Marek Lesniak
Encyclopedia
Marek Leśniak is a retired Polish
footballer who played as a striker, and the current coach of SSVg Velbert
.
A prolific goalscorer, he was successful in his country in the 1980s, and then had a career in Germany
which spanned nearly 20 years, broken by a half-year stint in Switzerland
.
, topping the Ekstraklasa goal charts in 1986–87, for a final runner-up position. In 1988, he moved abroad, with Germany
's Bayer 04 Leverkusen, starting well (three Bundesliga
goals in his first six games).
After a couple of solid seasons, Leśniak lost his importance in the side after the arrival of Ulf Kirsten, eventually leaving in 1992 to SG Wattenscheid 09
, totalling 25 goals in three seasons. He continued to play in the country until 2006 (aged 42), in various levels (from 2002–05, he also acted as player-coach
for SSVg Velbert
).
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...
footballer who played as a striker, and the current coach of SSVg Velbert
SSVg Velbert
SSVg Velbert is a German association football club located in Velbert, North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was founded in 1902 as Velberter FC 02 and marks itself as the third oldest football club in the region.-Early predecessors:...
.
A prolific goalscorer, he was successful in his country in the 1980s, and then had a career in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
which spanned nearly 20 years, broken by a half-year stint in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Football career
Leśniak started his professional career with Pogoń SzczecinPogon Szczecin
MKS Pogoń Szczecin is a Polish professional football club, based in Szczecin, Poland. The club was founded by Poles from Lwów , who had been transferred west after the Soviet annexation of Poland's eastern territories in 1945. The founders of Pogoń Szczecin had previously been supporters of Pogoń...
, topping the Ekstraklasa goal charts in 1986–87, for a final runner-up position. In 1988, he moved abroad, with Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's Bayer 04 Leverkusen, starting well (three Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
goals in his first six games).
After a couple of solid seasons, Leśniak lost his importance in the side after the arrival of Ulf Kirsten, eventually leaving in 1992 to SG Wattenscheid 09
SG Wattenscheid 09
SG Wattenscheid 09 is a German association football club, located in Wattenscheid which is part of Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia. The club claims an official founding date of 18 September 1909 as Ballspiel-Verein Wattenscheid out of the merger of two earlier sides known as BV Sodalität der...
, totalling 25 goals in three seasons. He continued to play in the country until 2006 (aged 42), in various levels (from 2002–05, he also acted as player-coach
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
for SSVg Velbert
SSVg Velbert
SSVg Velbert is a German association football club located in Velbert, North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was founded in 1902 as Velberter FC 02 and marks itself as the third oldest football club in the region.-Early predecessors:...
).