Grzegorz Rasiak was a revelation in his time at Pride Park, but failed to hit the heights at a number of other EFL sides including the Royals.
However, while the great events on the continent were taking place, Derby County were working hard to locate a prolific goalscorer who would propel them to triumph in the next season, and they finally found one in September in the form of Grzegorz Rasiak.
The Polish international walked into the Pride Park dressing room and instantly set to work for George Burley’s side, scoring a steady stream of goals during his one season with the Rams.
A number of moves across the Premier League and EFL followed, all with varied degrees of success, with the forward concluding his time in England with a disappointing season with Reading in 2009/10.
Rasiak had earned a reputation for himself in his birthplace early in his career, with a goal-laden period with the catchy-sounding Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski catching the attention of clubs across the continent.
Siena first pursued him, but with a quota in Serie A preventing them from registering any more foreign signings, the Pole was forced to look elsewhere, much to the joy of Rams manager Burley.
He stated at the time: “We’ve been missing a big man up front, and he has good pedigree. He is an international footballer who formerly played in Europe for his club.
“To sign a player of that calibre on a free is a coup for us.”
He was a coup, scoring 17 goals in his first season in English football and demonstrating his quality in the second tier, beginning with a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Watford.
The striker’s enormous height was used to his advantage time and time again; with a strong header against Rotherham United launching a fightback from two goals down to win 3-2, before another bullet with his bonce Brighton and Hove Albion.
With the likes of Inigo Idiakez, Paul Peschisolido and Marcus Tudgay playing alongside him, this was a County side of some prestige, while a young Tom Huddlestone cut his teeth in the midfield behind them.
That attacking fluidity played right into Rasiak’s hands, with the Pole almost scoring at will at points during the season; with another brace against West Ham United further adding to his reputation.
County fans will have immediately etched the forward into folklore for his two outstanding displays in two of the biggest games of that season, with two-goal performances in both matches against arch-rivals Nottingham Forest leaving them with bragging rights across the course of the campaign.
With promotion ruled out due to a play-off loss to Preston North End, Rasiak was in high demand throughout the summer, with Tottenham Hotspur eventually winning the race for his signature, albeit things did not go as planned for him at White Hart Lane following his estimated £2.25 million transfer.
With few opportunities to demonstrate his abilities, the attacker lasted only six months before being loaned out to Southampton, before making the transfer permanent and continuing where he left off on his return to the English Football League.
With another 20-goal season in the bag, it appeared like Rasiak would continue to excel in the Championship, but after falling out of favour with the Saints, loan moves to Bolton Wanderers and Watford followed, before jumping ship for Reading.
