Wojciech Kowalewski

Infobox Football biography
playername = Wojciech Kowalewski


fullname = Wojciech Kowalewski
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1977|5|11
cityofbirth = Białystok
countryofbirth = Poland
height = height|m=1.89
position = Goalkeeper
currentclub = Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C.
clubnumber = 30
contractend =
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1997-2000
2001
2001
2002-2003
2003-2007
2007-2008
2008-
clubs = Legia Warsaw
Dyskobolia Grodzisk
Legia Warsaw
Shakhtar Donetsk
Spartak Moscow
Korona Kielce
Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C.
caps(goals) = 01 (0)
15 (0)
16 (0)
19 (0)
94 (0)
14 (0)
05 (0)
nationalyears = 2002–
nationalteam = Poland
nationalcaps(goals) = 10 (0)
pcupdate = 4 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 13:47, 18 January 2008 (UTC)

Wojciech Kowalewski ( IPA2|ˈvɔjtɕɛx kɔvaˈlɛvski; (born 11 May 1977 in Białystok), is a Polish football goalkeeper who plays for Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C. in Greek Super League.

Club career

Kowalewski made his top-flight debut with Wigry Suwałki during the 1996–97 season, but it was not until 2001–02, after a loan spell with second division side Dyskobolia Grodzisk, that he finally established himself with Legia. Midway through the season he moved to FC Shakhtar Donetsk and only conceded once in nine league games as Shakhtar stormed to the Ukrainian title for the first time. In 2003 he moved to Spartak Moscow where he played for several years as first-choice keeper, even serving as vice-captain. In late 2007, having lost his place to Stipe Pletikosa, he requested to leave the club. In December 2007 Spartak agreed to terminate his contract. He had not played for Spartak in over a year.

On 17 January 2008 it was announced that Kowalewski had started a trial period with Premier League club Reading. [cite news | date=2008-01-17 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1217736,00.html | title=Polish international joins on trial | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-17] On 3 February 2008, Kowalewski signed a three-year deal with Polish club Korona Kielce. [cite news | date=2008-02-03 | url=http://www.korona-kielce.pl/gol.php?&page=wiadomosc&nr=9018&l=l | title=Kowalewski w Koronie | publisher=Korona Kielce | accessdate=2008-02-03 | language=Polish]

International career

Kowalewski made his Poland debut in February 2002, but made only a handful of appearances before being recalled to the side at the start of Euro 2008 qualifying. He was replaced by Artur Boruc after picking up a second yellow against Portugal on 11 October 2006.

Kowalewski replaced Tomasz Kuszczak in Poland's Euro 2008 squad following the Manchester United goalkeeper's back injury. [cite news
date=2008-06-06
url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/06/sports/EU-SPT-SOC-Euro-2008-Poland-Kuszczak.php
title= Poland keeper Kuszczak out of European Championship
publisher=International Herald Tribune
accessdate=2007-07-04]

Trivia

*Kowalewski has a reputation of being an excellent penalty-saver, once breaking FC Torpedo Moskva's Vladimir Leonchenko's streak of 13 successful spot-kicks.

References

External links

* [http://www.90minut.pl/kariera.php?id=962 Player stats on 90minut.pl] pl icon
* [http://pzpn.pl/a_kadra.php?oid=57993 National team stats on PZPN.pl] pl icon

Persondata
NAME=Kowalewski, Wojciech
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=1977-09-11
PLACE OF BIRTH=Białystok, Poland
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=