Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Played a huge good seasons
already penned a pre-contract to move from Zilina to Tannadice in July 2009 before arriving at the turn of the year.
Making his debut for the Tangerines in a Scottish Cup second-round win over Partick Thistle, Pernis then finished the season with a winner’s medal after United defeated Ross County to win their first trophy since 1994.
That win at Hampden saw the club enter the Uefa Cup where they were drawn against Greek side AEK Athens.
Pernis kept goal in both legs but couldn’t keep AEK out as they edged Houston’s side 1-0 at Tannadice and then drew 1-1 in Athens.
In total, the Slovakian would turn out 116 times for United as they qualified for Europe again before his departure at the end of his contract in 2012. Pernis now plays for Bulgarian side Beroe Stara Zagora.
Rado Cierzniak
Another signed on a pre-contract deal by Houston, Rado was undisputed first-choice at Tannadice throughout his three years.
Despite losing out in both a League Cup and Scottish Cup Final, Cierzniak showed himself to be a top Premiership goalkeeper as United competed for top-half finishes.
At the end of his deal, he returned to Poland and has since played in the Champions League for Legia Warsaw, having a nightmare as he conceded eight against Dortmund. Since his departure, the club’s pick of first-choice foreigners hasn’t been quite so good with first Luis Zwick and then Eiji Kawashima taking the gloves.