Antoni Galecki
Encyclopedia
Antoni Gałecki was a Polish
football player and defender who represented ŁKS Łódź. He also played on the Polish National Team during the 1936 Berlin Olympics
and Poland's 1938 FIFA World Cup
lone match against Brazil
.
Born in Łódź, Galecki joined the LKS Łódź team in 1922, becoming its key defender four years later. Gałecki represented this team until 1939, participating in more than 400 games. In many of them, he was the team captain.
He wore the Polish National Team jersey for 22 games. His debut took place on October 27, 1928 in Prague
, against Czechoslovakia
.
During the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Gałecki was a key defender on the Polish team, participating in all games (3-0 vs Hungary
, 5-4 vs Great Britain
, 1-3 vs Austria
and 2-3 vs Norway
). Poland finished in 4th place.
In 1937-38 Gałecki played in qualifying matches for the 1938 World Cup football match. In Warsaw
, Poland beat Yugoslavia
4-0. In the second leg, in Belgrade
, the Poles lost 0-1, but Poland qualified due to the goals advantage. Gałecki represented Poland in a legendary World Cup game against Brazil on June 5, 1938, in Strasbourg
, France. The Poles lost 5-6, but the match is to this day regarded as one of the best performances of the Polish National Team.
Called to active military duty in August 1939, Gałecki fought in the September 1939 Campaign. He was held prisoner in a POW camp in Eger, Hungary, but managed to escape through Yugoslavia and Greece
and reached Palestine
, where he became a soldier of the Polish 2nd Corps. Gałecki fought at Tobruk and Monte Cassino
. After the war, Gałecki returned to his hometown in 1947.
He died in Łódź.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
football player and defender who represented ŁKS Łódź. He also played on the Polish National Team during the 1936 Berlin Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
and Poland's 1938 FIFA World Cup
1938 FIFA World Cup
The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from 4 June to 19 June. Italy retained the championship, beating Hungary 4–2 in the final.-Host selection:...
lone match against Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Born in Łódź, Galecki joined the LKS Łódź team in 1922, becoming its key defender four years later. Gałecki represented this team until 1939, participating in more than 400 games. In many of them, he was the team captain.
He wore the Polish National Team jersey for 22 games. His debut took place on October 27, 1928 in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, against Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
.
During the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Gałecki was a key defender on the Polish team, participating in all games (3-0 vs Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, 5-4 vs Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, 1-3 vs Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and 2-3 vs Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
). Poland finished in 4th place.
In 1937-38 Gałecki played in qualifying matches for the 1938 World Cup football match. In Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Poland beat Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
4-0. In the second leg, in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, the Poles lost 0-1, but Poland qualified due to the goals advantage. Gałecki represented Poland in a legendary World Cup game against Brazil on June 5, 1938, in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, France. The Poles lost 5-6, but the match is to this day regarded as one of the best performances of the Polish National Team.
Called to active military duty in August 1939, Gałecki fought in the September 1939 Campaign. He was held prisoner in a POW camp in Eger, Hungary, but managed to escape through Yugoslavia and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and reached Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, where he became a soldier of the Polish 2nd Corps. Gałecki fought at Tobruk and Monte Cassino
Battle of Monte Cassino
The Battle of Monte Cassino was a costly series of four battles during World War II, fought by the Allies against Germans and Italians with the intention of breaking through the Winter Line and seizing Rome.In the beginning of 1944, the western half of the Winter Line was being anchored by Germans...
. After the war, Gałecki returned to his hometown in 1947.
He died in Łódź.