Grzegorz Rasiak
Encyclopedia
Grzegorz Rasiak (ˈɡʐɛɡɔʐ ˈraɕak) born 12 January 1979 in Szczecin
, is a Polish international footballer who last played for AEL Limassol
in Cyprus
. Since 2002, he has played for the Poland national team
.
After starting his career in his native Poland, Rasiak moved to England with Derby County
in 2004. He subsequently had a spell with Tottenham Hotspur
before joining Southampton
, as well as periods on loan to Bolton Wanderers
and Watford
, before joining Reading
in August 2009. He left Reading for Limassol in August 2010.
where he spent two seasons. In 1998 he moved to First Division side GKS Bełchatów, before moving to Odra Wodzisław for the 2000–01 season. The next season he moved to the club where he first achieved a level of success, Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski
. In three seasons at Dyskobolia he played in 66 league matches, scoring 34 goals, forming a partnership in 2003–04 with Andrzej Niedzielan
.
In 2004 he was recruited by Italian club AC Siena. It then emerged that he was unable to play for the club, as they had exceeded their limit of foreign players.
side Derby County
on 24 September 2004 for a free transfer. In his first season
with the club he scored 16 goals in 35 matches, as Derby finished in fourth place, but failed to get through the play-offs.
After failing to gain promotion, the club were under financial pressure and were forced by their bankers to raise cash, which led to Rasiak being sold to Premier League
side Tottenham Hotspur
for a fee said to be up to £3m.
. On his arrival, manager Martin Jol
described Rasiak as "a tall target man, a hard-working, honest player with a good goal scoring record." Sadly, Rasiak's time at White Hart Lane was marred by a lack of first team opportunities.
, where his former Derby manager George Burley
was now in charge. The deal was structured initially as a three-month loan, before becoming permanent in early May 2006, with Rasiak joining Southampton for a fee of £2m.
In the 2006–07 season
he had a strong start, scoring 17 league goals by mid-January, with a further two goals in the FA cup
. including scoring a brace 4 times in the league and once in the FA Cup, all in away matches. After mid-January he lost his place in the starting eleven to fellow countryman Marek Saganowski
, finishing the season as the club's top goalscorer with 21 goals.
until the end of the season. He made his debut nine days later in a defeat to Portsmouth at the Reebok Stadium
.
His second appearance came during the second half of Bolton's local derby against Blackburn Rovers
at Ewood Park
where he scored within a couple of minutes of his introduction from the substitutes bench, only for the linesman to rule the goal out for offside.
until the end of the 2008–09 season, with the option of a permanent transfer. He made his debut on 16 August 2008 against Charlton Athletic
, coming on as a substitute for Tamas Priskin
on 65 minutes. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 defeat at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on 25 October 2008.
In January 2009, Rasiak scored in FA Cup matches against Scunthorpe United
and Crystal Palace
to help set up an unexpected fifth round tie against Chelsea
.
He was ruled out for a month after picking up an injury against Nottingham Forest in March which was a blow to Watford as he appeared to be forging a decent partnership with Tamas Priskin
. Both strikers got on the scoresheet in both of Watford's wins against Charlton Athletic
and Nottingham Forest
(the same match in which Rasiak got injured) that took place within three days of each other in March 2009.
In May 2009, Watford opened negotiations with Southampton to sign Rasiak permanently, but the clubs were unable to agree on a fee.
on 27 August for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year contract. He scored his first goal for Reading in a 1–1 draw with his former club Watford on 26 September 2009. He scored his second goals in a 3–1 win over Coventry City
, scoring after 31 seconds and then scoring his second of the game in the second half.
He was given a free transfer
to AEL Limassol
on 20 August 2010 for a 2 year contract.
.
on 10 February 2002 in a friendly match with Faroe Islands
under manager Jerzy Engel
. He then had to wait a year before his next international appearance under Paweł Janas, before becoming a regular in the Polish team.
Rasiak has made 37 appearances for his country, scoring on 8 occasions, and was part of the team that successfully qualified for the 2006 World Cup
. He was selected for the 23-man national squad that competed at the World Cup Finals in Germany. Two years later he was not selected for the 2008 European Championships.
Szczecin
Szczecin , is the capital city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is the country's seventh-largest city and the largest seaport in Poland on the Baltic Sea. As of June 2009 the population was 406,427....
, is a Polish international footballer who last played for AEL Limassol
AEL Limassol
Athlitiki Enosi Lemesou , commonly known as AEL Limassol , is a Greek Cypriot multisport club based in the city of Limassol, the port of Cyprus....
in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. Since 2002, he has played for the Poland national team
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
.
After starting his career in his native Poland, Rasiak moved to England with Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in 2004. He subsequently had a spell with Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
before joining Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, as well as periods on loan to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
and Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, before joining Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in August 2009. He left Reading for Limassol in August 2010.
