davieG Posted 17 April 2007 Posted 17 April 2007 From the Sun A KEEPER dumped by Leicester City a decade ago is ready to deny Manchester United a place in the Champions League final. Zeljko Kalac - nicknamed Spider because of his huge arm span - is set to face the Red Devils in the crunch semi-final first leg at Old Trafford next week. The Australian giant, now 34, spent two seasons at Leicester in the mid-90s under boss Martin O'Neill. But in that time Kalac made just three first-team appearances. One of those came as a substitute in the 1996 play-off final against Crystal Palace when O'Neill thought his height would be useful in the anticipated penalty shoot-out. Kalac - who is 6ft 8in tall - didn't even touch the ball as Leicester's Steve Claridge hit a last-gasp extra-time winner. It proved to be the highlight of his brief career in England. Kalac is still regarded as a joke by City fans, who recall his hat-trick of errors which allowed Bolton to win 3-2 on his debut. But the Aussie could have the last laugh as he prepares to return to England with Milan. The Italians' No1 Dida, 33, is likely to miss the first leg at Old Trafford with a shoulder injury. The Brazilian was kept out for three weeks recently with a similar problem but it flared up again against Messina on Sunday. Dida saw as specialist on Monday and will miss this week's match against Ascoli. Milan doctor Jean-Pierre Meersseman said: “Naturally the goal is Manchester - but there’s not much hope†If Dida fails to recover in time for next Tuesday's crunch clash, Kalac will face United. The Aussie was signed from Sydney United for £750,000 by O'Neill's predecessor Mark McGhee - but was sold to the same club just 18 months later. Kalac then emerged at Dutch side Roda JC before a stint with Perugia in Italy. His impressive displays alerted Milan and they signed him as Dida's deputy two years ago. Kalac has made only a handful of appearances for the Serie A giants but his long wait for the limelight may be over. And if Spider runs out at Old Trafford, forgive Leicester fans for rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
Manwell Pablo Posted 17 April 2007 Posted 17 April 2007 From the SunA KEEPER dumped by Leicester City a decade ago is ready to deny Manchester United a place in the Champions League final. Zeljko Kalac - nicknamed Spider because of his huge arm span - is set to face the Red Devils in the crunch semi-final first leg at Old Trafford next week. The Australian giant, now 34, spent two seasons at Leicester in the mid-90s under boss Martin O'Neill. But in that time Kalac made just three first-team appearances. One of those came as a substitute in the 1996 play-off final against Crystal Palace when O'Neill thought his height would be useful in the anticipated penalty shoot-out. Kalac - who is 6ft 8in tall - didn't even touch the ball as Leicester's Steve Claridge hit a last-gasp extra-time winner. It proved to be the highlight of his brief career in England. Kalac is still regarded as a joke by City fans, who recall his hat-trick of errors which allowed Bolton to win 3-2 on his debut. But the Aussie could have the last laugh as he prepares to return to England with Milan. The Italians' No1 Dida, 33, is likely to miss the first leg at Old Trafford with a shoulder injury. The Brazilian was kept out for three weeks recently with a similar problem but it flared up again against Messina on Sunday. Dida saw as specialist on Monday and will miss this week's match against Ascoli. Milan doctor Jean-Pierre Meersseman said: “Naturally the goal is Manchester - but there’s not much hope†If Dida fails to recover in time for next Tuesday's crunch clash, Kalac will face United. The Aussie was signed from Sydney United for £750,000 by O'Neill's predecessor Mark McGhee - but was sold to the same club just 18 months later. Kalac then emerged at Dutch side Roda JC before a stint with Perugia in Italy. His impressive displays alerted Milan and they signed him as Dida's deputy two years ago. Kalac has made only a handful of appearances for the Serie A giants but his long wait for the limelight may be over. And if Spider runs out at Old Trafford, forgive Leicester fans for rubbing their eyes in disbelief. He'll probabley play a blinder. He's obviosly a good keeper but I am yet to see any evidence of that at all, I thought I might of seen it when he played at the World Cup, all I got was another gaff .
andyh1884 Posted 17 April 2007 Posted 17 April 2007 Wonder if Man U can better the 7 they got against Roma with that goon in goal.
hairy Posted 17 April 2007 Posted 17 April 2007 He played very poorley for Oz in the World Cup last summer if you recall. Didn't look like he had change to me. Maybe it will be a Man U 8 - 0 Milan. I shall have to watch the match for the comedy value of Spider though.
Geo V Posted 17 April 2007 Posted 17 April 2007 It could end up being double figures for the poor old spider.
breadandcheese Posted 17 April 2007 Posted 17 April 2007 It's a conspiracy. Kalac is president of the Italian Football Authorities, so he has ordered himself to play so that Man U spank AC Milan 16-0. Not quite sure why yet. Something to do with the African Nations Torunament.
MC Prussian Posted 17 April 2007 Posted 17 April 2007 Or maybe he'll prove all his critics wrong once and for all.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.