Władysław Żmuda

Władysław Żmuda

Żmuda in 2007
Personal information
Full name Władysław Antoni Żmuda
Date of birth 6 June 1954 (1954-06-06) (age 57)
Place of birth Lublin, Poland
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 1 12 in)
Playing position Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–1972 Motor Lublin
1972–1974 Gwardia Warszawa 34 (0)
1973–1980 Śląsk Wrocław
1980–1982 Widzew Łódź 67 (1)
1982–1984 Hellas Verona 7 (0)
1984 New York Cosmos 4 (0)
1984–1987 Cremonese 43 (1)
National team
1973–1986 Poland 91 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Władysław Antoni Żmuda (born 6 June 1954 in Lublin) is a former Polish footballer, who played as a defender for Śląsk Wrocław, Widzew Łódź, Hellas Verona, New York Cosmos and US Cremonese. He earned 91 caps for the Poland national team and is a four-time FIFA World Cup participant.

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Club

He spent six years patiently learning his trade with his first club Motor Lublin before finally spreading his wings in 1973 and switching to Gwardia Warsaw, the Polish capital's second club. The 19-year-old Zmuda was instrumental in Gwardia's UEFA Cup campaign of 1973–74 where they narrowly lost out to eventual winners Feyenoord. Zmuda pursued his career in Poland with Śląsk Wrocław and later Widzew Łódź before Italian club Hellas Verona secured permission to sign him from Poland in 1982. After two injury-plagued seasons at Verona, Zmuda spent a brief spell with New York Cosmos before returning to Italy with US Cremonese, playing two of his three seasons with the club in Serie B. Zmuda ended his playing career in 1988.

National team

He played for Polish national team, for which he earned 91 caps and scored 2 goals.[1]

Żmuda was a participant at the 1974 FIFA World Cup, where Poland won the third place and he was named as Best Young Player of the tournament; 1978 FIFA World Cup; 1982 FIFA World Cup, where Poland won the third place again and 1986 FIFA World Cup.

He played a total of 21 matches at the World Cup finals, which (tied with Uwe Seeler and Diego Maradona) is the third most appearances ever, behind only Lothar Matthaus and Paolo Maldini. His four tournaments, in 1974, 1978, 1982 and 1986, place him second in the all-time rankings behind Antonio Carbajal and Lothar Matthaus and level with such legendary names as Pelé, Diego Maradona and Gianni Rivera.

He was also a participant at 1976 Summer Olympics, where Poland won the silver medal.

References

External links