Poland
In the 1996–97 season Rasiak joined second division side Warta PoznańWarta Poznan
Warta Poznań is a football club based in Poznań, Poland. Founded in 1912, the club are two-time winners of the Polish Football Championship, in 1929 and 1947, but currently reside in the Polish First League. The name means the Guard in Polish and also a name of river Warta on which Poznań is...
where he spent two seasons. In 1998 he moved to First Division side GKS Bełchatów, before moving to Odra Wodzisław for the 2000–01 season. The next season he moved to the club where he first achieved a level of success, Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski
Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski
Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski is a Polish football club based in Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Poland.- History :Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski was founded on April 30, 1922....
. In three seasons at Dyskobolia he played in 66 league matches, scoring 34 goals, forming a partnership in 2003–04 with Andrzej Niedzielan
Andrzej Niedzielan
Andrzej Niedzielan is a Polish footballer who plays as a striker for Cracovia.-Early career:He began his career began in 1997, when he joined Promień Żary. Then he played for Zagłębie Lubin, where he did not impress...
.
In 2004 he was recruited by Italian club AC Siena. It then emerged that he was unable to play for the club, as they had exceeded their limit of foreign players.
Derby County
Rasiak joined English ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
on 24 September 2004 for a free transfer. In his first season
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
with the club he scored 16 goals in 35 matches, as Derby finished in fourth place, but failed to get through the play-offs.
After failing to gain promotion, the club were under financial pressure and were forced by their bankers to raise cash, which led to Rasiak being sold to Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
side Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
for a fee said to be up to £3m.
Tottenham Hotspur
Rasiak signed on 31 August 2005, the final day of the transfer windowTransfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
. On his arrival, manager Martin Jol
Martin Jol
Maarten Cornelis "Martin" Jol is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder who currently manages Fulham in the Premier League. Jol played over 400 games during his career which included spells in the Netherlands, Germany, and England, as well as earning three caps with the Dutch national team...
described Rasiak as "a tall target man, a hard-working, honest player with a good goal scoring record." Sadly, Rasiak's time at White Hart Lane was marred by a lack of first team opportunities.
Southampton
In February 2006, Rasiak was loaned from Spurs to Championship side SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, where his former Derby manager George Burley
George Burley
George Elder Burley is a Scottish football manager and former player and manager, formerly the manager of Crystal Palace Football Club. Burley had a professional career spanning 21 years as a player making 628 appearances and earning 11 Scotland caps...
was now in charge. The deal was structured initially as a three-month loan, before becoming permanent in early May 2006, with Rasiak joining Southampton for a fee of £2m.
In the 2006–07 season
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
he had a strong start, scoring 17 league goals by mid-January, with a further two goals in the FA cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. including scoring a brace 4 times in the league and once in the FA Cup, all in away matches. After mid-January he lost his place in the starting eleven to fellow countryman Marek Saganowski
Marek Saganowski
Marek Mirosław Saganowski is a Polish football player who plays as a striker for ŁKS Łódź.-Poland:Saganowski was born in Łódź, Poland and began his career in 1994 with his local club ŁKS Łódź, playing there for six seasons, with brief loan spells at Feyenoord in 1996 and at Hamburg in early 1997...
, finishing the season as the club's top goalscorer with 21 goals.
Bolton Wanderers
On 31 January 2008, Rasiak secured a loan move to Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
until the end of the season. He made his debut nine days later in a defeat to Portsmouth at the Reebok Stadium
Reebok Stadium
The Reebok Stadium is the home stadium of English Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers, and is located on the Middlebrook Retail Park in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. It is commonly known as 'The Reebok'...
.
His second appearance came during the second half of Bolton's local derby against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
where he scored within a couple of minutes of his introduction from the substitutes bench, only for the linesman to rule the goal out for offside.
Watford
On 15 August 2008 Rasiak signed on loan with fellow Championship side WatfordWatford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
until the end of the 2008–09 season, with the option of a permanent transfer. He made his debut on 16 August 2008 against Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, coming on as a substitute for Tamas Priskin
Tamás Priskin
Tamás Priskin is a Hungarian professional footballer, who plays as a striker for Derby County, on loan from Ipswich Town. Born in Czechoslovakia, Priskin joined Hungarian side Győri ETO FC at the age of 15, making his debut at 16 and obtaining Hungarian citizenship in 2005. He moved to English...
on 65 minutes. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 defeat at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on 25 October 2008.
In January 2009, Rasiak scored in FA Cup matches against Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
and Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
to help set up an unexpected fifth round tie against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
.
He was ruled out for a month after picking up an injury against Nottingham Forest in March which was a blow to Watford as he appeared to be forging a decent partnership with Tamas Priskin
Tamás Priskin
Tamás Priskin is a Hungarian professional footballer, who plays as a striker for Derby County, on loan from Ipswich Town. Born in Czechoslovakia, Priskin joined Hungarian side Győri ETO FC at the age of 15, making his debut at 16 and obtaining Hungarian citizenship in 2005. He moved to English...
