Wladyslaw Zmuda

Wladyslaw Zmuda

Polish footballer, central defender
Date of Birth: 06.06.1954
Country: Poland

Content:
  1. Władysław Żmuda
  2. International Success and World Cup Records
  3. Club Career Abroad
  4. Post-Playing Career

Władysław Żmuda

Early Career and International Debut

Władysław Żmuda, born in Lublin, Poland, on June 6, 1954, began his football career with Motor Lublin. He later played for Gwardia Warszawa, where he made his European debut and earned his first national team call-up. Żmuda went on to represent Śląsk Wrocław, with whom he won his first Polish Cup and league title.

International Success and World Cup Records

Żmuda made his debut for the Poland national team in 1973. In 1974, he became the only Pole to win the FIFA Young Player of the Year award at the World Cup. He played in all seven matches for Poland, helping them secure third place and a bronze medal.

Żmuda continued to be a key player for Poland, competing in the 1976 Olympics (silver medal) and the 1978 and 1982 World Cups (both bronze medals). He captained Poland in the 1982 World Cup. With 21 World Cup appearances before the 1998 edition, Żmuda held the record for most World Cup matches played by a Polish player.

Club Career Abroad

In 1982, Żmuda received permission to play in Italy, joining Verona. However, injuries hindered his success. He then moved to the New York Cosmos in the United States but soon returned to Italy. He spent three seasons with Cremonese before ending his playing career in 1987.

Post-Playing Career

After retiring, Żmuda served as an assistant coach for the Polish national team under Paweł Janas and Jerzy Engel. He also coached the Polish youth team and the Poland U-17 team from 2009 to 2010.

In 2009, Żmuda became president of the Polish Association of Honorary Players. In 2006, he founded his own sports academy for children under ten. In 2011, he was appointed as a "Friend of Euro 2012" alongside former Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski and commentator Włodzimierz Szaranowicz.

© BIOGRAPHS