Iosif Petschovsky
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Iosif Petschovsky, (born July 2, 1921 - died October 6, 1968), was a Romanian football player, one of the best Romania ever produced. His nickname was Peci. He could play in any position on the pitch, he was even goalkeeper once.
Petschovsky played for Chinezul Timişoara - a team where he made his debut in Divizia A at the age of 16, CAM Timişoara, CA Oradea and CA Cluj during the World War II, before joining the side of IT Arad, then the best team in Romania, in 1946.
In 1953 he moved to CCA Bucharest for three years, before returning to Arad to play for UT Arad until 1961 when he retired from professional football.
Petschovsky played 273 games in Divizia A, scoring a massive 86 goals. For Romania he won 32 caps, scoring 11 goals.
Under the name of József Perényi, Petschovsky played in the Hungarian Football Championship with CA Oradea, and also for Hungary.
Petschovski was suspended in October 1947 for a period of three months because before an international game between Romania and Poland he bet on the Polish team.
In 1946 a Hungarian footballer tried, and even did so for a short while, to steal Petschovsky's identity, when he recommenced himself as the real Petschovsky in order to sign a contract with RC Strasbourg of France.
In 1952 he became the first footballer to receive the title of Master of Sport. He was also the first Romanian footballer to be ever called to played for a World Team alongside the biggest names of football.
His former club, UT Arad made him a statue, which can be found at the main entrace of the UTA Stadium.
