Helmuth Duckadam (born April 1, 1959 in Semlac, Arad County) is a former Romanian football goalkeeper of German descent, dubbed "the hero of Seville" due to his heroics in the 1986 European Cup Final.

[edit] Football career

Duckadam started his career playing in the regional league of Arad County, before moving to UTA Arad in 1978 to become professional. In 1982, he played twice for Romania and, subsequently, was signed by country giants Steaua Bucureşti.

Duckadam, who was instrumental in helping the capital side to two consecutive league titles, was also between the posts for the 1986 European Cup final against FC Barcelona, which was played in Seville, on May 7, 1986. Amazingly, he saved four consecutive penalty shots in the shootout, from José Ramón Alexanko, Ángel Pedraza, Pichi Alonso and Marcos, being the first one to do so in an official European competition. Steaua won it 2–0, and the main European trophy for the first time, and much of the credit for the surprise victory was given to Duckadam.

In 1986, he suffered a rare blood disorder only few weeks after the Seville performance,^[1], and he stopped his career. But other reasons are possible. A French journalist (D. Paganelli - Libre arbitre, Actes Sud, 2006) exposes another version. After the winning match against Seville, the president of Real Madrid sent him the message that he wanted to offer him a present for his contribution to the victory against their concurrent team. He reportedly offered him the last model of a Mercedes car. But when Duckadam turned back to Bucharest, he was summoned by Nicu Ceausescu, the famous dictator's son of that epoch. He wanted the footballer’s car, even before he received it. Strengthened by his success, Duckadam refused. But some days later, he was visited by the Securitate (the Communist Romanian secret police) henchmen: "With method and application, they took care of the Seville hero, turning up his fingers and breaking his wrists." This version is almost unknown in Romania, but it is more than plausible. Anyhow, he would resume his career only three years later, finishing it with lowly Vagonul Arad, in the second level. According to a personal interview given in 1999, Duckadam had become a major with the Romanian Border Police (Poliţia de Frontieră) in his hometown of Semlac, in Arad County. Also, he opened a football school in the city, named after himself.^[2]

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

[edit] Honours

• European Cup: 1985–86
• Romanian League: 1984–85, 1985–86
• Romanian Cup: 1984–85

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• RomanianSoccer profile and stats
• Official website (Romanian)

Romanian football portal