1. Lukas Hradecky is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for and captains both Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen and the Finland national team.
28 Facts About Lukas Hradecky
1. 2.
Lukas Hradecky began his senior club career playing for TPS, before signing with Esbjerg fB at age 19 in 2009.
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Lukas Hradecky was named Finnish Footballer of the Year by the Football Association of Finland in three consecutive seasons.
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Formerly an international at under-17, under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels, Lukas Hradecky made his debut for Finland in May 2010 at the age of 20.
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Lukas Hradecky appeared in nine out of ten of Finland's UEFA Euro 2020 qualification matches and helped the national team secure its first ever appearance at the UEFA European Championship.
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Lukas Hradecky began his career in Turun Palloseura, a club in Turku, where he grew up.
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On 10 January 2009, Lukas Hradecky transferred to Esbjerg fB and signed a four-year contract with the five-time Danish champions.
8.
On 3 August 2010 it was announced that Lukas Hradecky had been called to be tested for a week by Manchester United to strengthen their goalkeeping department after the departure of Tom Heaton.
9.
Lukas Hradecky made his debut in Leverkusen on 15 September 2018 in a match against Bayern Munich.
10.
On 30 August 2022, Lukas Hradecky renewed his contract with Leverkusen, signing a deal until the end of June 2026.
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In June 2024, Lukas Hradecky was named the 9th best goalkeeper in the world, in the top 100 list by ESPN.
12.
Lukas Hradecky earned several caps for Finland on different junior levels.
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Lukas Hradecky made his junior level national team debut when he was 16 years old on 16 November 2006 in Athens in a match against Greece.
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Lukas Hradecky was a member of the Finland national under-20 football team and represented the team at the Valentin A Granatkin Memorial Tournament.
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Lukas Hradecky was selected to Finland national under-21 football team for 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship but he had to withdraw due to a knee injury.
16.
Lukas Hradecky was the first choice keeper for Finland's under-21 side during the 2011 UEFA European U21 Championship qualifications.
17.
In January 2010 Lukas Hradecky was called to the Finland national football team by Stuart Baxter to face South Korea in a friendly at Malaga, Spain.
18.
Lukas Hradecky played his first UEFA European Championship qualification game on 3 June 2011 when Mixu Paatelainen chose him to the starting line up against San Marino in Serravalle.
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Lukas Hradecky appeared in three friendly matches during Finland's preparation for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.
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Lukas Hradecky was chosen to starting line up in the first qualification match against France, but remained as a substitute for the rest of the campaign as Niki Maenpaa established himself as the number one choice.
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Lukas Hradecky was called up for the UEFA Euro 2020 pre-tournament friendly match against Sweden on 29 May 2021.
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Lukas Hradecky played in all three international games at the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.
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Lukas Hradecky was awarded as the tournament's best goalkeeper of the group stage.
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Lukas Hradecky speaks Finnish, Slovak, English, Danish, German and Swedish.
25.
In January 2024, it was reported that Lukas Hradecky had invested in the restaurant business in Helsinki, along with Teemu Pukki and his brother Matej.
26.
Lukas Hradecky has been a minority shareholder of his former club Turun Palloseura.
27.
In mid-August 2024, it was reported that Lukas Hradecky had increased his share and is currently one of the club's majority owners.
28.
Lukas Hradecky started as an advisor of the board of TPS.