Footballer's medal haul is stolen

Dudek was a hero of the Champions League final

Thieves stole Jerzy Dudek's Champions League medal and football memorabilia during a burglary at the Liverpool FC goalkeeper's home, it has emerged.

They struck at the footballer's home in Caldy, Wirral, last week while he was visiting his native Poland.

Dudek is said to be devastated by the theft, which included medals, watches and more than 100 goalkeeper shirts.

The footballer's black Porsche Carrera was also stolen, but was recovered on Wednesday in Manchester.

Merseyside Police said investigations were ongoing but no other items from the burglary had been found.

The Polish goalkeeper was one of the heroes of Liverpool's 2005 Champions League final victory over AC Milan.

His wobbly leg routine was widely credited as a decisive factor in the penalty shoot-out as he saved from striker Andriy Shevchenko.

We are talking about the memorabilia of someone's career and also a lifetime Liverpool spokesman

Among the football memorabilia reportedly taken were both Premiership and international shirts, a World Cup Final shirt from 2002, a Worthington Cup Final Shirt and a pair of World Cup Final goalkeeper gloves.

Medals stolen included a Uefa Super Cup medal and a Worthington Cup medal.

The watches taken include a Cartier, a gold Omega watch, a Gucci, a Frank Muller and a Rolex.

'Sentimental value'

A spokesman for Liverpool FC said: "A lot of this stuff which has been stolen is irreplaceable and you can't put a price on it. Jerzy is obviously devastated.

"We are talking about the memorabilia of someone's career and also a lifetime.

"Jerzy was made famous by what he did in the Champions League and for someone to have gone into his house and stolen it is despicable.

"On behalf of the club and the player we would ask anyone with information to contact either us or Merseyside police."

A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said: "There were a large number of distinctive items of memorabilia stolen which obviously have sentimental value to the owner," she said.

"If anyone spots them being sold on the internet or in the local shops or in their local pub, it will be obvious that they are special items."