Gerard Cieślik facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 27 April 1927 | ||
| Place of birth | Hajduki Wielkie, Poland | ||
| Date of death | 3 November 2013 (aged 86) | ||
| Place of death | Chorzów, Poland | ||
| Height | 1.63 m | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1939–1944 | Bismarckhütter Ballspiel Club | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1944–1959 | Ruch Chorzów | 237 | (167) |
| National team | |||
| 1947–1958 | Poland | 45 | (27) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1946 | Grunwald Ruda Śląska | ||
| 1956 | Prosna Wieruszów | ||
| 1958 | Concordia Knurów | ||
| 1961 | Ruch Chorzów | ||
| 1964–1966 | MKS Lędziny | ||
| 1968–1969 | Unia Racibórz | ||
| AKS Chorzów | |||
| Urania Ruda Śląska | |||
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Gerard Cieślik (born April 27, 1927 – died November 3, 2013) was a famous Polish football player. People also called him "Gienek." He was a fantastic striker, which means he was great at scoring goals.
He played for the Polish national team. He is most remembered for scoring two goals against the Soviet Union in a big match in 1957. Even though he was not very tall (163 cm), he was a powerful player. He played 45 games for Poland and scored 27 goals. He also represented Poland at the 1952 Summer Olympics.
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Gerard Cieślik's Football Journey
Gerard Cieślik was born in Hajduki Wielkie, which is now part of Chorzów, Poland. He spent his whole football career playing for one team, Ruch Chorzów. He played for them from July 1939 to June 1959. This is a very long time to stay with one club!
Winning Championships
During his time with Ruch Chorzów, Gerard helped his team win many important titles. They won the Polish Cup in 1951. They also won the top Polish football league, called Ekstraklasa, three times in a row: in 1951, 1952, and 1953. In total, he scored an amazing 177 goals for Ruch Chorzów.
From Player to Coach
After he stopped playing in 1959, Gerard Cieślik became a coach and a scout for Ruch Chorzów. A scout helps find new talented players. He never truly left the team. Because of his long loyalty, he is seen as a great example of dedication in Polish football.
A Difficult Time
In 1944 and 1945, during a difficult time in history, Gerard was forced to join the Wehrmacht. This was the German army. He was then transferred to Denmark. This was a challenging period for many people in Poland.
Standing Up for History
In 2003, some fans of Ruch Chorzów showed a banner with a German name for the region of Upper Silesia. Gerard Cieślik did not agree with this. He spoke out and asked the fans to remember the club's founders. These founders were patriots who fought for Polish rule in Silesia during the Silesian Uprisings. Gerard wanted everyone to respect this important history.
A Film About His Life
In 2006, a documentary film was made about Gerard Cieślik. It was called Das Alphabet von Gerard Cieślik. This film was shown as part of an exhibition. The exhibition was about players from Upper Silesia who played for either the Polish or German national teams. It showed how sport and politics were connected in Upper Silesia in the 20th century.
Awards and Achievements
Gerard Cieślik won many awards and honors during his football career.
Ruch Chorzów
- Ekstraklasa: 1951, 1952, 1953
- Polish Cup: 1951
Individual Awards
- Ekstraklasa top scorer: 1952, 1953 (This means he scored the most goals in the league in these years!)
- Order of Polonia Restituta: 1999 (This is a very high honor given by the Polish government.)
See also
- Sport in Poland
- List of Polish football players
