On August 22, the funeral of Franciszek Smuda, an outstanding coach and former coach of the Polish national football team, took place in Krakow. The ceremony at the Rakowicki Cemetery began at 2:20 p.m. Franciszek Smuda had been suffering from blood cancer for several years. He died on August 18, at the age of 76. He was one of the most famous coaches in the country.
He won three Polish championship titles with Widzew Łódź and Wisła Kraków. In 1996, he won promotion to the Champions League group stage with the Łódź club. In 2009-12, he was the coach of the Polish national team, which he led during the European Championships held in Poland and Ukraine. He also worked in Germany, Turkey and Cyprus.
The distinguished coach was posthumously awarded by President Andrzej Duda. During the ceremony, Piotr Nowacki, advisor to the president, presented the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta to the wife of the deceased coach.
The coach was bid farewell by his players, including Mariusz Pawełek and Marek Citko. One of the banners was carried by the legendary trio of the “White Star”: Paweł Brożek, Arkadiusz Głowacki and Marcin Wasilewski.
Also present were Jakub Błaszczykowski, Kazimierz Moskal, Sławomir Peszko, Mateusz Borek, Kamil Glik, Tomasz Rząsa, Marek Citko, Jacek Bednarz, and satirist Marcin Daniec and his wife.
Andrzej Strejlau, a former outstanding coach and national team selector, spoke on behalf of the president of the Polish Football Association, Cezary Kulesza.
– Franciszek, you have joined those who already form the coaching council in this better of worlds. The legendary Kazimierz Górski, Leszek Jezierski, Wojciech Łazarek and Orest Lenczyk – he said.
Finally, the widow Małgorzata Drewniak-Smuda took the floor and thanked everyone for their presence and remembering the deceased.
Then the coffin with the body of Franciszek Smuda was placed in the family tomb.
Funeral of Franciszek Smuda
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Former Polish national team player Michał Żewłakow remembers Franciszek Smuda (IAR) 1:16
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Franciszek Smuda is remembered by the former coach of the Polish national team, Jerzy Engel (IAR) 1:37
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This is how Franciszek Smuda is remembered by one of the best strikers in Widzew history, Marek Koniarek (IAR) 0:47
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This is how Andrzej Janisz remembers Smuda (IAR) 1:36
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Antoni Piechniczek, former coach of the Polish national team, remembers Smuda (IAR) 1:10
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Franciszek Smuda’s football career:
1967 – 1969 – Odra Wodzisław Śląski
1970 – Ruch Chorzow
1970 – 1971 -Steel Mielec
1971 – 1974 – Piast Gliwice
1975 – Vistula Garfield
1975 – Harford Bicentennials
1975 – 1977 – Legia Warsaw
1978 – Los Angeles Aztecs
1978 – Oakland Stompers
1978 – San Jose Earthquakes
1980 – 1982 – SpVgg Fuerth
1982 – VfR Coburg
Franciszek Smuda’s coaching career:
1983 – VfR Coburg
1984 – 1987 – ASV Forth
1987 – 1988 – Eintracht Sud Nuremberg
1988 – FC Herzogenaurach
1989 – Altay SK
1992 – Konyaspor
1993 – FV Wendelstein
1993 – 1995 -Steel Mielec
1995 – 1998 – Widzew Lodz
1998 – 1999 – Wisla Krakow
1999 – 2001 – Legia Warsaw
2001 – 2002 – Wisla Krakow
2002 – Widzew Lodz
2003 – Piotrcovia Piotrków Trybunalski
2003 – Widzew Lodz
2004 – Widzew Lodz
2004 – Omonia Nicosia
2004 – 2005 – Odra Wodzisław Śląski
2005 – 2006 – Lubin Basin
2006 – 2009 – Lech Poznan
2009 – Lubin Basin
2009 – 2012 – Polish National Team
2013 – Jahn Ratyzbona
2013 – 2015 – Wisla Krakow
2016 – 2017 – Górnik Leczna
2017 – 2018 – Widzew Lodz
2018 – 2019 – Górnik Leczna
2021 – 2022 – Eternal Krakow
Read also:
- Franciszek Smuda has died. The legendary coach was 76 years old
- Franciszek Smuda – one of a kind. Mastery, charisma and iconic quotes
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