Bartosz Białkowski

Bartosz Marek Białkowski (Polish pronunciation: [ˈbartɔʐ bʲawˈkɔfski] (listen);[upper-alpha 1] born 6 July 1987) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Millwall and the Poland national team.

Bartosz Białkowski

Białkowski playing for Ipswich Town in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Bartosz Marek Białkowski[1]
Date of birth	(1987-07-06) 6 July 1987[2]
Place of birth	Braniewo, Poland
Height	1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)[3]
Playing position(s)	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team	Millwall
Number	33
Youth career
2002–2004	Olimpia Elbląg
2004	Górnik Zabrze
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2006	Górnik Zabrze	7	(0)
2006–2012	Southampton	22	(0)
2009	→ Ipswich Town (loan)	0	(0)
2009	→ Barnsley (loan)	2	(0)
2012–2014	Notts County	84	(0)
2014–2020	Ipswich Town	168	(0)
2019–2020	→ Millwall (loan)	28	(0)
2020–	Millwall	18	(0)
National team^‡
2007	Poland U20	4	(0)
2007–2008	Poland U21	5	(0)
2018–	Poland	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:36, 22 July 2020 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 06:08, 24 March 2018 (UTC)

He began his career playing in his native Poland, before moving to Southampton in 2006. After six years at Southampton, he joined Notts County where he spent two seasons before joining Ipswich Town in 2014. He spent six years at Ipswich before joining Millwall on a permanent transfer in January 2020.

Białkowski has also represented his country at international level, making his senior debut for Poland in 2018.

Club career

Górnik Zabrze

Born in Braniewo, Poland, Białkowski made his Polish league debut on 30 October 2004 for Górnik Zabrze in a 3–1 away defeat to Dyskobolia Grodzisk. He came off the bench to replace first-choice keeper Piotr Lech who had been sent off for a second yellow card just two minutes prior to Białkowski entering the field in the 69th minute of the game.[4]

Southampton

Białkowski in 2010

On 9 January 2006, Białkowski signed for Southampton. His debut game was against Crystal Palace on 25 January 2006, which resulted in a 0–0 draw. He also appeared for the first time in the FA Cup, in the 1–0 win against Leicester City on 28 January 2006.[5]

Białkowski was injured for the end of the 2005–06 season and for the early part of the 2006–07 season, having fallen awkwardly trying to collect the ball in a 5th round FA Cup tie against Newcastle on 18 February 2006. George Burley could not substitute him as the manager had used three substitutes already. Dexter Blackstock replaced Białkowski and prevented Albert Luque from scoring his first Newcastle goal.[6]

After waiting for his chance after returning to fitness, Białkowski returned to Southampton's starting line-up against Colchester United on 16 March 2007 as a result of a three-match suspension for Kelvin Davis. He retained his place after Davis became available again by turning in some strong performances, including saving a Michael Kightly penalty in a 6–0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on 31 March 2007.[7]

Białkowski was replaced by Davis at the beginning of the 2007–08 season when Southampton lost 4–1 to Crystal Palace in the Championship and 2–1 to Peterborough United in the League Cup.[8]

On 17 March 2009, Białkowski joined Ipswich Town on loan until the end of the season.[9][10][11] In his first appearance for Ipswich reserves, Białkowski was red-carded for handling the ball outside the area.[12] He did not make an appearance for the Tractor Boys and returned to Southampton at the end of the season.[13]

On 28 September 2009, Białkowski joined Championship strugglers Barnsley on a week-long emergency loan.[14] He played in two Championship matches, then returned to Southampton in League One. On 24 November he made his first league appearance for Southampton in over two years, replacing the injured Kelvin Davis in the 61st minute of the match against Hartlepool. He started the following six matches until Davis recovered from his injury. With Białkowski's contract set to expire in June, Southampton offered him an extension in May 2010.[15]

In June 2010, Białkowski was reported to have signed for Portuguese side S.C. Braga[16] but on 25 June he denied this, saying "I will be back at Southampton for the start of the season and I am hoping to stay with them."[17] On 5 August, Białkowski signed a two-year contract extension with Southampton, with the option to extend it another two years.[18]

Białkowski made his only league appearance of the 2011–12 season in a 2–2 draw with Blackpool. He was released at the end of the season after the club decided to release eleven players. Before his release, Białkowski was Southampton's longest serving player in the current squad.[19][20]

