Professional Soccer Player. Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist. An attacking midfielder, he scored 41 goals for Poland in 97 matches. He began his career as a youth with his home town club Włókniarz Starogard Gdański. He was transferred to the army club Legia Warsaw while fulfilling his military obligation. He led Legia to two Polish championships in 1969 and 1970. Debuting for Poland’s national team in 1968, he quickly became a regular, leading Poland to the gold medal in soccer at the Munich Olympics in 1972, a third place at the FIFA World Cup in 1974, and a silver medal in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. In 1978, he was Poland’s captain at the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, leading them to the second round. He had many offers from clubs outside Poland, but due to the communist regime, he was not able to accept one until 1978, when he joined Manchester City. During this time, he earned a role in the 1981 movie “Victory”, with Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine, as a soccer playing Polish POW. Injuries hampered his career in England, though he was instrumental in saving City from relegation in 1979. He then transferred to the San Diego Sockers in the North American Soccer League, where he played from 1981 to 1987, first outdoors until 1984 when the NASL folded and then for their indoor soccer team until 1987, when he retired. Sadly, he died two years later in an auto accident in San Diego. He was the top scorer in the 1972 Olympic Games, was chosen as Poland’s player of the year in 1973 and 1974, finished in third place in the 1974 voting for European Player of the year, and was selected to the 1974 World Cup All Star Team. He was posthumously named in 1994 as the greatest Polish player of all time by the Polish Football Association. He was reburied at the Powązki Military Cemetery in 2012.
Professional Soccer Player. Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist. An attacking midfielder, he scored 41 goals for Poland in 97 matches. He began his career as a youth with his home town club Włókniarz Starogard Gdański. He was transferred to the army club Legia Warsaw while fulfilling his military obligation. He led Legia to two Polish championships in 1969 and 1970. Debuting for Poland’s national team in 1968, he quickly became a regular, leading Poland to the gold medal in soccer at the Munich Olympics in 1972, a third place at the FIFA World Cup in 1974, and a silver medal in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. In 1978, he was Poland’s captain at the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, leading them to the second round. He had many offers from clubs outside Poland, but due to the communist regime, he was not able to accept one until 1978, when he joined Manchester City. During this time, he earned a role in the 1981 movie “Victory”, with Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine, as a soccer playing Polish POW. Injuries hampered his career in England, though he was instrumental in saving City from relegation in 1979. He then transferred to the San Diego Sockers in the North American Soccer League, where he played from 1981 to 1987, first outdoors until 1984 when the NASL folded and then for their indoor soccer team until 1987, when he retired. Sadly, he died two years later in an auto accident in San Diego. He was the top scorer in the 1972 Olympic Games, was chosen as Poland’s player of the year in 1973 and 1974, finished in third place in the 1974 voting for European Player of the year, and was selected to the 1974 World Cup All Star Team. He was posthumously named in 1994 as the greatest Polish player of all time by the Polish Football Association. He was reburied at the Powązki Military Cemetery in 2012.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
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