.[16] He revealed that he turned down numerous other clubs to sign for the Seagulls and stated "I spent eight years in the Premier League and that is where I want to be again. I believe I can get there with Brighton because this club is heading in only one direction, and I want to play my part in helping us get there."[17] Kuszczak made a huge impact at the club, earning the Albion player of the month award in early 2013 after several match saving performances.[citation needed] Kuszczak made 84 appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion before being released at the end of the 2013–14 season.[18]
On 3 November 2014, after a trial with the Championship club, Kuszczak signed a short-term contract withWolverhampton Wanderers to last until January 2015.[19] This arrangement was then extended until the end of the 2014–15 season.[20] Following an injury toCarl Ikeme, Kuszczak made his Championship debut[citation needed] for Wolves against Reading on 7 February 2015, conceding a goal after 20 seconds.[21]
On 1 July 2015, Kuszczak signed a two-year contract with another Championship club,Birmingham City.[22] In the eighth minute of stoppage time in the opening match of the season, at home toReading, Kuszczak savedOrlando Sá's penalty to preserve Birmingham's 2–1 lead.[23] He continued as first-choice goalkeeper throughout the season, and began 2016–17 in post, but was injured in the warm-up before Birmingham's match at Reading on 13 September. His replacement,Adam Legzdins, kept a clean sheet,[24] and kept his place for the next seven matches, even after Kuszczak's return to fitness.[25] ManagerGary Rowett brought Kuszczak back into the side for thelocal derby against Aston Villa,[26] and he retained the starting spot for the rest of the season as the team narrowly avoided relegation.[27]
He signed a contract for another two years,[27] but new managerHarry Redknapp's first signing was goalkeeperDavid Stockdale,[28] whom he installed in the starting eleven. After a "solid display" againstDerby County in September as replacement for the injured Stockdale, Kuszczak expressed his disappointment at having been "dropped without any chance to get back".[29] He kept his place for two months, despite a groin problem, until Stockdale regained fitness.[30] Kuszczak was given time to recover from the injury, but even then, untried youngster Connal Trueman remained on the bench. During the January 2018 transfer window, there was reported interest from Newcastle United and Derby County, but Redknapp's successor,Steve Cotterill, insisted that he would only leave on Birmingham's terms.[31][32] WhenGarry Monk replaced Cotterill in March, Kuszczak returned to the bench, but did not play again,[33][34] and at the end of the season the Polish press reported that he had been told he could leave.[31] Neither he nor Stockdale were involved with the first-team squad in 2018–19, and Birmingham confirmed in May 2019 that he would leave the club at the end of his contract.[35]
Kuszczak's international debut came on 11 December 2003 againstMalta. Poland won the away game 4–0.
Due to his impressive performances for West Bromwich Albion, he was called up to the 23-manPoland national football team for the2006 FIFA World Cup. However, in a World Cup warm-up match between Poland andColombia on 30 May 2006, he conceded a goal directly from a long punt by the opposition goalkeeper,Neco Martínez.[36] Kuszczak subsequently ended up asArtur Boruc's back-up during the tournament and did not play.
Kuszczak was named in Poland's squad forUEFA Euro 2008, but was forced to drop out after picking up a back injury and was replaced byWojciech Kowalewski.[37] A lack of club football at Manchester United had also seen him slide down the pecking order for his country of late, but he was recalled to the squad for the friendly matches againstRomania andCanada by new coachFranciszek Smuda, playing in both matches with mixed results.[citation needed]
Kuszczak was called up for the2014 World Cup qualifiers againstMontenegro andMoldova in September 2013, filling in for injured first choice goalkeeper,Wojciech Szczęsny, but remained an unused substitute. Kuszczak was again called up byFornalik in October, for the friendly game at home toSouth Africa and the World Cup qualifier againstEngland. He was tipped to start against South Africa but Fornalik opted forPrzemysław Tytoń after becoming out of the fold atPSV Eindhoven. This game ended as a 1–0 win for the Poles, he was then an unused substitute in the England game. On the 14th of November, Kuszczak came on at half-time in the international friendly againstUruguay.[citation needed]
Following retirement, Kuszczak moved back to Poland, where he launched a construction company and graduated college with a degree in sports journalism.[38]
On 20 September 2023, he joinedMichał Probierz's staff at thePoland national team as a goalkeepingcoach.[39] On 18 March 2024, it was announced Kuszczak was no longer involved with the national team.[40]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hertha BSC | 2001–02 | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2002–03 | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2003–04 | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | |||||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2004–05[41] | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06[42] | Premier League | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | — | 30 | 0 | |||
| 2006–07[43] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | — | 35 | 0 | ||||
| Manchester United (loan) | 2006–07[43] | Premier League | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 13 | 0 | |
| Manchester United | 2007–08[44] | Premier League | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| 2008–09[45] | Premier League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2009–10[46] | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2010–11[47] | Premier League | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2011–12[48] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 32 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 0 | ||
| Watford (loan) | 2011–12[48] | Championship | 13 | 0 | — | — | — | – | 13 | 0 | ||||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2012–13[49] | Championship | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 2[b] | 0 | 46 | 0 | |
| 2013–14[50] | Championship | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 2[b] | 0 | 43 | 0 | ||
| Total | 84 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 4 | 0 | 89 | 0 | |||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2014–15[51] | Championship | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | — | — | 13 | 0 | |||
| Birmingham City | 2015–16[52] | Championship | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | — | 42 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17[53] | Championship | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | – | 38 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18[54] | Championship | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | – | 12 | 0 | |||
| 2018–19[55] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 89 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | — | 92 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 261 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 302 | 0 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | 2003 | 2 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 11 | 0 | |
Manchester United[34]
Poland U18
|  | |
