Marek Citko

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Marek Citko

| image = Marek Citko.jpg

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Marek Citko

| height = {{height|m=1.77}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|3|27|df=y}}

| birth_place = Białystok, Poland

| currentclub =

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 = 1989–1990

| youthyears2 = 1990–1992

| youthclubs1 = Włókniarz Białystok

| youthclubs2 = Jagiellonia Białystok

| years1 = 1992–1995

| years2 = 1995–1999

| years3 = 1999–2001

| years4 = 2001

| years5 = 2001–2002

| years6 = 2002

| years7 = 2002–2004

| years8 = 2004–2005

| years9 = 2005

| years10 = 2005–2007

| clubs1 = Jagiellonia Białystok

| clubs2 = Widzew Łódź

| clubs3 = Legia Warsaw

| clubs4 = Dyskobolia Grodzisk

| clubs5 = Hapoel Be'er Sheva

| clubs6 = Legia Warsaw

| clubs7 = FC Aarau

| clubs8 = Cracovia

| clubs9 = Yverdon-Sport FC

| clubs10 = Polonia Warsaw

| caps1 = 74

| caps2 = 86

| caps3 = 36

| caps4 = 3

| caps5 = 17

| caps6 = 0

| caps7 = 24

| caps8 = 15

| caps9 = 6

| caps10 = 36

| goals1 = 12

| goals2 = 24

| goals3 = 6

| goals4 = 0

| goals5 = 1

| goals6 = 0

| goals7 = 4

| goals8 = 0

| goals9 = 0

| goals10 = 7

| nationalyears1 = 1996–1997

| nationalteam1 = Poland

| nationalcaps1 = 10

| nationalgoals1 = 2

| pcupdate =

}}

Marek Citko (born 27 March 1974) is a Polish former professional footballer who played as an offensive midfielder.[https://weszlo.com/2017/12/11/piec-duzo-mialem-swoje-dwie-minuty/ Pięć? Za dużo. Miałem swoje dwie minuty] weszlo.com During the professional career Citko represented numerous clubs in Poland and outside the native country, including Włókniarz Białystok, Jagiellonia Białystok, Widzew Łódź, Legia Warsaw, Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Hapoel Be'er Sheva, FC Aarau, Cracovia and Polonia Warsaw.

Club career

=Widzew Łódź=

Citko reached the greatest heights of his career while playing for Widzew Łódź. Led by Franciszek Smuda, Widzew won the 1995–96{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/national/poland/ekstraklasa/1995-1996/round-1/ |title=Polish Ekstraklasa - results of the 1995/1996 season |publisher=Soccerway.com}} and 1996–97 Ekstraklasa titles,{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/national/poland/ekstraklasa/1996-1997/round-1/ |title=Polish Ekstraklasa - results of the 1996/1997 season |publisher=Soccerway.com}} as well as the 1996 Polish Super Cup.{{cite web |url=http://polishsoccer.net/widzew_lodz.htm |title=Polish SuperCup |publisher=PolishSoccer.net |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824220718/http://polishsoccer.net/widzew_lodz.htm |archivedate=2011-08-24 }}

During the 1996–97 season, with Citko in the line-up, Widzew qualified for the UEFA Champions League. His team was eliminated from the competition after the group stage.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldfootball.net/spielplan/champions-league-1996-1997-gruppe-b/0/ |title=1996/1997 Champions League group stage|publisher=Worldfootball.net}} Citko performed well, scoring twice in the first two games of Widzew's campaign. On 11 September, he scored a late goal in a 2–1 away loss against eventual champions Borussia Dortmund. Two weeks later, he chipped José Francisco Molina, the then goalkeeper of the Spain national team, from 40 yards out in a 1–4 home loss against Atlético Madrid.{{cite web|url=http://www.jwww.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/champions-league-1996-1997-gruppe-b-widzew-lodz-atletico-madrid/|title=The 1996/1997 season match between Widzew and Atletico|publisher=Weltfussball.de|access-date=2011-05-22|archive-date=2012-03-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324102727/http://www.jwww.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/champions-league-1996-1997-gruppe-b-widzew-lodz-atletico-madrid/|url-status=dead}}

=A severe injury & later career=

Shortly after, on 17 May 1997 in the match against Górnik Zabrze, Citko suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury, and after his 16-month recuperation was unable to capture his previous form.{{cite web |url=http://www.pilkarskiefakty.pl/news/niespelnione--talenty-lat-90,8158.html |title=Citko's severe injury |publisher=Pilkarskiefakty.pl |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323092246/http://www.pilkarskiefakty.pl/news/niespelnione--talenty-lat-90,8158.html |archivedate=2012-03-23 }} He spent the rest of his career playing for lower profile sides. While representing Polonia Warsaw during the 2006–07 season, on 18 November 2006 Citko scored directly from the corner kick in a 2–2 draw against Zawisza Bydgoszcz. He retired on 29 June 2007, as one of the biggest unfulfilled talents in Polish football history.

International career

During his stint at Widzew, Citko won 10 caps for Poland. On 9 October 1996, in the 1998 World Cup qualifier at Wembley Stadium in London, Citko opened the scoring against the hosts.{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRsl1995.html |title=Citko's goal against England|publisher=EnglandFootballOnline.com}} Despite Poland losing the match 1–2, the game put Citko on foreign clubs' radar. It was reported that the Pole would join Premier League side Blackburn Rovers, but he eventually decided not to leave Poland, explaining that he wished to train as a priest.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/CITKO+KILLS+HIS+DEAL+OVER+CASH.-a061138347 |title=Citko kills his deal over cash|work=Daily Mirror|date=1997-02-16|accessdate=2011-05-15}} He was also linked with Liverpool.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-liverpool-make-move-for-citko-1272674.html |title=Liverpool make move for Citko|work=The Independent|date=1997-03-13|author=Alan Nixon|accessdate=2011-05-15}}

=Stardom in Poland=

Scoring a goal against England turned Citko into an overnight sensation in Poland. The player came first in a contest organized by the Polish Television (TVP), Polish Radio Program 3 (PR3) and "Super Express" (a Polish daily newspaper). He also won the Polish Newcomer of the Year award given out by "Piłka Nożna", at the time the biggest football magazine in Poland, and came 10th in the contest of "Przegląd Sportowy".

=International goals=

class="wikitable"

! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition

9 October 1996

Wembley Stadium, London, England

1998 FIFA World Cup qualification

26 February 1997

Estádio Serra Dourada, Goiânia, Brazil

Friendly

Honours

Widzew Łódź

Ekstraklasa: 1995–96, 1996–97
Polish Super Cup: 1996

Individual

Polish Newcomer of the Year: 1996{{cite web |title=Laureaci |url=https://pilkanozna.pl/laureaci/ |website=pilkanozna.pl |access-date=16 July 2024 |language=pl}}
Ekstraklasa Hall of Fame: 2024{{cite web |title=Gala PKO Ekstraklasy [RELACJA NA ŻYWO] |url=https://przegladsportowy.onet.pl/pilka-nozna/ekstraklasa/wielka-gala-ekstraklasy-na-zywo-dla-kogo-trofea-relacja-live-ekstraklasa/zt6ks6d |website=przegladsportowy.onet.pl |access-date=26 May 2025 |language=pl |date=27 May 2024}}