Who is Monaco's Lukas Hrádecký?
Lukas Hrádecký has officially arrived in Ligue 1 McDonald's — and with a win. The Finnish goalkeeper made his league debut for AS Monaco on Saturday evening at the Stade Louis-II, helping his new side to a 3-1 victory over Le Havre on the opening day of the 2025/26 season. It was the perfect start for the former Bayer Leverkusen captain, who only signed with the Principality club a week earlier.
Born in Bratislava but raised in Finland, Hrádecký began at TPS Turku before breaking through at Esbjerg in Denmark, where he lifted the Danish Cup in 2013. His calm presence soon attracted Eintracht Frankfurt, where he became a Bundesliga mainstay and lifted the DFB-Pokal in 2018.
That summer, Bayer Leverkusen made him their number one. Over six seasons he not only became captain but helped guide the Werkself to an unforgettable 2023–24 campaign, winning the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal without losing a league match — a feat he still reflects on with pride.
“It seemed impossible to finish an entire season undefeated,” he recalled in an interview with AS Monaco. “But it was about being healthy, having the right environment to win matches, and moving forward regardless of opponents. We never looked back. That’s what you need to compete at the highest level. I see a very talented team here in Monaco too.”
Experience and Leadership for Monaco
At 35, Hrádecký arrived in Ligue 1 McDonald's with more than 350 Bundesliga appearances and nearly 100 caps for Finland. For Monaco, his experience is invaluable.
“I know my strengths and I hope I can bring them here to help the team,” he explained. “I’ll do my best with my experience and calm so that my teammates around me are also calm. Of course, I’m not perfect — no one is in football — but I’ll do the best I can.”
That sense of composure is exactly what coach Adi Hütter, who worked with him at Frankfurt, is counting on. “I’ve known Lukáš since 2018,” said the Austrian. “After our Cup victory he left with nothing but praise. He was a key player and showed what a great goalkeeper he was in Germany. We’re very happy to have him here at AS Monaco.”
Adapting to life in France
While Monaco’s summer ambition is to return to the Champions League, Hrádecký is focused on adapting quickly to French football. “I need to learn the style of play of Ligue 1 strikers,” he said. “I watched PSG against Tottenham yesterday, and last season we faced Brest and Nice with Leverkusen. I want to learn as quickly as possible. For that, I’ll need to do a good job here. Hopefully I won’t be the last Finnish player in Ligue 1.”
That humility is matched by a competitive streak. “There’s always pressure; you need to have butterflies in your stomach,” he admitted. “But with age and experience, you handle it better. If I’ve had a bad day, I go home and forget about it. The important thing is to bounce back quickly.”
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