Notts County

On 15 June 2012 Białkowski signed for Notts County on a three-year contract, where he was named as Notts County's first-choice keeper.[21][22] He made his Notts County debut on 11 August 2012 in a League Cup tie at home to Bradford City.[23] He kept his first clean sheet for the club in a 2–0 win over Hartlepool. Białkowski was praised by Notts County manager Keith Curle after he made an impressive start to the season, Curle described his performance against Sheffield United as "exceptional" and he believed Białkowski to be "one of the best goalkeepers in the division".[24]

Białkowski kept his fifth clean sheet of the season in a 4–0 victory over Carlisle.[25] His 10th clean sheet of the season came against Oldham, as Notts beat them 1–0. In his next game against Leyton Orient Białkowski was involved in a collision with Charlie MacDonald, he was carried off the field and taken to hospital where he was treated for concussion and a deep cut to the forehead.[26] Białkowski made his return to action in a 1–1 draw with Walsall. Białkowski was praised by the Notts County management team in their 0–0 draw with Swindon as he made a number of vital saves. "I spoke with Pilks after the game and he said that it was the best game I’ve had for Notts County so I’m really pleased. I felt unbeatable, especially in the second half where I made a few saves and I just kept saying 'try and beat me', because I was so confident."[27] In his first season for the club Białkowski played 40 league games and kept 14 clean sheets.[28]

Ipswich Town

Białkowski playing for Ipswich Town in 2015

On 15 July 2014, Białkowski signed a two-year deal with Ipswich Town.[29] He marked his Town league debut with a clean sheet in a 2–0 win at Blackpool on 1 November 2014. He kept his place for the majority of the season as Town reached the Championship play-offs, but was left out of the team for compassionate reasons following the death of his father in August 2015. He made 35 appearances during his first season at Portman Road, keeping 9 clean sheets.[30] Fellow goalkeeper Dean Gerken's form kept him out of the team until he was injured in early 2016 and Białkowski returned with a string of impressive performances which saw him win consecutive player of the month awards and then both the Supporters' Player of the Year award and the Players' Player of the Year award for the 2015–16 season.[31] He kept 8 clean sheets in 23 appearances over the course of the season.[32]

Białkowski kept his place in the team for the 2016–17 season and his impressive form continued throughout the season. He made 44 appearances during the 2016–17 season, keeping 11 clean sheets.[33] His performances over the course of the season earned him another Player of the Year award for the 2016–17 season.[34]

He once again kept his place in the team as the first choice goalkeeper for the 2017–18 season and continued to impress with his performance levels. He made 46 appearances in all competitions during the 2017–18 season, keeping 13 clean sheets.[35] He was again awarded the Player of the Year award for the third consecutive season, as well as the Players' Player of the Year award for a second time.[36]

On 16 July 2018, Białkowski signed a new three-year contract with Ipswich, with the option of a further 12 months.[37] He was first choice keeper for most of the 2018–19 season, making 30 appearances in all competitions. However, it was generally considered that he had had a disappointing season, with a number of mistakes leading him to be dropped by both Paul Hurst and Paul Lambert during the season.[38][39] Bialkowski would later state his discontent with former manager Hurst over him being dropped in an interview, branding his actions to be "disrespectful".[40]

Millwall

On 30 July 2019, Białkowski joined Championship side Millwall on loan for the 2019–20 season.[41] He had previously been linked with a permanent move to the club back in June, but the deal ultimately fell through due to a complication with his medical.[42]

He made his Millwall debut on 3 August 2019, replacing the injured Frank Fielding in the 43rd minute of Millwall's 1–0 opening day victory against Preston North End.[43] After making 28 appearances and impressing for the Lions, Bialkowski's loan was made permanent on 27 January 2020 for an undisclosed fee.[44] He played every league game for Millwall during his first season at the club, winning the Championship Golden Glove for keeping a league high sixteen clean sheets.[45] His performances during the season also earned him the Millwall Player of the Year award for the 2019–20 season.[46]

International career

Białkowski's first experience of international football came in 2007, when he was called up to the Poland U20 squad to compete in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada.[47]

Białkowski made his senior international debut for Poland on 23 March 2018 in a 1–0 friendly defeat by Nigeria, coming on as a half-time substitute for Łukasz Fabiański.[48]

