Lukas Hradecky had big shoes to fill when he first arrived from Brondby IF back in 2015. His predecessor, Paris Saint-Germain-bound Kevin Trapp, was a fan favourite who had performed at a consistently high level during the previous three years – but Hradecky was most certainly up to the task.
A good-natured chap
The Finn with Slovakian roots soon made the No1 jersey his own, not only thanks to his top-class performances on the pitch, but also his easy-going nature around the training ground and affection for the fans. Interviews with Lukas were always entertaining, the 28-year-old always good for a soundbite and a smile. He also made no secret of his fondness for a certain hops-based drink.
The Finnish Spider
In his first year at the club, Eintracht had a nail-biting relegation play-off encounter with Nürnberg to contend with. Hradecky helped the team secure safety, but it was really in his second season in 2016/17 that he came to the fore with some fantastic saves, particularly one-on-ones. He made 101 Bundesliga appearances across three seasons, only missing one match owing to a red card against Leipzig. The real highlight came in the semi-finals of the 2016/17 DFB Cup, though, when he saved two penalties in the shoot-out against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Crowning glory
His first DFB Cup final that term ended in a 1-2 defeat against Dortmund, but his cup form continued into the following campaign and was matched by consistent performances in the Bundesliga. Errors were few and far between, with only two goals conceded in the entire DFB Cup campaign en route to the title, which was won in epic fashion, 3-1 against the mighty FC Bayern Munich. A fitting way to end a highly successful spell at the club. We wish you all the best, Lukas!
