Seattle Sounders Reportedly Make Offer To Poland's Jerzy Dudek

by Jeremiah Oshan on May 23, 2011 9:39 AM PDT in Sounders: MLS Regular Season

Jerzy Dudek, most recently a backup for Real Madrid, has reportedly been offered a contract by the Sounders.

UPDATE: Should have put this in earlier, but Adrian apparently told Joshua Mayers that he had not put in a bid on Dudek. Maybe not the final word, but probably not indicative a signing coming anytime soon.

Take this with the ample helping of salt, but according to a report out of Poland, the Seattle Sounders have made an offer to 38-year-old goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek. The translated version of the story is less than authoritative, as it suggests Dudek might not even be aware of the opportunity, but it would make some sense if true.

Dudek is a free and most recently served as the backup at Real Madrid. Prior to his four-season stint in Spain, he had been a starter for Liverpool and was actually nominated for UEFA's goalkeeper of the year in 2005.

Internationally, he has earned 59 caps for Poland. Dudek most recently played internationally in 2009, but was not on Poland's 2006 World Cup team.

If the Sounders have, indeed, decided to pursue a goalkeeper, you'd have to think it's more with an eye toward CONCACAF Champions League and the 2012 season. Kasey Keller has been enjoying a stellar season, although this is largely expected to be his final year.

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Won the CL with Liverpool in 2005

This would make a ton of sense if the price is right. I’m sure he could more than adequately fill Kasey’s shoes for a couple of years while Ford and/or Meredith develops. If this goes forward, it is another sure sign that Adrian and co. know how to do their homework.

by agtk on May 23, 2011 9:44 AM PDT reply actions

OMGOMG

YES

by Codemos on May 23, 2011 9:52 AM PDT reply actions

I'll take it!

I wonder if they looked into Hahnemann at all and if they did, decided this option would be better.

I wouldn’t complain with either, honestly – but please not as a DP!

by ABTsportsline on May 23, 2011 9:56 AM PDT reply actions

If this is happening...

I’m guessing that Wolves staying up made getting Hahnemann much harder.

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by Jeremiah Oshan on May 23, 2011 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Without ever having seen Dudek play...

…and acknowledging that this is a rumor and might not be at all what the Sounders are thinking, I’ll say that I like the idea of this move. I know a lot of folks have been anticipating maybe Friedel or Hahnemann, but the Sounders would probably have to trade to move up in the allocation order to get them. If we can get a different keeper with a good resume but without the hassle of going through the allocation order to get him, it’s probably in the Sounders’ best interest.

I’ve never been sold on Boss (just because he’s had a decided lack of first-team playing time in his entire career—44 caps over 8 years according to his wiki page) and we need some kind of stopgap between Keller and whichever goalkeeping prospect we manage to develop into a starter. This is going to take a long time, I suspect, and might even involve loaning out some prospects to get them more minutes elsewhere.

by ubelmann on May 23, 2011 10:00 AM PDT reply actions

+1 My thoughts exactly

If we can get a different keeper with a good resume but without the hassle of going through the allocation order to get him, it’s probably in the Sounders’ best interest.

This is one time where having complicated restrictions on returning US players makes it more difficult to actually bringing them back to the states. Kinda of a shame really.

by Dizzo on May 23, 2011 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions

Anything to keep Boss away from starting

I’m sure he’s a great guy, but he’s clearly not a #1 for us. I’m not sure which i’d prefer more out of the two, Dudek or Hahnemann, but I’d be pretty ok with either of them, appear to be at similar skill level and places in their career.

Nos audietis in somniis
Nos audietis in altum

by Seattle Coug on May 23, 2011 10:00 AM PDT reply actions

A Jerzy guy!

by lemonverbena on May 23, 2011 10:16 AM PDT reply actions

My whole issue with this...

…is his age. Do we need another keeper that old?

by Timm Higgins on May 23, 2011 11:20 AM PDT reply actions

If we can find them lying around on a free...

