Robert Wulnikowski
Encyclopedia
Robert Wulnikowski is Polish
-German
football goalkeeper currently playing for Kickers Offenbach
in the 3rd Liga
.
. In 1990, he entered the youth division of the FC Schalke 04
. In 1997, he was promoted to the second team of the club and played in the Oberliga Westfalen. In 1999, he joined the third division team 1. FC Union Berlin
. At Union Berlin, Wulnikowski was initially substitute goalkeeper behind Kay Wehner
(Saison 1999–2000) and Sven Beuckert
(2000–2002). In 2001, Union was promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga
without Wulnikowski playing a single league match. In the 2000–01 DFB-Pokal quarter-final against VfL Bochum
, Wulnikowski came on after 30 minutes for an injured Beuckert. Union Berlin won that match and succeeded in reaching the final (0–2 against Schalke 04). After the dismissal of longtime coach Georgi Vasilev
in October 2002 and the commitment of coach Mirko Votava, Wulnikowski became first-choice goalkeeper For Union Berlin. By the end of the 2003–04 season, after the club was relegated as next to last in the table again, Wulnikowski had completed a total of 54 second-division games for the club.
Wulnikowski moved then to Rot-Weiss Essen
for an unknown transfer fee. At the beginning of the season, Wulnikowski was in the starting squad, but made an error in the first match. From matchday three on, coach Jürgen Gelsdorf
replaced him with René Renno. At the end of the season, Rot-Weiss Essen
was relegated and the contract with the goalkeeper cancelled.
In 2005, Wulnikowski subsequently joined VfR Aalen
in the Regionalliga Süd
. He completed two seasons as first-choice goalkeeper there. In April 2007, Wulnikowski announce his move to league rivals Sportfreunde Siegen
. During the 2007–08 season, he was first-choice goalkeeper for Siegen.
At the beginning of the 2008–09 season, he moved to the third division club Kickers Offenbach
. In the 2009–10 winter break, he extended his contract for another three years until the end of the 2012–13 season.
On 27 October 2010, he became nationwide famous for his fantastic match in the 2010–11 DFB-Pokal
against Borussia Dortmund
, in which he saved two penalties and single-handedly destroyed Dortmund's several other good goal chances. Offenbach won the match 4–2 after Penalty shootout and moved on to round three.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
-German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
football goalkeeper currently playing for Kickers Offenbach
Kickers Offenbach
Kickers Offenbach is a German association football club in Offenbach am Main, Hesse. The club was founded on 27 May 1901 in the Rheinischer Hof restaurant by footballers who had left established local clubs including Melitia, Teutonia, Viktoria, Germania and Neptun...
in the 3rd Liga
3rd Liga
The 3rd Liga is the third division of football in Germany. The league started with the beginning of the 2008–09 season, when it replaced the Regionalliga as the third tier football league in Germany. In the German football league system, it is positioned between the 2...
.
Career
Wulnikowski began with football in his hometown at the Polish club Zawisza BydgoszczZawisza Bydgoszcz
Zawisza Bydgoszcz is a military-sponsored sports club from Bydgoszcz, Poland, founded in 1946. Its name commemorates a legendary Polish 15th century knight, Zawisza Czarny...
. In 1990, he entered the youth division of the FC Schalke 04
FC Schalke 04
Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04, commonly known as simply FC Schalke 04 or Schalke , is a German, association-football club originally from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Schalke has long been one of the most popular football teams in Germany, even though major...
. In 1997, he was promoted to the second team of the club and played in the Oberliga Westfalen. In 1999, he joined the third division team 1. FC Union Berlin
1. FC Union Berlin
1. FC Union Berlin is a German association football club based in Berlin. It is one of two sides in the city bearing the name Union that emerged during the Cold War and played in East Germany, while the other played in the west. The club currently plays in the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga.-Foundation to...
. At Union Berlin, Wulnikowski was initially substitute goalkeeper behind Kay Wehner
Kay Wehner
-External links:...
(Saison 1999–2000) and Sven Beuckert
Sven Beuckert
Sven Beuckert is a former German football goalkeeper who last played for MSV Duisburg in the Bundesliga, after the club was promoted from the 2. Bundesliga in 2007.-Career:...
