Jacek Krzynówek
Encyclopedia
Jacek Krzynówek (ˈjat͡sɛk kʂɨˈnuvɛk), born 15 May 1976, is a former Polish
footballer. One of the most glorious moments of his career was scoring a rocket shot against Real Madrid
in the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League
.
in a 3-1 Poland win. In 1999, he moved to 1. FC Nuremberg in the 2nd Bundesliga
. He made his return to the Polish National Team in the beginning of 2000, after Jerzy Engel
became coach. Very shortly, he became one of the most important players in the team qualified for the 2002 World Cup
.
In 2002, he contributed to the promotion of 1. FC Nuremberg to the Bundesliga
, and was named the best left midfielder in the 2nd Bundesliga
. Also in 2002, he went to South Korea and Japan for the 2002 World Cup with Poland. Despite a poor performance by Poland, he was praised for his play, and appeared in all three matches.
As a result of an injury, he missed most of the 2002–03 season. In the fall of 2003, he played in crucial Euro 2004 qualifying matches for Poland. Unfortunately, Poland was unable to qualify and 1. FC Nuremberg was unable to stay in the Bundesliga. As a result of his excellent play, he was transferred to a top Bundesliga club, Bayer Leverkusen
. In the 2004–05 season, he was one of the best players for the club, and the trio of Krzynowek, Andriy Voronin
, and Dimitar Berbatov
drew the attention of many top European clubs. Bayer Leverkusen
also played very well in the Champions League, where it eliminated such clubs as Real Madrid
an AS Roma. Krzynowek scored three goals, one of which was scored versus Real Madrid
, which was named one of the most beautiful goals in that year's tournament.
During 2006 World Cup Qualification, he played in the most important games for Poland and contributed to Poland's qualification to the 2006 World Cup in Germany
. As a result of another injury during the spring of 2006, he was unable to play regularly at his club, Bayer Leverkusen
. This was evident in his poor form during the 2006 FIFA World Cup
and was one of the poorest performers in the Polish team as they lost 2-0 to the surprising Ecuador
and 1-0 to hosts Germany
. After a disappointing 2005-2006 season, he moved to VfL Wolfsburg
.
He is regarded as one of the best Polish footballers. He has earned many awards and trophies, not only in Poland, but also abroad. He has earned the honour of twice being named the Polish Footballer of the Year by magazine Pilka Nozna in 2003 and 2004. He has appeared in 74 international matches for Poland, scoring 15 goals (as of 29 September 2008). He is also a member of the Elite Polish National Team Footballers by the PZPN.
Krzynówek was a key player in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign for Poland where he scored 4 goals; 3 against Azerbaijan
and an astonishing equalizer in the 87th minute against Portugal
. His left-foot strike from 40 yards hit the post and the back of Portuguese keeper Ricardo
before squeezing into the back of the net. Thanks to a very successful all around performance he was then picked into Eurosport's
dream team as the left midfielder and Poland's squad for Euro 2008 where the poles competed for the first time in their history.
On 17 November 2007, Wisła Kraków announced that they were interested in purchasing Jacek during the Ekstraklasa transfer window, but after negotiations the Polish club could not agree to terms with VfL Wolfsburg
.
On 2 February 2009 Krzynówek moved to Hannover 96
.
On 15 August 2011 Krzynówek officially announced his retirement.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
footballer. One of the most glorious moments of his career was scoring a rocket shot against Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
in the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
.
