Adam Wolanin
Encyclopedia
Adam Wolanin was a Polish American
soccer forward
who was a member of the U.S. national team
at the 1950 FIFA World Cup
. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
when he was seventeen. When Germany invaded Poland, sparking World War II
in September 1939, Wolanin fled to England where he played for English First Division club Blackpool
. However, he never cracked the first team before moving to the United States
. He eventually settled in Chicago where he played for the Maroons and A.A.C. Eagles
of the National Soccer League of Chicago
. In 1950, he joined the Chicago Falcons
, winning the 1953 U.S. Open Cup
with the team.
for the 1950 FIFA World Cup
. He played in the first U.S. game of the tournament, a 3-1 loss to Spain
.
Wolanin was inducted, along with the rest of the 1950 U.S. World Cup team, into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1976.
Polish American
A Polish American , is a citizen of the United States of Polish descent. There are an estimated 10 million Polish Americans, representing about 3.2% of the population of the United States...
soccer forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who was a member of the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
at the 1950 FIFA World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
.
Professional career
Wolanin began his professional career with Polish First Division club Pogoń LwówPogon Lwów
LKS Pogoń Lwów is a former Polish professional sports club which was located in Lwów , and existed from 1904 until the outbreak of World War II in 1939. It was the second oldest Polish football club behind other teams from Lwów - Czarni and Lechia...
when he was seventeen. When Germany invaded Poland, sparking World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in September 1939, Wolanin fled to England where he played for English First Division club Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
. However, he never cracked the first team before moving to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He eventually settled in Chicago where he played for the Maroons and A.A.C. Eagles
A.A.C. Eagles
A.A.C. Eagles is an American amateur soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1940, the team plays in Region II of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the National Soccer League of Chicago
National Soccer League of Chicago
The National Soccer League of Chicago, formed by the merger of the Chicago Soccer League and International Soccer Football League of Chicago in 1928, is a semi-professional U.S...
. In 1950, he joined the Chicago Falcons
Chicago Falcons
The Chicago Falcons were an American soccer team which won the National Challenge Cup in 1953.The Falcons won promotion to the NSL Major Division from the NSL First Division in 1952, the year they won the first of their two Peel Cup titles. In their first season in the Major Division, they...
, winning the 1953 U.S. Open Cup
1953 U.S. Open Cup
The 1953 U.S. Open Cup was the 40th edition of the oldest soccer competition in the United States. The Falcons defeated the Harmarville Hurricanes to win.- External Links :...
with the team.
National team
In 1950, Wolanin was called up to the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
for the 1950 FIFA World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
. He played in the first U.S. game of the tournament, a 3-1 loss to Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
.
Wolanin was inducted, along with the rest of the 1950 U.S. World Cup team, into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
in 1976.