Tomasz Hajto
Encyclopedia
Tomasz Hajto (ˈtɔmaʂ ˈxajtɔ) (born 16 October 1972 in Maków Podhalański
) is a Polish
former footballer who is currently a pundit for Polsat Sport
and a commentator at Eurosport 2
.
. His prowess as a youngster was noticed by many, and in 1993–94 he was transferred to Górnik Zabrze
.
Hajto was soon to create interest from other countries, most particularly Germany
and England
, but it was to the former that he was first transferred. He first played for MSV Duisburg
for two seasons. After the team was relegated to 2. Bundesliga
, Hajto was transferred to FC Schalke 04
, where he played until 2004. He then signed a two year contract with 1. FC Nuremberg. As he had not met the expectations he was transferred to Southampton
in summer 2005. In January 2006, his contract with Southampton was cancelled, enabling him to sign for Derby County
on an eighteen month contract, however this deal was also terminated early, after only four months at the club.
in Korea
and Japan
. He has scored six goals in 62 caps for Poland
, as of December 2005.
In January 2008, Hajto was found guilty of manslaughter after speeding in his car and killing a female pedestrian at a zebra crossing on a street in Łódź. Pleading guilty to the charges, he was given a suspended two-year jail sentence, ordered to pay a fine of 7,000 Polish złotys and given a one-year driving ban. He had earlier been fined in 2004 for dealing in smuggled cigarettes.
Maków Podhalanski
Maków Podhalański is a town in southern Poland. Population: 5,738 .Since 1999 situated in Sucha County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship. Previously in Bielsko-Biala Voivodeship.-External links:*...
) is 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...
former footballer who is currently a pundit for Polsat Sport
Polsat Sport
Polsat Sport is a Polish sports channel owned by Polsat. It launched on 11 August 2000 and is available via satellite on Cyfrowy Polsat.-Logo History:-See also:* Polsat Sport HD* Polsat Sport Extra* Polsat Futbol...
and a commentator at Eurosport 2
Eurosport 2
Eurosport 2 is a European sports television network. It is a sister channel to Eurosport and Eurosport News. Several different versions of the channel exist across Europe, where television rights for sport differ.-Launch:...
.
Club career
Having begun his career playing for Halniak Maków Podhalański, he moved to Góral Żywiec before making his big break in 1991 with Hutnik KrakówHutnik Kraków
KS Hutnik Nowa Huta is a Polish football club from the Nowa Huta district of Kraków. The club was founded in 1950. Hutnik have played seven seasons in the Polish Ekstraklasa . The team's greatest success is a third place in the 1995/96 season, as a result of which they qualified for the UEFA Cup...
. His prowess as a youngster was noticed by many, and in 1993–94 he was transferred to Górnik Zabrze
Górnik Zabrze
Górnik Zabrze is a Polish football club from Zabrze. The club has won numerous championships, and was a dominant force in the 1960s and 1980s. For now Górnik has the most titles in Poland. The club plays in white or dark blue - red kit, and is based at the Ernest Pohl Stadium...
.
Hajto was soon to create interest from other countries, most particularly 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...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, but it was to the former that he was first transferred. He first played for MSV Duisburg
MSV Duisburg
MSV Duisburg is a German association football club based in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia. Nicknamed "the Zebras" for their traditional striped jerseys, the club was one of the original members of the Bundesliga when it was formed in 1963.-Early years:...
for two seasons. After the team was relegated to 2. 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...
, Hajto was transferred to FC Schalke 04
FC Schalke 04
Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04, commonly known as simply FC Schalke 04 or Schalke , is a German, association-football club originally from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Schalke has long been one of the most popular football teams in Germany, even though major...
, where he played until 2004. He then signed a two year contract with 1. FC Nuremberg. As he had not met the expectations he was transferred to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in summer 2005. In January 2006, his contract with Southampton was cancelled, enabling him to sign for Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
on an eighteen month contract, however this deal was also terminated early, after only four months at the club.
International career
Hajto participated in the 2002 FIFA World Cup2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
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...
. He has scored six goals in 62 caps for Poland
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...
, as of December 2005.
Personal life
Tomasz Hajto is married and has one son (Mateusz) and a daughter (Wiktoria).In January 2008, Hajto was found guilty of manslaughter after speeding in his car and killing a female pedestrian at a zebra crossing on a street in Łódź. Pleading guilty to the charges, he was given a suspended two-year jail sentence, ordered to pay a fine of 7,000 Polish złotys and given a one-year driving ban. He had earlier been fined in 2004 for dealing in smuggled cigarettes.