The 28-year-old emerged as his country's number one only after moving to Celtic in 2005 but his time in Scotland has not been without controversy.

Most recently, the 'Holy Goalie' lived up to his nickname in the most bizarre manner by revealing he was wearing a 'God bless the Pope' t-shirt under his goalkeeping jersey at the end of the last Old Firm game of the season.

It is that kind of incident which has, at times, overshadowed his performances for Celtic.

By the time Boruc takes to the field for Poland's first ever European Championship finals match against Germany in Klagenfurt on June 8, he will have completed three successful seasons at Parkhead.

He was originally signed on a year-long loan from his boyhood heroes Legia Warsaw.

However, in October 2005, and after only nine appearances, Hoops boss Gordon Strachan made the deal permanent with a three-and-a-half-year deal and the 6ft 4in goalkeeper went on to make the number one jersey his own to the detriment of wonder-boy David Marshall, who eventually had to leave the club.

Boruc's form also eventually saw him oust Jerzy Dudek from the number one slot for Poland towards the end of the 2006 World Cup qualifying games and he played in the 2-1 defeat against England.

The Parkhead goalkeeper played in all three game in the Germany finals but could not prevent three defeats and an early exit.

The following season saw Boruc enhance his reputation further.

He helped Celtic to a domestic double and a last-minute penalty save from Louis Saha in their 1-0 win over Manchester United in November meant Celtic qualified for the knockout stage for the first time.

His fine form has at times been overshadowed by his knack for attracting controversy.

The Polish goalkeeper makes the sign of the cross in his goalmouth before the start of every game which has led to him being called the 'Holy Goalie.'

However, other hand gestures have brought trouble.

On August 25, 2006 he was cautioned by the Strathclyde Police for a breach of the peace for making gestures in front of Rangers fans before a game earlier that year.

The hate-hate relationship with the Light Blues' supporters was cemented at the end of the season when, after a defeat by Rangers at Ibrox, he ran across the pitch waving a flag proclaiming Celtic as SPL champions.

Season 20070-08 got off to an encouraging start for the phlegmatic Pole. He saved twice in a penalty shoot-out against Russian champions Spartak Moscow in the third round of qualifying for the Champions League to take the Glasgow giants in to the group stages for the the second season in succession.

Controversy continued to surround him. He was caught on camera making an obscene gesture towards Hibernian fans at Easter Road - the first of two incidents in Leith in less than a year - but no action was taken against him.

After another Old Firm clash at Ibrox in October, Boruc refused to shake hands with Rangers players after the match.

Boruc told the Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza that they had "provoked" and "offended" him during the game although those allegations were never expanded upon.

The 'God bless the Pope' t-shirt was simply the latest act of a man unafraid to divide opinion.

Aside from a couple of blips, Boruc has again been one of Celtic's best players this season.

His display against Barcelona over two legs in their Champions League last-16 clash kept the Catalans from running up a bigger aggregate score than the 4-2 scoreline which ended the Hoops' European aspirations for another year.

Boruc - who claims on his own website that if he wasn't a footballer he would "probably drink beer with my friends in Siedlce," recently signed a new contract that ties him to Parkhead until 2011.

However, he has been linked with the likes of Bayern Munich and Milan and he concedes he would be interested in joining a big European club.

"I feel very good in Glasgow but I would like to change environment," he told the Scottish Daily Express.

"I would like to try something new. I don't want to leave desperately but if a good club comes along, why not?

"One report says that Bayern want me, while the other claims it is not true. There is no offer from Bayern.

"They are, however, a big club that I would consider if they said they wanted me."

The opening game against Germany will give him the opportunity to impress Bayern but it is unlikely that they will be the only club waiting to bid before the new season begins.