Club career
Jacek's football career started with LZS Chrzanowice. Then in 1994 he landed in RKS Radomsko. In Radomsko he played two seasons, and then moved to another Polish club, Raków Częstochowa in which he made his debut in the Polish Ekstraklasa (28 July 1996). After a season with Rakow, he moved to second league club, GKS Bełchatów. In the 1997–98 season, he with his team advanced to the Ekstraklasa. Unfortunately, his club was unable to keep itself in the Polish first league, and was demoted back to the second league. Despite this, his skills and play impressed scouts from other clubs, including 1. FC Nuremberg, as well as coach of the Polish National Team, Janusz Wojcik.International career
As still a player for GKS Bełchatów, he made his debut in the Polish National Team on 10 November 1998 against SlovakiaSlovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
in a 3-1 Poland win. In 1999, he moved to 1. FC Nuremberg in the 2nd Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
. He made his return to the Polish National Team in the beginning of 2000, after Jerzy Engel
Jerzy Engel
Władysław Jerzy Engel was a Polish footballer and coach. Engel began his career in football at an early age playing at local club Junak Wloclawek, before moving to Polonia Warsaw , Hutnik Warszawa and several other clubs.Engel, nicknamed "Jurek", began playing in midfield or attack before, at...
became coach. Very shortly, he became one of the most important players in the team qualified for the 2002 World Cup
2002 World Cup
2002 World Cup may refer to:*Alpine skiing – 2002 Alpine Skiing World Cup*Athletics – 2002 IAAF World Cup*Field Hockey:** 2002 Men's World Hockey Cup** 2002 Women's World Hockey Cup...
.
In 2002, he contributed to the promotion of 1. FC Nuremberg to the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
, and was named the best left midfielder in the 2nd Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
. Also in 2002, he went to South Korea and Japan for the 2002 World Cup with Poland. Despite a poor performance by Poland, he was praised for his play, and appeared in all three matches.
As a result of an injury, he missed most of the 2002–03 season. In the fall of 2003, he played in crucial Euro 2004 qualifying matches for Poland. Unfortunately, Poland was unable to qualify and 1. FC Nuremberg was unable to stay in the Bundesliga. As a result of his excellent play, he was transferred to a top Bundesliga club, Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen is a German football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the most well-known department of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a sports club whose members also participate in athletics, gymnastics, basketball and other sports.-Origins and early years:On 27 November...
. In the 2004–05 season, he was one of the best players for the club, and the trio of Krzynowek, Andriy Voronin
Andriy Voronin
Andriy Viktorovych Voronin is a Ukrainian professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for Dynamo Moscow. His previous clubs include Chornomorets Odessa, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Mainz, Köln, Bayer Leverkusen, and Liverpool. In the 2002–03 season, Voronin became top goalscorer in the...
, and Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of...
drew the attention of many top European clubs. Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen is a German football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the most well-known department of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a sports club whose members also participate in athletics, gymnastics, basketball and other sports.-Origins and early years:On 27 November...
also played very well in the Champions League, where it eliminated such clubs as Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
an AS Roma. Krzynowek scored three goals, one of which was scored versus Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, which was named one of the most beautiful goals in that year's tournament.
During 2006 World Cup Qualification, he played in the most important games for Poland and contributed to Poland's qualification to the 2006 World Cup in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. As a result of another injury during the spring of 2006, he was unable to play regularly at his club, Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen is a German football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the most well-known department of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a sports club whose members also participate in athletics, gymnastics, basketball and other sports.-Origins and early years:On 27 November...
. This was evident in his poor form during the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
and was one of the poorest performers in the Polish team as they lost 2-0 to the surprising Ecuador
Ecuador national football team
The Ecuadorian national football team represents Ecuador in international football competitions and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. They generally play official home matches at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, but often play friendlies in other stadiums around the country...
and 1-0 to hosts Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
. After a disappointing 2005-2006 season, he moved to VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg is a professional German association football club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, who play in the Bundesliga football competition. Wolfsburg have won the Bundesliga once in their history, in the 2008–09 season, and were DFB-Pokal runners-up in 1995. The current head coach is Felix...
.
He is regarded as one of the best Polish footballers. He has earned many awards and trophies, not only in Poland, but also abroad. He has earned the honour of twice being named the Polish Footballer of the Year by magazine Pilka Nozna in 2003 and 2004. He has appeared in 74 international matches for Poland, scoring 15 goals (as of 29 September 2008). He is also a member of the Elite Polish National Team Footballers by the PZPN.
