Jerzy Wostal
Encyclopedia
Jerzy Adolf Wostal was a Polish
soccer player, one of best forwards of interwar Poland. He was born in 1914 in Königshütte
(later Chorzów
).
In the late 1930s Wostal played for AKS Chorzów
. The best year in his career was 1937. His team then became vice-champions of Poland (after Cracovia), and he was the top scorer of the Polish Soccer League, with 12 goals.
On the Polish National Team
he played in 10 games, scoring 4 goals. Wostal’s debut took place on September 6, 1936, in Riga
(Latvia
- Poland 3-3). One of the best matches in his career occurred on October 10, 1937 in Warsaw
. In a 1938 FIFA World Cup
qualifier Poland beat Yugoslavia
4-0 and Wostal scored one of the goals.
Unfortunately, due to injury, he was unable to take part in Poland’s legendary 1938’s World Cup match vs. Brazil
(5-6). Instead of him, coach/manager Józef Kałuża fielded Fryderyk Scherfke
. Wostal’s last game in the white-red jersey took place on May 27, 1939 in Łódź (Poland - Belgium
3-3).
Little is known about Wostal's whereabouts during and after World War II
. He signed the German Nationality List (Volksliste
) and changed the name to Georg Wostal. Some time between 1940-1944 played in the team of SpVgg Vorwärts-Rasensport Gleiwitz (Gliwice
), which was one of best sides of Upper Silesia in those years, winning the Silesian championship for several times. Then, after 1945, his fate is unknown.
He died in 1991.
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...
soccer player, one of best forwards of interwar Poland. He was born in 1914 in Königshütte
Chorzów
Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
(later Chorzów
Chorzów
Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
).
In the late 1930s Wostal played for AKS Chorzów
AKS Chorzów
AKS Chorzów is a sports club in based in Chorzów, Poland. It is one of the earliest sports organizations in Upper Silesia and is still well-known nationally for its football and handball teams...
. The best year in his career was 1937. His team then became vice-champions of Poland (after Cracovia), and he was the top scorer of the Polish Soccer League, with 12 goals.
On the Polish 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...
he played in 10 games, scoring 4 goals. Wostal’s debut took place on September 6, 1936, in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
(Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
- Poland 3-3). One of the best matches in his career occurred on October 10, 1937 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...
. In a 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:...
qualifier 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 and Wostal scored one of the goals.
Unfortunately, due to injury, he was unable to take part in Poland’s legendary 1938’s World Cup match vs. 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...
(5-6). Instead of him, coach/manager Józef Kałuża fielded Fryderyk Scherfke
Fryderyk Scherfke
Friedrich Egon Scherfke, , German Empire - died on September 15, 1983 in Bad Soden, Germany) was an ethnic German who became an interwar soccer midfield player for the Polish national football team.- Biography :...
. Wostal’s last game in the white-red jersey took place on May 27, 1939 in Łódź (Poland - Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
3-3).
Little is known about Wostal's whereabouts during and after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He signed the German Nationality List (Volksliste
Volksliste
The Deutsche Volksliste was a Nazi institution whose purpose was the classification of inhabitants of German occupied territories into categories of desirability according to criteria systematized by Heinrich Himmler. The institution was first established in occupied western Poland...
) and changed the name to Georg Wostal. Some time between 1940-1944 played in the team of SpVgg Vorwärts-Rasensport Gleiwitz (Gliwice
Gliwice
Gliwice is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Gliwice is the west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
), which was one of best sides of Upper Silesia in those years, winning the Silesian championship for several times. Then, after 1945, his fate is unknown.
He died in 1991.
See also
- Polish Roster in World Cup Soccer France 1938Poland v Brazil (1938)Poland v Brazil was a football match held during the 1938 FIFA World Cup in France and still remembered by Polish fans of this sport as the one in which Poland national football team debuted. To qualify to the tournament Poland had to beat only one team - Yugoslavia...