Helmuth Duckadam

Football player infobox2
playername = Helmuth Duckadam


fullname = Helmuth Duckadam
nickname = "The Hero of Seville"
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1959|4|1|mf=y
cityofbirth = Semlac
countryofbirth = Romania
currentclub =
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1978-82 1982-86 1989-91
clubs = UTA Arad Steaua Bucureşti Vagonul Arad
caps(goals) = 53 (0) 80 (0) ? (?)
nationalyears = 1982
nationalteam = Romania
nationalcaps(goals) = 2 (0)
pcupdate = June 30, 2006
ntupdate = June 30, 2006

Helmuth Duckadam (born April 1, 1959) is a former Romanian footballer, dubbed "the hero of Seville".

In 1982 played twice for Romania and as a result he is signed by Steaua Bucharest.

He was the goalkeeper of Steaua Bucharest during the 1986 European Cup Final against F.C. Barcelona, which was played in Seville, on May 7, 1986. Amazingly, he saved four consecutive penalty shots in the penalty shoot-out, from José Ramón Alexanko, Ángel Pedraza, Pichi Alonso and Marcos, being the first one to do so in an official European competition. Steaua Bucharest won the shoot-out 2-0, and the European Cup for the first time, and much of the credit for the surprise victory was given to Duckadam.

Duckadam started his career playing in the regional league of Arad county, before moving to UT Arad in 1978 to become professional. In 1982 played twice for Romania and as a result he is signed by Steaua Bucharest.

In 1986 he suffered a rare blood disorder only few weeks after the Seville performance. According to a personal interview given in 1999, Duckadam is a major with the Romanian Border Police ("Poliţia de Frontieră") in the town of Semlac, Arad County. Also, he seems to have opened a football school in the town of Semlac, named after himself. []

On 25 March 2008 he was decorated by the president of România, Traian Băsescu with Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" — (The Order "The Sportive Merit") class II for his part in winning the of 1986 European Cup Final.

References