On May 7, 2024, it was 38 years since Helmut Duckadam wrote history for the Steaua club at the “Sanchez Pizjuan” stadium in Seville.
In Seville, the football team Steaua Bucharest won the European Champions Cup, defeating the Spanish team “FC Barcelona” 2-0, after the execution of kicks from 11 m, in the final.
Goalkeeper Helmut Duckadam achieved a unique performance in the world: he defended four shots from 11 meters.
“Everyone told me that a well executed penalty cannot be missed. Then, so that they were all satisfied, I told them: I defended two, they missed two. You wait a lifetime for such moments. But I had no emotions. I did not go to conquer the Spanish land, and the king, from the tribune, had not promised me any car”he testified in an interview given to the daily Adevărul.
Helmut Duckadam
Don't Forbalists know how to enjoy that unique moment in life? “We didn't know how to be happy. We went to the hotel, went down to the table, drank a glass of wine, the next day we walked around the city again, signed another autograph, had another beer, until we returned home”.
Duckadam also spoke about the timing of the medal ceremony and the handing out of the Cup, which caught the organizers by surprise as they were prepared to present medals to FC Barcelona.
“Maybe it would have been a big celebration then, but we won, not the Spaniards. We messed up the whole thing for them, so they came, threw us some medals quickly and, come on!, go home. Poor Emi didn't even get a medal, when they got to him they were done. It's a shame that we didn't really know how to enjoy ourselves then either. Well, there are players who earn a million euros a month and enjoy themselves like children after the match. We didn't know how to be happy. We went to the hotel, went down to the table, drank a glass of wine, the next day we walked around the city again, signed another autograph, had another beer, until we returned home”. remembers Duckadam.
“You can't make a mistake at Steaua”
The Sevilla hero started playing football as a child: “I was the goalkeeper of the school, I defended both football and handball. There were many competitions at the time, led by Daciada, which we denigrate now, but many athletes came from there, just as most artists came from Cântarea României. Anyway, I didn't stay long because I went to Arad, to the Wagon School, I did three years of vocational training, I had to become a miller-worker. In Arad, they took me to the “Gloria” Sports School and, later, they took me to UTA, to the juniors. It was one of the most beautiful days. It was already a performance to reach the locker room with the seniors. There were two great goalkeepers at UTA then. Jivan, who had also defended in the national team, and Iorgulescu. Coach Ion V. Ionescu had faith and put me in a match in Târgovişte, in the last 20 minutes, when they were leading 2-0. At Târgovişte, Nicolae Dobrin was playing then, but we didn't concede a goal. Then I played as a starter, in Bucharest, for Republicii, with Sportul Studențesc. After the match I got a grade 9 and never left the gate. The fact that you played at UTA was a great pride. It was the best team in the province. From there I reached the national team. After I transferred to Steaua, I never made the national team”.
Part of Stella's magical team in the final in Seville. Photo source: Getty Images
“When I played at UTA, we had a match at Petroşani, or somewhere else, and I got a grade 9, because I defended fantastically. After we came to Steaua, we had only one shot on goal. If I caught him, he would give me a grade 7, if I didn't catch him, I would get a 4. In a small team you have a lot of work, stand out, while at Steaua you must not make mistakes”the former goalkeeper recalled the glory years of the club, but also of Romanian football.
Duckadam, the one who saved the Star so many times with his magic. Source: Getty Images