In May 2018, he was named in Poland's final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[49] He featured on the bench in each of Poland's three Group H matches, but did not make an appearance as Poland exited the World Cup at the group stage.[50]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 22 July 2020

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Górnik Zabrze	2004–05	Ekstraklasa	7	0	0	0	—		—		7	0
	2005–06	Ekstraklasa	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	Total		7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
Southampton	2005–06[51]	Championship	5	0	2	0	0	0	—		7	0
	2006–07[52]	Championship	8	0	0	0	0	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	9	0
	2007–08[8]	Championship	1	0	0	0	1	0	—		2	0
	2008–09[53]	Championship	0	0	0	0	3	0	—		3	0
	2009–10[13]	League One	7	0	1	0	0	0	2[lower-alpha 2]	0	10	0
	2010–11[54]	League One	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	2011–12[55]	Championship	1	0	3	0	4	0	—		8	0
	Total		22	0	9	0	8	0	3	0	42	0
Ipswich Town (loan)	2009–10[13]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Barnsley (loan)	2009–10[13]	Championship	2	0	0	0	0	0	—		2	0
Notts County	2012–13[28]	League One	40	0	2	0	1	0	2[lower-alpha 2]	0	45	0
	2013–14[56]	League One	44	0	1	0	2	0	1[lower-alpha 2]	0	48	0
	Total		84	0	3	0	3	0	3	0	93	0
Ipswich Town	2014–15[30]	Championship	31	0	1	0	1	0	2[lower-alpha 1]	0	35	0
	2015–16[32]	Championship	20	0	2	0	1	0	—		23	0
	2016–17[33]	Championship	44	0	0	0	0	0	—		44	0
	2017–18[35]	Championship	45	0	1	0	0	0	—		46	0
	2018–19[57]	Championship	28	0	1	0	1	0	—		30	0
	Total		168	0	5	0	3	0	2	0	178	0
Millwall (loan)	2019–20[58]	Championship	28	0	2	0	0	0	—		30	0
Millwall	2019–20[58]	Championship	18	0	0	0	0	0	—		18	0
Career total			328	0	19	0	14	0	8	0	361	0

1. Appearance(s) in Championship play-offs
2. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy

International

As of match played 28 June 2018[59]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Poland	2018	1	0
Total		1	0

Honours

Southampton

• Football League Trophy: 2009–10[60]
• Football League One runner-up: 2010–11[61]
• Football League Championship runner-up: 2011–12[62]

Individual

• Ipswich Town Player of the Year: 2015–16,[31] 2016–17,[34] 2017–18[63]
• Ipswich Town Players' Player of the Year: 2015–16,[64] 2017–18[65]
• Millwall Player of the Year: 2019–20[46]

