Władysław Żmuda

Władysław Żmuda

Żmuda in 2007
Personal information
Full nameWładysław Antoni Żmuda
Date of birth6 June 1954
Place of birthLublin, Poland
Height1.87 m (6 ft 1 12 in)
Playing positionDefender
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1970–1972Motor Lublin45(0)
1972–1974Gwardia Warszawa34(0)
1973–1980Śląsk Wrocław210(5)
1980–1982Widzew Łódź67(1)
1982–1984Hellas Verona7(0)
1984New York Cosmos4(0)
1984–1987Cremonese43(1)
Total410(7)
National team
1973–1986Poland91(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.

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