…I don’t see the problem with having an older keeper. You pay a lower price, they tend not to decline too severely, and they have plenty of experience. If in a couple of years the veteran keeper is done, you find another veteran keeper, or turn it over to a prospect, if the prospect is ready.

by ubelmann on May 23, 2011 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions

We need 2 good years

The good thing is that we have some good prospects in the pipeline. Ford will develop his judgement over 2 years of games in Open Cup, CCL and Reserve League. Ryan Herman looks like a future MLS caliber goal-keeper and he will be nearing the end of his college career in two years. So, the pipeline looks good.

We just need a quality keeper to bridge that 2 year gap since no one really wants to hand the reigns over to Boss. However, in 2 years, we might seem some improvement from Boss as well. He has the physical gifts, it’s the decision making that’s sometimes questionable.

by Dizzo on May 23, 2011 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Question

though, Does seattle sign him and bring him in the summer transfer window this year giving us 4 GK (my guess boss gets cut) or wait till next year once Keller retires to sign him.

by gstommylee on May 23, 2011 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions

that might depend

on CONCACAF and US open cup results at that time.

Scoreboards, not billboards.
Regular season, not pre-season.

by lysander on May 23, 2011 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions

And the player

Does he want to pull a Keller and only train for 6 months? or does he actually want to play?

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on May 23, 2011 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions

He can pull a Keller

As long as he doesn’t pull a Nkufo.

You will hear us on Brougham, you will hear us on Occidental, you will hear us on King. We are all around you, there is no escape.

by 108Ultra on May 23, 2011 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Adrian Hanauer told Joshua Mayers today

That he has made no offer to Dudek.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on May 23, 2011 12:40 PM PDT reply actions

Is he waiting to see what LA and NYRB say?

I assume that, before Seattle makes any international signings of note, we need to first check to see if the Galaxy or the Red Bulls want the player.

I assume the MLS also needs to approve. They likely want to make sure that we bring him in cheaply enough so that the Sounders payroll doesn’t rise above the $3.5 million mark. Gerber needs to make sure that the Sounders season ticket holders will continue to subsidize the salaries for Beckham, Donovan, and Henry.

by Choskasoft on May 23, 2011 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions

completely tiresome

Without merit.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on May 23, 2011 1:25 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

The first sentence was funny, but then just goes on...

by Sobchak on May 23, 2011 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Please, re-read some of the other responses to your previous comments about LA, NY and MLS rules.

by yuniform on May 23, 2011 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Is your last name Westervelt?

by Aaron Campeau on May 23, 2011 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Of course that's what he said

Hanauer always keeps his cards close, as he should.

You will hear us on Brougham, you will hear us on Occidental, you will hear us on King. We are all around you, there is no escape.

by 108Ultra on May 23, 2011 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm excited for this prospect but a tiny bit nervous

First, this guy sounds like a quality keeper. The only reason he wasn’t a starter at Madrid is because the best keeper in the world is the guy ahead of him.

Second, he hasn’t been getting capped lately, because he also has some very stiff competition on the national team level, and he’s getting older. Tomasz Kuszczak, Wojciech Szczesny, and Lukasz Fabianski are all excellent keepers and are probably fighting for the #1.

38 is getting up there, but if he’s anything like Keller he’s got some years left, and this guy’s been at some strong clubs. Keller is acting like he could go another season right now. I bet this guy has at least a couple seasons left in the tank.

Only concern is what his potential salary may be. Most good starting keepers in the league seem to be making somewhere around $150k. Keller was making $300k, now $250k. That $100k-ish amount is a good chunk that could be used elsewhere. If we end up signing Dudek to a similar salary, it hurts our cap wiggle room.

This will certainly be interesting to see how it plays out. I was not completely looking forward to Hahnemann coming, mainly since he lost his spot on a bad Premier League team. And it’s not like he was backing up Iker Casillas once he was dropped down.

by chrisperry1983 on May 23, 2011 1:39 PM PDT reply actions

I'm of the mind Keller is getting a home-country and hometown boost

I’d say if Dudek can work on a level around Keller’s he’s worth the extra coin. I don’t think we should have too much of a problem signing him for a bit less, and frankly I don’t think we need cap room at this point, we need the players we have to produce. The talent is in place, they need to perform.

Nos audietis in somniis
Nos audietis in altum

by Seattle Coug on May 23, 2011 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions