Ryszard Polak
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ryszard Polak | ||
| Date of birth | 26 February 1959[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Sopot, Poland | ||
| Date of death | 9 September 2017 (aged 58) | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1976 | Lechia Gdańsk | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1976–1979 | Lechia Gdańsk | 52 | (3) |
| 1980–1981 | Zawisza Bydgoszcz | 4 | (0) |
| 1982–1985 | Lechia Gdańsk | 79 | (18) |
| 1985–1987 | Igloopol Dębica | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Ryszard Polak (26 February 1959 – 9 September 2017) was a Polish footballer who played as a forward. He is most well known for his spell with Lechia Gdańsk.
Biography
Born in
Polish SuperCup final as Lechia won by beating the Polish champions Lech Poznań 1–0,[8] with Polak starting the game. He also played in both games as Lechia faced European footballing giants Juventus in a European competition due to the previous season's cup win.[9][10] Lechia also won promotion to the top division that season by winning the II liga for the 1983–84 season.[11] Polak played 20 times and scored 2 for Lechia the following season in the I liga. That season would prove to be his last playing for Lechia, having made his final appearance for the club on 19 July 1985 against Górnik Zabrze. In total for Lechia he made 143 appearances and scored 22 in all competitions.[12] After his time with Lechia he spent 2 seasons with Igloopol Dębica before moving to Germany. After his move to Germany he was unable to play due to injuries and failing with annual disqualification imposed on him by his native Poland. As a result, he instead played in "Oldboy" teams. He spent his later years working as a scout looking for players with Polish roots to potentially play for the national team.[13] Polak has had a star on Lechia's "'Avenue of Stars" since September 2005.[14] He died on 9 September 2017 aged 58.[15]
Honours
Lechia Gdańsk
- Polish Cup: 1982–83
- Polish Super Cup: 1983
- II liga West: 1983–84
- III liga, gr. II: 1982–83
References
- ^ "Ryszard Polak". lechia.gda.pl.
- ^ "1975/76 II Liga - Gr. północna". lechia.net.
- ^ "Zmarł Ryszard Polak (https://zawisza-bydgoszcz.futbolowo.pl)". zawisza-bydgoszcz.futbolowo.pl.
- ^ "Historia Lechii Gdańsk [sezon 1982/83]". lechia.net.
- ^ "Lechia Gdańsk w drodze po Puchar Polski – sezon 1982/83". lechiahistoria.pl.
- ^ "Lechia – Piast Gliwice 2:1. Finał Pucharu Polski. 22.06.1983". lechiahistoria.pl.
- ^ "lechia.pl historia". Lechia.pl.
- ^ "Superpuchar Polski dla Lechii! (30.07.1983)". lechiahistoria.pl.
- ^ "Juventus FC – Lechia Gdańsk 7:0 (14.09.1983)". lechiahistoria.pl.
- ^ "Lechia Gdańsk – Juventus FC 2:3 (28.09.1983)". lechiahistoria.pl.
- ^ "Historia Lechii Gdańsk [sezon 1983/84]". lechia.net.
- ^ "1984/85 I Liga". lechia.net.
- ^ "Zmarł Ryszard Polak (https://zawisza-bydgoszcz.futbolowo.pl)". zawisza-bydgoszcz.futbolowo.pl.
- ^ "Zmarł Ryszard Polak". lechia.net.
- ^ "Ryszard Polak nie żyje. Wychowanek Lechii Gdańsk, który zdobył Puchar Polski i Superpuchar Polski". dziennikbaltycki.pl.