Jerzy Engel
Encyclopedia
Władysław Jerzy Engel (born October 6, 1952 in Włocławek, Poland
) was a Polish
football
er and coach. Engel began his career in football at an early age playing at local club Junak Wloclawek, before moving to Polonia Warsaw (1975–76), Hutnik Warszawa
(1976–77) and several other clubs.
Engel, nicknamed "Jurek", began playing in midfield or attack before, at the age of 22, being cruelly forced to cut his career short because of injury. With spirits dampened only slightly, he immediately turned to coaching and took over at Polonia Warsaw in the 1976/1977 season.
After a spell with third division teams, he came to the fore once more with his involvement in Poland's third-place finish in the 1982 FIFA World Cup
Spain
, helping then national coach, Antoni Piechniczek
, choose the ideal squad.
In 1985 Jurek took over at Legia Warsaw, leading them to two second place finishes in the Polish Championship in three seasons. Just as he was becoming well known he made the strange decision to move to Apollon Limassol
, in Cyprus
, an island he stayed on for seven years.
The devout Catholic returned to Legia before taking Polonia Warsaw to runners-up spot in 1998/1999.
He became manager of the Polish national team
in 1999 and after failing to achieve qualification for the 2000 European Championships, was instrumental in securing Emmanuel Olisadebe
's naturalisation as a Polish national.
With the side lacking firepower when he took charge, Engel saw the qualities in Nigerian-born Olisadebe who was already playing his league football in Poland. He asked the president to speed Olisadebe's papers through and as a result, had a talented forward available for World Cup qualifying. Olisadebe rewarded his coach with eight goals in ten qualifying matches.
Engel steered Poland to their first World Cup finals
tournament since 1986
, when he oversaw their participation at the 2002 World Cup
in South Korea
and Japan
.
The World Cup did not go well and Poland were eliminated in the first round. The opening two games provided two resounding defeats losing to South Korea and Portugal
. After being knocked out of the tournament and now without any pressure to perform, Poland beat the United States
in their final group game for a famous victory.
His most recent vocation was at Wisła Kraków where he was trainer until late-October 2005 and he has also been sports director of Legia Warsaw. On December 2005 he moved back in Cyprus and headed the training team of APOEL FC
. He led the team into the third place of the local Championship, just 2 points from the top, and won the Cup as well.
Engel's management career:
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...
) was a Polish
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...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er and coach. Engel began his career in football at an early age playing at local club Junak Wloclawek, before moving to Polonia Warsaw (1975–76), Hutnik Warszawa
Hutnik Warszawa
Hutnik Warszawa, is a Polish professional football club based in the Bielany district of Warsaw, Poland. It was founded on April 21, 1957 as Hutniczy Klub Sportowy and renamed Bielański Klub Sportowy in 2001...
(1976–77) and several other clubs.
Engel, nicknamed "Jurek", began playing in midfield or attack before, at the age of 22, being cruelly forced to cut his career short because of injury. With spirits dampened only slightly, he immediately turned to coaching and took over at Polonia Warsaw in the 1976/1977 season.
After a spell with third division teams, he came to the fore once more with his involvement in Poland's third-place finish in the 1982 FIFA World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, helping then national coach, Antoni Piechniczek
Antoni Piechniczek
Antoni Piechniczek is a retired Polish football player and a football manager. Since 2007 he is a Polish senator.- Player career :...
, choose the ideal squad.
In 1985 Jurek took over at Legia Warsaw, leading them to two second place finishes in the Polish Championship in three seasons. Just as he was becoming well known he made the strange decision to move to Apollon Limassol
Apollon Limassol
Apollon Limassol is a Greek Cypriot sports club, based in Limassol. It has football, basketball and volleyball teams. Founded in 1954, Apollon F.C...
, in 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...
, an island he stayed on for seven years.
The devout Catholic returned to Legia before taking Polonia Warsaw to runners-up spot in 1998/1999.
He became manager of the Polish national team
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
in 1999 and after failing to achieve qualification for the 2000 European Championships, was instrumental in securing Emmanuel Olisadebe
Emmanuel Olisadebe
Emmanuel Olisadebe is a Nigerian-born Polish football striker who plays for Greek football club Vyzas Megaron in Gamma Ethniki....
's naturalisation as a Polish national.
With the side lacking firepower when he took charge, Engel saw the qualities in Nigerian-born Olisadebe who was already playing his league football in Poland. He asked the president to speed Olisadebe's papers through and as a result, had a talented forward available for World Cup qualifying. Olisadebe rewarded his coach with eight goals in ten qualifying matches.
Engel steered Poland to their first World Cup finals
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
tournament since 1986
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
, when he oversaw their participation at 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 South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
The World Cup did not go well and Poland were eliminated in the first round. The opening two games provided two resounding defeats losing to South Korea and 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...
. After being knocked out of the tournament and now without any pressure to perform, Poland beat the United States
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...
in their final group game for a famous victory.
His most recent vocation was at Wisła Kraków where he was trainer until late-October 2005 and he has also been sports director of Legia Warsaw. On December 2005 he moved back in Cyprus and headed the training team of APOEL FC
APOEL FC
APOEL F.C. is a professional football club based in Lefkosia , Cyprus and they are one of the founding members of the Cyprus Football Association. APOEL is one of the most popular football teams in Cyprus and they are the most successful with an overall tally of 21 championships, 19 cups and 12...
. He led the team into the third place of the local Championship, just 2 points from the top, and won the Cup as well.
Engel's management career:
- Legia Warsaw, Poland, July 1985 - June 1988
- Apollon Limassol, Cyprus, July 1988 - June 1990
- APOP Paphos, Cyprus, July 1990 - June 1991
- Nea Salamis, Cyprus, July 1991 - June 1995
- Legia Warsaw, Poland, July 1995 - June 1996
- Nea Salamis, Cyprus, July 1996 - December 1996
- Aris Limassol, Cyprus, January 1997 - June 1997
- Polonia Warsaw, Poland, July 1997 - June 1999
- Poland National Team, January 2000 - June 2002
- Wisla Krakow, Poland, June 2004 - October 2005
- APOEL FCAPOEL FCAPOEL F.C. is a professional football club based in Lefkosia , Cyprus and they are one of the founding members of the Cyprus Football Association. APOEL is one of the most popular football teams in Cyprus and they are the most successful with an overall tally of 21 championships, 19 cups and 12...
Nicosia Cyprus, December 2005 - May 2006