Dušan Kuciak

Dušan Kuciak
Personal information
Full name Dušan Kuciak[1]
Date of birth (1985-05-21) 21 May 1985
Place of birth Žilina, Czechoslovakia
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
Hull City
Number 12
Youth career
Žilina
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2002 Trenčín 1 (0)
2002–2008 Žilina 89 (0)
2005West Ham United (loan) 0 (0)
2008–2011 Vaslui 87 (0)
2011–2016 Legia Warsaw 131 (0)
2016– Hull City 0 (0)
National team
2006– Slovakia 10 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:12, 1 February 2016 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 June 2013

Dušan Kuciak (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈduʃan ˈkutsiak]; born 21 May 1985) is a Slovak professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Hull City and the Slovakia national team. He is the younger brother of Podbrezová goalkeeper Martin Kuciak.

Club career

Dušan Kuciak was part of Žilina youth academy. Aged 16, he signed his first contract with the Slovak Superliga side AS Trenčín.

MŠK Žilina

After a two-year spell in Trenčín, he returned to Žilina, where he was the second-choice keeper, the first-choice being Ján Mucha. Despite not playing at all, he was linked by the English Premier League side West Ham, where he was loaned for 6 months. In January 2006, he returned to Žilina, and he established himself as the first-choice keeper. He won Corgoň Liga with Žilina in 2006–07 season.

FC Vaslui

On 26 June 2008, he signed a three-year contract with Romanian side FC Vaslui.[2] He was bought to replace Cristian Hăisan, while he was suspended, but Kuciak established himself quickly as the first-choice keeper. He was the only player that season, who played every minute, and the first in Vaslui's history who achieved this feat. At the end of the season, he established another record, having the most clean-sheets in Vaslui's short spell in Liga I. Also, he captained the team a few matches, while Cânu was on the bench. On 4 August, he received a red card in the Europa League match against Omonia Nicosia. On 26 September, after a conflict with team's coach, he was relegated on the bench, and seemed to lost his place in the team, but because of Hăisan's poor rating, re-established as the first-choice keeper. At the end of the season, he established another record for Vaslui, saving 4 out of 5 penalties, and also receiving only 17 goals in 23 matches. After three seasons at Vaslui, Kuciak left the club in the summer of 2011.

Legia Warsaw

Kuciak joined the Polish club Legia Warsaw in August 2011. In August 2013, he extended his contract at the club until 2016.[3]

West Ham United

In January 2013, West Ham United were reported to be in talks with the goalkeeper.[4]

Hull City

On 1 February 2016, Kuciak signed an 18-month contract with Hull City.[5] Kuciak made his debut on 23 August 2016 in the second round of the EFL Cup away to Exeter City that City won 3–1.[6]

International career

He made his international debut for the Slovakia national team in a 2–1 away win against UAE on 10 December 2006. After a two-year absence in the national team, he was called again in 2009, because of his impressive form at Vaslui. He was named in the provisional 30-man squad for 2010 World Cup. He played in the Slovakia's second warm-up game, where he was replaced in the 85th minute, because of an injury. However, he was kept for the final 23-man squad, for 2010 World Cup, where he wore the Number 23 Shirt.

Career statistics

As of 23 August 2016.
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Apps CS Apps CS Apps CS Apps CS Apps CS
Žilina 2005–06 216000000216
2006–07 35203200003822
2007–08 33135242104317
Total 89 39 8 4 4 2 1 0 102 45
Vaslui 2008–09 34134263004418
2009–10 2374331003011
2010–11 30131121003315
Total 87 33 9 6 11 5 0 0 107 44
Legia Warsaw 2011–12 27173181003819
2012–13 30140060103714
2013–14 25111083003414
2014–15 311572147005224
2015–16 1832111510329
Total 131 60 13 4 47 16 2 0 193 80
Hull City 2016–17 0010000010
Total 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Career Total 307 132 31 14 62 23 3 0 403 169

Honours

MŠK Žilina
FC Vaslui
Legia Warsaw

References

  1. "In profile: Dusan Kuciak". Sells Goalkeeper Products. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  2. http://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/liga-1/haisan-are-postul-amenintat-dupa-transferul-lui-kuciak-2734593
  3. "Dusan Kuciak przedłużył kontrakt z Legią Warszawa" (in Polish). RMF 24. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  4. "ESCLUSIVA TMW - Inter, Kuciak vicino al West Ham" (in Italian). Tutto mercato. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  5. "Hull City: Nick Powell and Dusan Kuciak join Championship side". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  6. "Exeter City 1–3 Hull City". BBC Sport. BBC. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
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