:Zygmunt Maszczyk

{{Infobox football biography

| name= Zygmunt Maszczyk

| image =

| fullname = Zygmunt Paweł Maszczyk

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1945|5|3}}

| birth_place = Siemianowice Śląskie, Poland

| height = 1.75 m

| currentclub =

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 = 1955–1962

| youthclubs1 = Siemianowiczanka

| years1 = 1963–1976

| years2 = 1977–1978

| years3 = 1979–1980

| clubs1 = Ruch Chorzów

| clubs2 = Valenciennes

| clubs3 = CKS Czeladź

| caps1 = 310

| caps2 = 36

| caps3 =

| goals1 = 41

| goals2 = 4

| goals3 =

| totalcaps = 346

| totalgoals = 45

| nationalyears1 = 1968–1976

| nationalteam1 = Poland

| nationalcaps1 = 36

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 =

| managerclubs1 =

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country|{{fb|POL}}}}

}}

Zygmunt Paweł Maszczyk (born 3 May 1945) is a Polish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

He earned 36 caps with the Poland national team and was a participant at the 1974 FIFA World Cup, where Poland won the bronze medal, at the 1972 Summer Olympics, where Poland won the gold medal and at the 1976 Summer Olympics, where Poland won the silver medal. In 1975, he won the Polish Footballer of the Year plebiscite organized by the Piłka Nożna football weekly.{{Cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/footballer_of_the_year/polen/# |title=Player of the year – Poland |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=22 December 2024}}

Career

Early in his career (1955–1962), Maszczyk played in local club Siemianowiczanka Siemianowice Śląskie. He moved to the well-renowned Ruch Chorzów in 1963 and played there until 1976, appearing in 310 matches. He was instrumental in Ruch becoming three time national champion (1968, 1974, 1975) and winning the Polish Cup (1974).

During his career, Maszczyk was perhaps the most popular player of Ruch. He was well regarded for his flawless technique, exceptional work ethic, tirelessness, and quietness and aversion to media.

As an example of his style, Maszczyk was acclaimed as obviously moving the most in the field of all the players of the Poland national team that won the bronze medal at the 1974 FIFA World Cup.

Fans called him "Zyga" (a Silesian diminutive for Zygmunt).

Later, Maszczyk moved to Germany, where he left the sports career. By 1981, he lived and work in Lüdenscheid.

Honours

Ruch Chorzów{{cite web |title=Zygmunt Maszczyk|url=http://www.90minut.pl/kariera.php?id=8106 |website=90minut.pl |access-date=3 May 2024 |language=pl}}

Ekstraklasa: 1967–68, 1973–74, 1974–75
Polish Cup: 1973–74

Poland

Olympic gold medal: 1972
Olympic silver medal: 1976
FIFA World Cup third place: 1974

Individual

Piłka Nożna Polish Footballer of the Year: 1975{{cite web |title=Laureaci |url=https://pilkanozna.pl/laureaci/ |website=pilkanozna.pl |access-date=16 July 2024 |language=pl}}

Orders{{cite web |title=Zygmunt Maszczyk |url=http://www.orlygorskiego.pl/reprezentancji_zygmunt_maszczyk.htm |website=orlygorskiego.pl |access-date=3 May 2024 |language=pl}}

Gold Cross of Merit: 1972
Order of Polonia Restituta Officer's Cross: 1974

References

{{in lang|pl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20061209232828/http://www.olimpijski.pl/294_2585.html Polish Olympic Committee entry]
{{in lang|pl}} [http://www.ruchchorzow.com.pl/?page=articles-news&article_id=4669&article_category=5 Ruch Chorzów profile]

{{Navboxes

|title= Poland squads

|bg = white

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Category:1945 births

Category:Living people

Category:Polish men's footballers

Category:Polish expatriate men's footballers

Category:Poland men's international footballers

Category:Ruch Chorzów players