ZBIGNIEW BONIEK

One of his country's greatest ever players, Polish striker Zbigniew Boniek was a crucial part of one of Poland's finest national teams as well as winning numerious domestic honours at home and abroad. Having started his career in his hometown with WKS Zawisza Bydgoszcz, he moved in 1975 to join Widzew Lódz and became one of the top players in Polish football.

In seven years with Widzew, Boniek established himself in the national team, playing a big part in the team that reached the second group stage of the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. He had to wait until 1981 for his first taste of domestic success, as Widzew won the first of two consecutive Polish League titles. After winning his second title in 1982, Boniek was one of the players of the tournament in the World Cup in Spain as Poland reached the semi-final. Unfortunately Boniek missed that match through suspension and Poland lost to Italy.

Having attracted the attention of many European clubs in that World Cup, Boniek moved to Italy to play for Juventus where he enjoyed a very successful three year stay. Juventus won the Italian Cup in 1983 and added the Serie A title and European Cup Winners' Cup in 1984. In 1985 he was part of the team that won the European Cup after the Heysel tragedy.

Leaving Juventus in 1985 to join AS Roma, Boniek won another Italian Cup in 1986 before ending his playing career in 1988. He went on to become coach of Lecce and and Bari in the early 1990s but both teams were relegated from Serie A while he was in charge. Going on to coach in the lower divisions in Italy and led Avellino to promotion to Serie B in 1995.

After leaving Avellino, Boniek became vice-president of the Polish Football Federation and his work behind the scenes helped to lay the foundations for Poland's qualification for the 2002 World Cup. When the team performed badly in that tournament, Boniek took over as coach in July 2002 but resigned just a few months later having been in charge for just five games.