Livingston goalie Max Stryjek is hoping to emulate his hero and former Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc and seal the League Cup for David Martindale’s side on Sunday. The Polish goalkeeper is ninety minutes away from following in Boruc’s footsteps by winning the first silverware for a team outside of Celtic since May 2016.
Stryjek came through the ranks with Warsaw and wants to emulate his hero Boruc and lift the silverware at the National Stadium. Speaking to the Sun, Stryjek said that seeing Boruc helped inspire him to play in goals.
“When I was younger my idol was Artur Boruc. He played at Celtic and in England so I looked at him and thought, ‘Why could that not be me one day?’.
“Polish goalies are quite good so I always had someone to look at.
“There were lots of different goalkeepers from Poland in the UK — Fabianski now at West Ham, Lukasz Zaluska was also at Celtic and Dundee United had Grzegorz Szamotulski. I thought, ‘Why can I not be one of them?’. I had the chance to meet Boruc when I was at Sunderland and we were in the Premier League.
“I spoke to him after games a few times. I also met Fabianksi after a game when he was at Swansea City.
“Boruc was class when I spoke to him. I was 16 or 17 so it was a ‘wow’ experience. Even though he looks like a person who can shout and stuff he was the nicest guy I’d ever met.
“It’s why for me it would be great to lift a trophy that he has won.”
Boruc, who signed from Legia Warsaw in 2005, was nicknamed the ‘Holy Goalie’ by supporters due to the fact he blessed himself before he entered the goal, which obviously upset Rangers supporters for some reason.
Here are a few of the ‘keeper’s best moments in a Celtic shirt which include that brilliant penalty save against Louis Saha in the Champions League and countless brave saves.
Boruc was a fan favourite during his five year stay at Paradise due to his brilliant saves and ability to noise up the other lot. Stryjek meanwhile has been excellent for Livi and will be hoping to cap off this incredible season with a piece of silverware.
