Rafał Gikiewicz (born 26 October 1987) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Ekstraklasa club Widzew Łódź.[2]

Rafał Gikiewicz
Rafał Gikiewicz in 2012
Personal information
Date of birth (1987-10-26) 26 October 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Olsztyn, Poland
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Widzew Łódź
Number 1
Youth career
Warmia Olsztyn
Stomil Olsztyn
Tempo 25 Olsztyn
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 DKS Dobre Miasto
2006 Sokół Ostróda
2006–2007 Drwęca Nowe Miasto L.
2007–2008 Wigry Suwałki 28 (0)
2008–2010 Jagiellonia Białystok 16 (0)
2010OKS 1945 Olsztyn (loan) 11 (0)
2011–2014 Śląsk Wrocław 27 (0)
2014–2016 Eintracht Braunschweig 66 (0)
2016–2018 SC Freiburg 2 (0)
2018–2020 Union Berlin 67 (1)
2020–2023 FC Augsburg 91 (0)
2023–2024 Ankaragücü 5 (0)
2024– Widzew Łódź 14 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 June 2024

Club career

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Gikiewicz was born in Olsztyn. In July 2008, he moved to Jagiellonia Białystok.[3] In August 2010, he was loaned to OKS 1945 Olsztyn on a one-year deal.[4] He returned to Jagiellonia Białystok half a year later.[5]

In January 2011, he joined Śląsk Wrocław on 4.5-year contract.[6]

In April 2014, German club Eintracht Braunschweig announced the signing of Gikiewicz for the 2014–15 season.[7] In August 2016, Gikiewicz transferred to Freiburg.[8]

In June 2018, Gikiewicz moved to Union Berlin signing a two-year contract. The transfer fee paid to Freiburg was reported as €200,000.[9] On 7 October 2018, Gikiewicz scored a 94th-minute equalizer against 1. FC Heidenheim in the 2. Bundesliga.[10] On 1 July 2020, he signed with Bundesliga club FC Augsburg.

Over three weeks after his contract with Augsburg had expired, on 22 July 2023, Gikiewicz joined Turkish side Ankaragücü on a one-year deal with an option for another season.[11] On 1 February 2024, he left the club by mutual consent.[12]

On 13 February 2024, Gikiewicz returned to Poland to join Widzew Łódź until the end of the season, with an option to extend his deal for another year.[13] Brought in as a replacement for the injured Ivan Krajčírik who joined Widzew just a month prior, Gikiewicz enjoyed a good start to his stint. He recorded four clean sheets in 11 league games before having his deal extended for a further year on 10 May.[14]

International career

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During a successful period with Union Berlin, in May 2019 he received his first call-up to the Poland national team for the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Group G matches against North Macedonia and Israel,[15] but remained unused on the bench.

Personal life

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His twin brother Łukasz Gikiewicz is also a footballer.[16]

Gikiewicz follows a vegan diet.[17][18]

Career statistics

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As of match played 25 May 2024[19][20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Wigry Suwałki 2007–08 II liga 28 0 0 0 28 0
Jagiellonia Białystok 2008–09 Ekstraklasa 8 0 1 0 4[b] 0 13 0
2009–10 Ekstraklasa 8 0 6 0 14 0
Total 16 0 7 0 4 0 27 0
OKS 1945 Olsztyn (loan) 2010–11 II liga 11 0 2 0 13 0
Śląsk Wrocław 2011–12 Ekstraklasa 6 0 2 0 8 0
2012–13 Ekstraklasa 10 0 6 0 1[c] 0 1[d] 0 18 0
2013–14 Ekstraklasa 11 0 1 0 6[c] 0 18 0
Total 27 0 9 0 7 0 1 0 44 0
Eintracht Braunschweig 2014–15 2. Bundesliga 33 0 3 0 36 0
2015–16 2. Bundesliga 33 0 3 0 36 0
Total 66 0 6 0 72 0
SC Freiburg 2016–17 Bundesliga 0 0 1 0 1 0
2017–18 Bundesliga 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 0
Total 2 0 2 0 4 0
Union Berlin 2018–19 2. Bundesliga 34 1 2 0 2[e] 0 38 1
2019–20 Bundesliga 33 0 2 0 35 0
Total 67 1 4 0 2 0 73 1
FC Augsburg 2020–21 Bundesliga 34 0 2 0 36 0
2021–22 Bundesliga 34 0 2 0 36 0
2022–23 Bundesliga 23 0 1 0 24 0
Total 91 0 5 0 96 0
Ankaragücü 2023–24 Süper Lig 5 0 2 0 7 0
Widzew Łódź 2023–24 Ekstraklasa 14 0 1 0 15 0
Career total 327 1 38 0 7 0 7 0 379 1
  1. ^ Includes Polish Cup, DFB-Pokal, Turkish Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in Ekstraklasa Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearance in Polish Super Cup
  5. ^ Appearances in Bundesliga promotion play-offs

Honours

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Gikiewicz in 2010 with Jagiellonia Białystok after winning the Polish Cup.

Jagiellonia Białystok

Śląsk Wrocław[19]

References

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  1. ^ "Rafał Gikiewicz". FC Augsburg. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  2. ^ Rafał Gikiewicz at Soccerway
  3. ^ "Rafał Gikiewicz blisko Jagiellonii" (in Polish). 90minut.pl. 4 July 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Rafał Gikiewicz wypożyczony z Jagiellonii" (in Polish). wp.pl. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Ekstraklasa. Rafał Gikiewicz wraca do Jagiellonii" (in Polish). sport.pl. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Rafał Gikiewicz w Śląsku" (in Polish). igol.pl. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Eintracht Braunschweig verpflichtet Rafal Gikiewicz" (in German). eintracht.com. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  8. ^ "SC verpflichtet Braunschweigs Gikiewicz" [SC signs Braunschweig's Gikiewicz] (in German). kicker. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Union Berlin: Gikiewicz kommt aus Freiburg". kicker Online (in German). 16 June 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  10. ^ "Unions Torwart köpft in der Nachspielzeit den Ausgleich" (in German). Went. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Rafal Gikiewicz Ankaragücü'müzde!" (in Turkish). Ankaragücü. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Rafał Gikiewicz odchodzi z Ankaragücü". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Rafał Gikiewicz nowym bramkarzem Widzewa Łódź" (in Polish). Widzew Łódź. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Gikiewicz 2025!" (in Polish). Widzew Łódź. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Four players receive international call". fc-union-berlin.de. FC Union Berlin. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  16. ^ Na ręce mam cały mój życiorys – żona, syn, rodzina, medal weszlo.com
  17. ^ "Union Berlin - Hertha Berlin 1-0 Atac pirotehnic! Haos în derby-ul capitalei Germaniei" [UNION BERLIN - HERTHA BERLIN 1-0 Pyrotechnic attack! Chaos in the derby of the capital of Germany] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 3 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  18. ^ "Clipul momentului! Fratele lui Gikiewicz i-a fugarit de unul singur pe ultrasii care au sarit in teren sa se bata! VIDEO" [The clip of the moment! Gikiewicz's brother ran after the ultras who came on the field to fight! VIDEO] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 3 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  19. ^ a b c "Rafał Gikiewicz". 90minut.pl. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  20. ^ "Rafał Gikiewicz". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
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