Krzynówek was a key player in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign for Poland where he scored 4 goals; 3 against Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan national football team
The Azerbaijan national football team is the national football team of Azerbaijan and is controlled by Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan...
and an astonishing equalizer in the 87th minute against Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
. His left-foot strike from 40 yards hit the post and the back of Portuguese keeper Ricardo
Ricardo Pereira
Ricardo Alexandre Martins Soares Pereira, OIH , simply Ricardo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Vitória de Setúbal as a goalkeeper....
before squeezing into the back of the net. Thanks to a very successful all around performance he was then picked into Eurosport's
Eurosport
Eurosport is a pan-European television sport network operated by French broadcaster TF1 Group. The network of channels are available in 59 countries, in 20 different languages providing viewers with European and international sporting events...
dream team as the left midfielder and Poland's squad for Euro 2008 where the poles competed for the first time in their history.
On 17 November 2007, Wisła Kraków announced that they were interested in purchasing Jacek during the Ekstraklasa transfer window, but after negotiations the Polish club could not agree to terms with VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg is a professional German association football club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, who play in the Bundesliga football competition. Wolfsburg have won the Bundesliga once in their history, in the 2008–09 season, and were DFB-Pokal runners-up in 1995. The current head coach is Felix...
.
On 2 February 2009 Krzynówek moved to Hannover 96
Hannover 96
Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96, Hannover or simply 96, is a German association football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony.-Foundation to WWII:...
.
On 15 August 2011 Krzynówek officially announced his retirement.
Poland Goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 28 February 2001 | Larnaca Larnaca Larnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort... , Cyprus Cyprus Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the... |
4-0 | Win | Friendly | |
| 2. | 30 April 2003 | Brussels Brussels Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union... , Belgium Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
1-3 | Loss | Friendly | |
| 3. | 6 June 2003 | Poznań Poznan Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be... , Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... |
3-0 | Win | Friendly | |
| 4. | 12 November 2003 | Warsaw Warsaw Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most... , Poland |
3-1 | Win | Friendly | |
| 5. | 4 September 2004 | Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... , Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west... |
3-0 | Win | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for UEFA teams. A total of 51 teams took part, divided in 8 Groups - five groups of 6 teams each and three groups of 7 teams each - competing for 13 places in the World Cup... |
|
| 6. | 9 October 2004 | Vienna Vienna Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre... , Austria Austria Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the... |
3-1 | Win | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) | |
| 7. | 13 October 2004 | Cardiff Cardiff Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for... , Wales Wales Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²... |
3-2 | Win | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) | |
| 8. | 26 March 2005 | Warsaw, Poland | 8-0 | Win | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) | |
| 9. | 7 October 2005 | Warsaw, Poland | 3-2 | Win | Friendly | |
| 10. | 24 March 2007 | Warsaw, Poland | 5-0 | Win | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying | |
| 11. | 2 June 2007 | Baku Baku Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal... , Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to... |
3-1 | Win | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying | |
| 12. | 2 June 2007 | Baku, Azerbaijan | 3-1 | Win | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying | |
| 13. | 22 August 2007 | Moscow Moscow Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent... , Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
2-2 | Draw | Friendly | |
| 14. | 8 September 2007 | Lisbon Lisbon Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban... , Portugal Portugal Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the... |
2-2 | Draw | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying | |
| 15. | 1 June 2008 | Chorzów Chorzów Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million... , Poland |
1-1 | Draw | Friendly |
External links
- Official site of Jacek Krzynówek
- Player profile on 90minut.pl
- National team stats on the website of the Polish Football AssociationPolish Football AssociationThe Polish Football Association is the governing body of football in Poland. It organizes the Polish football leagues , the Polish Cup, the Polish SuperCup, the Polish League Cup, and the Polish national football team...
- Leverkusen-who's who