. Both strikers got on the scoresheet in both of Watford's wins against Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
and Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
(the same match in which Rasiak got injured) that took place within three days of each other in March 2009.
In May 2009, Watford opened negotiations with Southampton to sign Rasiak permanently, but the clubs were unable to agree on a fee.
Reading
After making four appearances for the "Saints" in August 2009, he joined ReadingReading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
on 27 August for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year contract. He scored his first goal for Reading in a 1–1 draw with his former club Watford on 26 September 2009. He scored his second goals in a 3–1 win over Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, scoring after 31 seconds and then scoring his second of the game in the second half.
He was given a free transfer
Free transfer
In professional association football, a free transfer, also known as a Bosman transfer, involves a professional association football club releasing a player once the player's contract has expired or made available just before the end of the contract....
to AEL Limassol
AEL Limassol
Athlitiki Enosi Lemesou , commonly known as AEL Limassol , is a Greek Cypriot multisport club based in the city of Limassol, the port of Cyprus....
on 20 August 2010 for a 2 year contract.
AEL Limassol
He signed his contract with AEL in Cyprus, but was freed from his contract by FIFA after a contractual dispute with the club.Charlton Athletic
In August 2011, Rasiak was training with Charlton AthleticCharlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
.
International career
Rasiak made his international debut for PolandPoland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
on 10 February 2002 in a friendly match with Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands national football team
The Faroe Islands national football team represents the Faroe Islands in association football and is controlled by the Faroe Islands Football Association, the governing body for football in the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands became a member of FIFA in 1988 and UEFA in 1990 and are the third...
under manager Jerzy Engel
Jerzy Engel
Władysław Jerzy Engel was a Polish footballer and coach. Engel began his career in football at an early age playing at local club Junak Wloclawek, before moving to Polonia Warsaw , Hutnik Warszawa and several other clubs.Engel, nicknamed "Jurek", began playing in midfield or attack before, at...
. He then had to wait a year before his next international appearance under Paweł Janas, before becoming a regular in the Polish team.
Rasiak has made 37 appearances for his country, scoring on 8 occasions, and was part of the team that successfully qualified for the 2006 World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
. He was selected for the 23-man national squad that competed at the World Cup Finals in Germany. Two years later he was not selected for the 2008 European Championships.
Poland Goals
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 14 February 2003 | Split Split (city) Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and... , Croatia Croatia Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ... |
0–3 | Win | Friendly | |
| 2. | 16 November 2003 | Płock, Poland | 4–3 | Win | Friendly | |
| 3. | 14 December 2003 | Ta' Qali, Malta Malta Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in... |
3–1 | Win | Friendly | |
| 4. | 15 August 2005 | Kiev Kiev Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press.... , Ukraine Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia... |
3–2 | Win | Valeri Lobanovsky Memorial Tournament Valeri Lobanovsky Memorial Tournament Valeri Lobanovsky Memorial Tournament ; and since 2005 it is called the International Valeri Lobanovsky Memorial Tournament . This tournament was created in honour and memory of Valeri Lobanovsky since his death on 13 May 2002, hence the name Memorial. The idea was initiated by the FC Dynamo Kyiv... |
|
| 5. | 17 August 2005 | Kiev Kiev Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press.... , Ukraine Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia... |
3–2 | Win | Valeri Lobanovsky Memorial Tournament Valeri Lobanovsky Memorial Tournament Valeri Lobanovsky Memorial Tournament ; and since 2005 it is called the International Valeri Lobanovsky Memorial Tournament . This tournament was created in honour and memory of Valeri Lobanovsky since his death on 13 May 2002, hence the name Memorial. The idea was initiated by the FC Dynamo Kyiv... |
|
| 6. | 17 August 2005 | Kiev Kiev Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press.... , Ukraine Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia... |
3–2 | Win | Valeri Lobanovsky Memorial Tournament Valeri Lobanovsky Memorial Tournament Valeri Lobanovsky Memorial Tournament ; and since 2005 it is called the International Valeri Lobanovsky Memorial Tournament . This tournament was created in honour and memory of Valeri Lobanovsky since his death on 13 May 2002, hence the name Memorial. The idea was initiated by the FC Dynamo Kyiv... |
|
| 7. | 14 May 2006 | Wronki Wronki Wronki is a town in the Szamotuły County, western-central Poland, situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship , previously in Piła Voivodeship . It is located close to the Warta River to the northwest of Poznań, and has a population of approximately 11,000... , Poland |
4–0 | Win | Friendly | |
| 8. | 14 May 2006 | Wronki Wronki Wronki is a town in the Szamotuły County, western-central Poland, situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship , previously in Piła Voivodeship . It is located close to the Warta River to the northwest of Poznań, and has a population of approximately 11,000... , Poland |
4–0 | Win | Friendly |