Henryk Gronowski
{{short description|Polish association football player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Henryk Gronowski
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Henryk Teodor Gronowski{{cite web |title=Henryk Gronowski |url=http://www.90minut.pl/kariera.php?id=38716 |website=90minut.pl |access-date=28 November 2024 |language=pl}}
| birth_name = Heinrich Theodor Gruner
| birth_date = {{Birth date |1928|3|9|df=y}}{{cite web|url=http://lechia.gda.pl/osoba/1239/|title=Henryk Gronowski|website=lechia.gda.pl}}
| birth_place = Gliwice, Germany
| death_date = {{death date and age|1977|5|10|1926|8|9|df=y}}
| death_place = Warsaw, Poland
| height = 1.81 m
| position = Goalkeeper
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Dynas Gliwice
| years1 = 1946–1948
| clubs1 = Piast Gliwice
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 1949–1961
| clubs2 = Lechia Gdańsk
| caps2 = 209
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1961–1962
| clubs3 = Polonia Melbourne
| caps3 =
| goals3 =
| years4 = 1962–1963
| clubs4 = Polonia Sydney
| caps4 =
| goals4 =
| years5 = 1963–1969
| clubs5 = Lechia Gdańsk
| caps5 = 49
| goals5 = 0
| totalcaps = 258
| totalgoals = 0
| nationalyears1 = 1957
| nationalteam1 = Poland
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| manageryears1 =
| managerclubs1 = Ogniwo Sopot
| manageryears2 = {{0|0000}}–1977
| managerclubs2 = Gedania Gdańsk
}}
Henryk Teodor Gronowski (born Heinrich Theodor Gruner; 9 March 1928 – 10 May 1977) was a Polish professional football player and manager. He spent the majority of his career with Lechia Gdańsk, before going on to have brief spells in management. His brother, Robert Gronowski was also a former professional footballer who played as a forward.
Early years
Having been born in Gliwice in 1928, which was then in Germany, Henryk was born as Henryk Gruner. He later changed his last name in 1949 to the more Polish sounding Gronowski.{{cite web|url=https://lechia.net/component/joomleague/player/114-1953-i-liga/1-lechia-gdask/505-henryk-gronowski/|title=Informacje osobiste - Henryk Gronowski|website=lechia.net}}
Senior career
After World War II, Gronowski joined the newly established football team of his birth city Piast Gliwice, which had now been integrated into Poland.{{cite web|url=http://piast.gliwice.pl/2013/10/24/bracia-gronowscy-%E2%80%93-historia-piasta-i-lechii/|title=Bracia Gronowscy – historia Piasta i Lechii|website=piast.gliwice.pl}} In 1949, Gronowski joined Lechia Gdańsk with his older brother, Robert.{{cite web|url=http://www.lechiahistoria.pl/20-pilkarzy-w-plebiscycie-70-lecia/henryk-gronowski/|title=HENRYK GRONOWSKI|website=lechiahistoria.pl|date=8 October 2020 }} Gronowski spent a total of 12 seasons at Lechia, playing over 200 games in all competitions.{{cite web|url=https://lechia.net/statystyki/wystepy|title=Wystepy od 1945 od.|website=lechia.net}} In 1961, Gronowski moved to Australia to play for Polonia MelbourneJohn Punshon "http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/States/VIC/1962SLR.html" ozfootball.net and Polonia Sydney, teams created by Polish nationals who had moved to Australia. After two seasons away, Gronowski once again returned to Lechia Gdańsk and spent a further six years with the club.{{cite web|url=https://lechia.net/component/joomleague/player/105-1960-i-liga/1-lechia-gdask/505-henryk-gronowski/|title=Informacje osobiste:Henryk Gronowski - Statystyki osobiste|website=lechia.net}} In total, Gronowski spent 18 seasons at Lechia and made 273 appearances in all competitions.
International career
On 3 November 1957, Gronowski played for Poland in what turned out to be his only international appearance. He played against Finland in a 4–0 win, keeping a clean sheet for his country.{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/poland-v-finland-03-november-1957-227012/|title=Poland v Finland, 03 November 1957|website=11v11.com}}
Managerial career
After his playing career had finished Gronowski fully went into management. He took charge firstly of Ogniwo Sopot, before going on to manage Gedania Gdańsk until his death in 1977.{{cite web |title=GRONOWSKI HENRYK TEODOR, piłkarz, trener |url=https://gdansk.gedanopedia.pl/gdansk/?title=GRONOWSKI_HENRYK_TEODOR,_piłkarz,_trener |website=gdansk.gedanopedia.pl |access-date=28 November 2024 |language=pl}}
Personal life
Gronowski is commemorated by a star at the MOSiR Stadium in Gdańsk. The "Avenue of Stars" commemorates the efforts and success of former players and coaches.{{cite web|url=https://gol24.pl/zapomniane-gwiazdy-lechii-gdansk-ze-stadionu-przy-ulicy-traugutta/ar/12261544|title=Zapomniane gwiazdy Lechii Gdańsk ze stadionu przy ulicy Traugutta|website=gol24.pl}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gronowski, Henryk}}
Category:Footballers from Gliwice
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Polish men's footballers
Category:Poland men's international footballers
Category:Piast Gliwice players
Category:Lechia Gdańsk players
Category:Western Eagles FC players
Category:Polish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Australia
Category:Polish expatriate sportspeople in Australia