Dundee United new boy Radoslaw Cierzniak has revealed how he hopes to make it a happy Polish hat-trick for the Tangerines.
Cierzniak (28) has become the third goalkeeper from Poland to sign for the Tannadice men, putting pen to paper on a pre-contract deal in midweek.
His challenge now is to follow in the formidable footsteps of Grzegorz Szamotulski and Lukasz Zaluska, both of whom were big successes at United.
Cierzniak disclosed that he took soundings from Zaluska about the Tangerines before making up his mind to move. Having set his heart on a career in the SPL, the former Lech Poznan shot-stopper is desperate to emulate his Polish compatriots and become a fans’ favourite.
”I am very happy to sign for Dundee United,” said Cierznik, who has agreed a two-year contract and has been lined up to replace current number one Dusan Pernis when his deal runs out in the summer. ”I came to the club on trial and played in a training match (against Aberdeen) so I got a good feel for the place. The team has some very good players and there is a good atmosphere about the club so I am very optimistic about the move.
”I spoke with Lukasz Zaluska before I came on trial and then again before I signed. We have known each other for a lot of years. We shared a room for three years when we were at the goalkeeping college and were at the same club. He is a very good friend and he told me that Dundee United is a great club to play for and that I will be able to be a success there. United have liked Polish goalkeepers in the past. They have had Grzegorz Szamotulski and Lukasz before so I hope to do as well as they did for the team.
“Artur Boruc also played in Scotland with Celtic so I would like to show the Scottish people that I am a good goalkeeper as well. I have signed from the summer so I don’t know what will happen between now and then.”
When Zaluska left Polish side Korona Kielce to join United in 2007 he was replaced by Cierzniak.
Manager Peter Houston, who may attempt to fix up a club for his new keeper until the summer, revealed that an agent played a key role in the acquisition of Cierzniak.
”We have had a bit of success with goalkeepers from eastern Europe in the past,” said Houston. ”Raymond Sparkes has brought a few over for us and they have done well. He brought us Lukasz Zaluska and Grzegorz Szamotulski so he’s brought us Radoslaw now and we liked what we saw.
”He played in a bounce game for us the other day and looked good in training. (Goalkeeping coach) Stevie Banks worked with him and liked what he saw. He has good hands, is a decent communicator and looks an excellent shot-stopper.
”He has signed a pre-contract with us to come in the summer. I’m sure he will be a good addition to the squad.”
Pernis becomes the latest United player set to head for the Tannadice exit at the end of the season along with Scott Robertson, Paul Dixon and Garry Kenneth. However, United have lost a host of players in the last three seasons so it is a situation Houston has become used to.
He said: “Dusan has indicated to us that he wants to go at the end of the season. He is a good pro, like the rest of the boys who will leave in the summer. Dusan has proved himself in the SPL and it will be up to the clubs who want to sign him to judge where he can play.
”We don’t have a problem with players wanting to move on. If they don’t perform, then they won’t get a move so they’ve got to do well for us to get someone to sign them. At the moment, we have not had anyone on the phone saying they want to speak to any of our players.”
Photo by Tony Marshall/PA Wire