Notes

1. In isolation, Bartosz is pronounced [ˈbartɔʂ].

References

1. "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of players: Poland" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2019.
2. "Bart Białkowski". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
3. "Bartosz Bialkowski". Millwall F.C. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
4. "Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski 3 – 1 Górnik Zabrze" (in Polish). 90minut.pl. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
5. "Leicester 0-1 Southampton". BBC Sport. 28 January 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
6. "Newcastle 1-0 Southampton". BBC Sport. 18 February 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
7. "Wolves 0–6 Southampton". BBC. 31 March 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
8. "Games played by Bartosz Białkowski in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
9. "Bialkowski in Ipswich switch". Sky Sports. 18 March 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
10. "Bartosz on loan to Ipswich". Southern Daily Echo. 18 March 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
11. "Trading keepers". Ipswich Town F.C. 18 March 2009. Archived from the original on 21 March 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
12. "Bialkowski Off as Reserves Lose at Luton". Archived from the original on 9 April 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2009.
13. "Games played by Bartosz Białkowski in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
14. "Białkowski to solve Keeper crisis". Barnsley F.C. 28 September 2009. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
15. "Southampton to release 13 players". BBC. 15 May 2010. Archived from the original on 18 May 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
16. Queiros, Eugenio (24 June 2010). "Bialkowski está seguro para precaver as saídas". Record. Archived from the original on 28 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
17. Simpson, Gordon (25 June 2010). "Goalkeeper Bart wants to stay a Saint". Southern Daily Echo. Archived from the original on 28 June 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
18. "Keeper signs". Southampton FC. 5 August 2010. Archived from the original on 6 August 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
19. "Four Join First Team, But Eleven Released". Southampton F.C. 19 May 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
20. "Southampton release Lee Holmes, David Connolly and Radhi Jaidi". BBC Sport. 19 May 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
21. "Notts Complete Bialkowski Signing". Notts County FC. 15 June 2012. Archived from the original on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
22. "Bartosz Bialkowski joins Notts County from Southampton". BBC Sport. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
23. "Notts County 0–1 Bradford". BBC Sport. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
24. "Notts keeper 'the best in the division'". Nottingham Post. 1 October 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
25. "Carlise 0 Notts County 4". BBC Sport. 13 October 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
26. "Teenage wonder Fabian Spiess – I hope I proved a point". Nottingham Post. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
27. "No Sleep, Cramp and a Clean Sheet". Notts County F.C. 24 March 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
28. "Games played by Bartosz Białkowski in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
29. "Ipswich Town Sign 'Keeper Bialkowski". Ipswich Town FC. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
30. "Games played by Bartosz Białkowski in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
31. "Białkowski Wins Player of the Year". twtd.co.uk (Those Were The Days). 9 April 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
32. "Games played by Bartosz Białkowski in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
33. "Games played by Bartosz Białkowski in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
34. Watson, Stuart (30 April 2017). "Bartosz Bialkowski named Ipswich Town 'Supporters' Club Player of the Year' once again". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
35. "Games played by Bartosz Białkowski in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
36. "Bialkowski Player of the Year for Third Successive Season". twtd.co.uk (Those Were The Days). 21 April 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
37. Watson, Stuart (16 July 2018). "Bialkowski delighted to sign new three-year Town deal". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
38. Warren, Andy. "'He's no different to any other player... he has to perform' – Hurst on dropping Bialkowski". East Anglian Daily Times.
39. Watson, Stuart (20 June 2019). "Last season was one to forget for Bartosz Bialkowski. Dropped twice in relegated side. Seemed burnt out post WC. Malcolm Webster's retirement prob affected him too. His #itfc legacy is 2014–18. x3 POTY and saves like these".
40. Warren, Andy. "'I was never told anything... at least have the bravery to tell me' – Bart on being dropped by Hurst for Norwich clash". East Anglian Daily Times.
41. "Millwall sign Bartosz Bialkowski from Ipswich & Jason McCarthy from Wycombe". 30 July 2019 – via bbc.co.uk.
42. "Bart's Millwall Move Off – Ipswich Town News". TWTD.co.uk.
43. "Millwall 1–0 Preston North End". BBC Sport. 3 August 2019.
44. "Bartosz Bialkowski: Millwall make goalkeeper's deal permanent after loan from Ipswich". BBC Sport. 27 January 2020.
45. "Ex-Blues Keeper Bialkowski Wins Championship Golden Glove". TWTD. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
46. "Bartosz Bialkowski crowned Millwall Player of the Season". Millwall F.C. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
47. "Bartosz Białkowski Profile – FIFA 2018 World Cup". East Anglian Daily Times. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
48. "Białkowski makes Poland debut in friendly loss to Nigeria". East Anglian Daily Times. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
49. "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad – Final 23-man lists". Goal.com. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
50. "Bartosz Bialkowski at Soccerway". Retrieved 27 June 2019.
51. "Games played by Bartosz Białkowski in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
52. "Games played by Bartosz Białkowski in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
53. "Games played by Bartosz Białkowski in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
54. "Games played by Bartosz Białkowski in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
55. "Games played by Bartosz Białkowski in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
56. "Games played by Bartosz Białkowski in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
57. "Games played by Bartosz Białkowski in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
58. "Games played by Bartosz Białkowski in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
59. "Bartosz Białkowski". EU-Football.info. 14 July 2018.
60. "Carlisle 1–4 Southampton". bbcsport.co.uk. 28 March 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
61. "Southampton 3–1 Walsall". bbcsport.co.uk. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
62. "Southampton Promoted to Premier League After Beating Coventry". bbcsport.co.uk. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
63. "Bialkowski Player of the Year for Third Successive Season". TWTD.co.uk. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
64. "Bialkowski Players' Player of the Year". TWTD.co.uk. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
65. "Bialkowski Players' Player of the Year". TWTD.co.uk. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2020.

External links

• Bartosz Białkowski at National-Football-Teams.com
• Bartosz Białkowski at Soccerbase