Ex-Liverpool player misses Champions League match after armed robbery

Phil Haigh Reporter PublishedOctober 13, 2026 8:26pm UpdatedOctober 13, 2026 8:26pm Peter Gulacsi joined Villarreal from RB Leipzig over the summer (Picture: Shutterstock) Former Liverpool goalkeeper has been forced out of Villarreal 's Champions League clash with Napoli on Tuesday after he and his family were victims of an armed robbery. The Hungarian was at home with his wife and two young children when robbers armed with guns entered his house in Spain in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Marca reports that no one was injured in the attack, but clearly it was an extremely distressing incident and the goalkeeper has suffered 'severe emotional impact' as a result. The 36-year-old is, unsurprisingly, not involved in the Champions League action on Tuesday night, with Luiz Junior taking the gloves instead.

Gulacsi spent six years at Liverpool early in his professional career but never made a senior appearance for the Reds. He spent loan spells at Hereford United, Tranmere Rovers and Hull City before leaving on a permanent basis for Red Bull Salzburg in 2013.

The Hungary international switch to RBLeipzig in 2015 and was a regular there for over a decade, making over 360 appearances for the German club. Gulacsi never made a senior appearance for Liverpool (Picture: EMPICS Sport) The veteran stopper ended an epic stint in Leipzig over the summer and signed for Villarreal, where he has already made three appearances.

The robbery at Gulacsi's house in Puzol, nearValencia, is not the first time a Villarreal player has faced such an ordeal. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about - powered by Metro and trusted publications.

Former Tottenham and Watford midfielder Etienne Capoue was at the club in 2024 when his house was raided by a gang while he ate dinner with his family downstairs. The France international confronted the burglars who reportedly fled through a window.