Teodor Peterek

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Teodor Peterek (nicknames: Mietlorz and Teo), a Polish soccer player from interwar period, forward, represented Ruch Chorzow and Polish National Team. Born November 7, 1910 in Swietochlowice, died January 12, 1969.

Peterek’s career started in Slask Swietochlowice in 1925, two years later moved to Ruch Chorzow in which debuted at a very early age. “Teo” was not even 18 years old, when played in a 1928 game against LKS Lodz. Young forward’s first game for Chorzow’s side was very successful - he scored a goal. He must have liked playing for Ruch (which in the 30s was by far the best team of Poland, winning championships of the country in the years 1933, 34, 35, 36 and 1938), because “Mietlorz” did not change the side, putting on Ruch’s jersey until 1939 and then, for a few times, after the war.

During the Second World War, played in a German-supported team of Bismarckhuetter Sport-Verein (1939-1941), which was in fact pre-war Ruch Chorzow, with a changed, German-sounding name. In 1942 Theodor (this was his Germanized first name) called up to the Wehrmacht, two years later escaped the German Army and was captured by Allies, who sent him to Polish units. There, returned to soccer, representing the Polish Army Soccer Team in 88 friendly games. After the war, remained in France and in 1947 returned to Chorzow. In 1948 played a few games in Ruch’s jersey, then quit soccer and became a coach.

Together with Gerard Wodarz and Ernest Wilimowski, Peterek was part of Ruch’s forward, which is to this day regarded as one of the best forward formations in history of Polish Soccer League. In 189 games for Ruch (1928-1939), he scored 154 goals, a lot of them with the head - this was due to “Teo’s” height - at 182 centimeters, he was one of the tallest forwards in Poland. Twice - in 1936 (together with Wilimowski - 18 goals) and in 1938 (21 goals), was the best scorer of the League.

Regarded as a very ambitious, success-oriented player, who would never give up. According to an urban legend, on one occasion Peterek threw some mud in the face of a goalkeeper who had saved his penalty kick.

In Polish National Team played in 12 games and scored 6 goals, debuting on August 23, 1931 in Warsaw, in a match versus Romania (2:3). Participated in 1936 Berlin’s Olympic Games, where scored a goal. His last game occurred on September 18, 1938 in Chemnitz, versus Germany (1-4, Poland’s lone goal was scored by “Teo”).