(2000–2002). In 2001, Union was promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
without Wulnikowski playing a single league match. In the 2000–01 DFB-Pokal quarter-final against VfL Bochum
VfL Bochum
Verein für Leibesübungen Bochum 1848 Fußballgemeinschaft, commonly referred to as simply VfL Bochum, is a German association football club based in the city of Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia.-Founding to World War II:...
, Wulnikowski came on after 30 minutes for an injured Beuckert. Union Berlin won that match and succeeded in reaching the final (0–2 against Schalke 04). After the dismissal of longtime coach Georgi Vasilev
Georgi Vasilev
Georgi Vasilev may refer to:* Georgi Vasilev , born in 1946, Bulgarian football player and Levadiakos manager*Georgi Parvanov Vasilev, born in 1945, football player and Bulgaria manager...
in October 2002 and the commitment of coach Mirko Votava, Wulnikowski became first-choice goalkeeper For Union Berlin. By the end of the 2003–04 season, after the club was relegated as next to last in the table again, Wulnikowski had completed a total of 54 second-division games for the club.
Wulnikowski moved then to Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen is a German association football club based in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia.- Early years :The club was formed as SV Vogelheim on 1 February 1907 out of the merger of two smaller clubs: SC Preussen and Deutsche Eiche. In 1910, Vogelheim came to an arrangement with Turnerbund...
for an unknown transfer fee. At the beginning of the season, Wulnikowski was in the starting squad, but made an error in the first match. From matchday three on, coach Jürgen Gelsdorf
Jürgen Gelsdorf
Jürgen Gelsdorf is a German football coach and former player who is currently youth teams coordinator at Bayer 04 Leverkusen.-External links:...
replaced him with René Renno. At the end of the season, Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen is a German association football club based in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia.- Early years :The club was formed as SV Vogelheim on 1 February 1907 out of the merger of two smaller clubs: SC Preussen and Deutsche Eiche. In 1910, Vogelheim came to an arrangement with Turnerbund...
was relegated and the contract with the goalkeeper cancelled.
In 2005, Wulnikowski subsequently joined VfR Aalen
VfR Aalen
VfR Aalen is a German football club based in Aalen, Baden-Württemberg.-History:The club was founded on 8 March 1921 out of the football department of the gymnastics club MTV Aalen and has led a largely unremarked existence as a lower division side...
in the Regionalliga Süd
Regionalliga Süd
The Regionalliga Süd is currently the fourth tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga in 2008, it was the third tier. It currently is the highest regional league for the southern part of Germany...
. He completed two seasons as first-choice goalkeeper there. In April 2007, Wulnikowski announce his move to league rivals Sportfreunde Siegen
Sportfreunde Siegen
Sportfreunde Siegen is a German association football club based in Siegen, North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was founded in 1899 as the football department of the gymnastics club Turn Verein Jahn von 1879 Siegen...
. During the 2007–08 season, he was first-choice goalkeeper for Siegen.
At the beginning of the 2008–09 season, he moved to the third division club Kickers Offenbach
Kickers Offenbach
Kickers Offenbach is a German association football club in Offenbach am Main, Hesse. The club was founded on 27 May 1901 in the Rheinischer Hof restaurant by footballers who had left established local clubs including Melitia, Teutonia, Viktoria, Germania and Neptun...
. In the 2009–10 winter break, he extended his contract for another three years until the end of the 2012–13 season.
On 27 October 2010, he became nationwide famous for his fantastic match in the 2010–11 DFB-Pokal
2010–11 DFB-Pokal
The 2010–11 DFB-Pokal was the sixty-eighth season of the annual German football cup competition. It commenced on the weekend around 14 August 2010 with the matches of Round 1 and concluded on 21 May 2011 with the final at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin...
against Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
, in which he saved two penalties and single-handedly destroyed Dortmund's several other good goal chances. Offenbach won the match 4–2 after Penalty shootout and moved on to round three.
External links
- Robert Wulnikowski at transfermarkt