Ryszard Kulesza
Encyclopedia
Ryszard Kulesza was a Polish
footballer, coach and official, one of managers of the Poland national football team
. His father was killed during Warsaw Uprising
, and Kulesza himself, who was 13, was very lucky to survive, as a German soldier threw him under a passing tank. After the uprising, he was forcibly taken to Germany as OST-Arbeiter
, but escaped and returned to Poland on foot.
After the war, Kulesza played in such teams, as Okęcie Warszawa
, Polonia Warsaw, and Polonia Bydgoszcz
. He ended footballers' career in 1961, and began working as a coach. In 1972-1974, Kulesza coached Lechia Gdańsk
, and since 1974, he worked with several national teams of Poland, such as U-21 (1974–1975), and U-23 (1975–1978). In 1976, Kulesza co-worked with Kazimierz Górski
, and later with Jacek Gmoch
(1976–1977 and 1978). In October 1978, after Gmoch's resignation, he took the post of general manager of Polish national team, but was dismissed in December 1980, as a result of the Okęcie Airport Incident
, and replaced with Antoni Piechniczek
.
In the 1980s, Kulesza worked in Tunisia
and Morocco
, returning to Poland in late 1980s. He became an activist of the Polish Football Federation (PZPN), founding the school of football coaches, which was popularly called kuleszówka. He actively fought corruption, and in 1993, he supported stripping Legia Warsaw of its championship title, after Warsaw's team routed Wisła Kraków 6-0 in Kraków, in a scandalous game. Kulesza died in a hospital, suffering from Alzheimer disease. He was buried on May 29, 2008, at Warsaw's Czerniaków Cemetery.
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, coach and official, one of managers of the Poland national football 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...
. His father was killed during Warsaw Uprising
Warsaw Uprising
The Warsaw Uprising was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance Home Army , to liberate Warsaw from Nazi Germany. The rebellion was timed to coincide with the Soviet Union's Red Army approaching the eastern suburbs of the city and the retreat of German forces...
, and Kulesza himself, who was 13, was very lucky to survive, as a German soldier threw him under a passing tank. After the uprising, he was forcibly taken to Germany as OST-Arbeiter
OST-Arbeiter
OST-Arbeiter was a designation for slave workers gathered from Eastern Europe to do forced labor in Germany during World War II. The Ostarbeiters were mostly from the territory of Reichskommissariat Ukraine . Ukrainians made up the largest portion although many Belarusians, Russians, Poles and...
, but escaped and returned to Poland on foot.
After the war, Kulesza played in such teams, as Okęcie Warszawa
Okecie Warszawa
Okęcie Warszawa is a Polish sports club from the Okęcie neighbourhood of Warsaw. Founded in 1929 as Skoda Warszawa, its name was changed into Okęcie in 1936. The club is located at 1 Radarowa Street in Warsaw...
, Polonia Warsaw, and Polonia Bydgoszcz
Polonia Bydgoszcz
ŻKS Polonia Bydgoszcz is a Polish speedway team based in Bydgoszcz who currently race in the Speedway Ekstraliga . The club has won the Polish Speedway League Championship seven times, the latest in 2002, and European Team Championship three times, the latest in 2001.- Club history :* 1920 -...
. He ended footballers' career in 1961, and began working as a coach. In 1972-1974, Kulesza coached Lechia Gdańsk
Lechia Gdansk
Lechia Gdańsk is a Polish football club based in Gdańsk, Poland. The club's name comes from Lechia, a poetic name for Poland. The club was founded by people expelled from Lwów, who were supporters of Lechia Lwów. Founded in 1945, Lechia was a powerhouse in Polish football during the mid-1950s...
, and since 1974, he worked with several national teams of Poland, such as U-21 (1974–1975), and U-23 (1975–1978). In 1976, Kulesza co-worked with Kazimierz Górski
Kazimierz Górski
Kazimierz Klaudiusz Górski was a coach of Poland national football team and honorary president of Polish Football Union . He was also a football player, capped once for Poland....
, and later with Jacek Gmoch
Jacek Gmoch
Jacek Gmoch is a former Polish footballer, who later became a trainer and selector of the Polish National Team....
(1976–1977 and 1978). In October 1978, after Gmoch's resignation, he took the post of general manager of Polish national team, but was dismissed in December 1980, as a result of the Okęcie Airport Incident
Okęcie Airport Incident
The Okęcie Airport Incident occurred in November 1980 at Warsaw’s Okęcie Airport. It involved five Polish international footballers: Józef Młynarczyk, Stanisław Terlecki, Zbigniew Boniek, Włodzimierz Smolarek and Władysław Żmuda...
, and replaced with 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 :...
.
In the 1980s, Kulesza worked in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
and Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, returning to Poland in late 1980s. He became an activist of the Polish Football Federation (PZPN), founding the school of football coaches, which was popularly called kuleszówka. He actively fought corruption, and in 1993, he supported stripping Legia Warsaw of its championship title, after Warsaw's team routed Wisła Kraków 6-0 in Kraków, in a scandalous game. Kulesza died in a hospital, suffering from Alzheimer disease. He was buried on May 29, 2008, at Warsaw's Czerniaków Cemetery.