28 February 2023
200 appearances for Juventus for Wojciech Szczęsny - and his 100th win. The Bianconeri number 1 reached the milestone against Torino in the Derby della Mole.
HIS DEBUT
On Saturday 9 September 2017 the referee blew the whistle for kick-off between Juventus and ChievoVerona at the Allianz Stadium. It was the third matchday of the Serie A season, after Juve had won the first two games against Cagliari and Genoa, and for the first time Wojciech Szczęsny was in goal for the Bianconeri.
With the number 23 on his back, he became the second Polish player to wear the Juve shirt, after Zbigniew Boniek. The Bianconeri ran out 3-0 winners - for 'Tek' it was not only the first victory but also the first clean sheet with his new team and the beginning of a new adventure
THE EUROPEAN STAGE
The first time he donned the Juve shirt in the Champions League was in Greece, against Olympiacos. Juve won 2-0. Another debut without conceding a goal. The first European goal Szczęsny let in, came from a penalty. Converting the spot kick was Cristiano Ronaldo in the return leg of Real Madrid - Juventus in the quarter finals. Juve won on the night, but it was not enough to go through.
His first penalty save at the Bianconeri also arrived in the Champions League. This time too, he was away from home, once again in a city overlooking the Mediterranean, Valencia. Deep into stoppage time, he thwarted Dani Parejo's spot kick.
TEK'S TROPHIES
Tek has lifted seven trophies since joining the Bianconeri.
The first Scudetto was won as back-up to Gianluigi Buffon. The Polish number 1 was being ushered in as the first-choice keeper. At the end of Serie A 2017/18, won after an extraordinary head-to-head against Napoli, he made 17 appearances, with 11 clean sheets. In the same year he also collected a winner's medal in the Italian Cup.
The following year he was the first team starter with the number '1' shirt. From there on, more sucess with league titles, another Italian Cup and two Super Cups.
PENALTY EXPERT
We mentioned the first penalty saved, but Szczęsny has saved many decisive penalties for Juventus.
The most recent was last season in an important meeting with Sampdoria. Antonio Candreva struck his spot kick well, but Tek at full stretch kept it out. Impossible not to mention the two saves against Roma also last season. In the home fixture, against Jordan Veretout, in the return against Lorenzo Pellegrini. Two saves that proved fundamental for victory.
Szczęsny's reflexes and intuition have often been the difference between a win and a draw - both when called on often by the opposition and when more an observer for large tracts of the match he was required even more to keep his concentration high. Because that one chance, which can change the complexion of a match, when the opponents finally come out of their shell, it is often said that great goalkeepers come to the fore, Tek included.
Congratulations on your double century, Tek!
