Pawel Cyganek
Encyclopedia
Paweł Cyganek was a soccer forward player of interwar Poland
, who in one game played on the Polish National Team
. Cyganek was born in Wirek
, a district of the Upper Silesian city of Ruda Śląska
. From early childhood he loved soccer and was a very fast runner, so at age 14 he became a forward on the local team Wawel Wirek.
In the 1930s Wawel played in Silesian A-Class, the strongest regional league in Poland (in interwar Poland, A-Class was equivalent of today’s Second Division). Cyganek was widely regarded as too good for this division and several top teams of the Polish Soccer League wanted to buy him. Among these were Śląsk Świętochłowice, Ruch Chorzów
and Cracovia.
Their offers were refused, but finally, at the beginning of 1939, he decided to move to Fablok Chrzanów
, another A-Class team, from the Kraków
region. In 1939 his team won Kraków’s qualifiers, which allowed it to play in inter-regional games for promotion to the Polish Soccer Division. On the way, however, Fablok lost to Śląsk Świętochłowice. Cyganek, who was making good money with Fablok, was feeling good there, improving his play virtually every day. After a Kraków - Upper Silesia 4-1 game (mid-1939) his class was noticed by Józef Kałuża, who called him to the National Team.
Poland faced Hungary
. Cyganek was among the starters, sidelining Gerard Wodarz
, one of the best left wingers in Poland.
The game vs. Hungary was a big success for the Poles, as they beat the 1938 World Cup
runners-up 4-2. Apart from Ernest Wilimowski
, Leonard Piątek
and Ewald Dytko
, Cyganek, a debutant, was regarded as the best player on the field. Chrzanów’s player was hoping for more such games and looking forward to the 1940 Olympic Games
in Tokyo
, but his plans were brutally thwarted on September 1, as with the German attack on Poland
, World War II
began.
. Cyganek, who in the meantime had returned to Wirek, started playing for the German-sponsored team Winter Sport-Verein Antonienhutte (formerly Wawel Wirek). He supposedly lost none of his class, as was noticed by Sepp Herberger
, manager of German National Team. However, the player was soon kicked out by Herberger, because he continued to speak Polish.
poured into Upper Silesia, Cyganek started to organize soccer games under new, Communist authorities. Soon afterwards Fablok’s officials got in touch with him, so he returned to Chrzanów. He spent several years there, finishing his career in 1955 as a defender of Otmęt Krapkowice. Afterwards, he became a coach of several teams such as Pogoń Zabrze, Urania Ruda Śląska and Wawel Wirek.
Cyganek died in 1995 in Wirek.
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...
, who in one game played 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...
. Cyganek was born in Wirek
Wirek
Wirek is a district of the southern Polish city of Ruda Śląska.Originally, it was a part of a village called Nowa Wieś, but separated in 1828. Wirek has been an industrial center since early nineteenth century; its first factory - Antonienhütte ironworks, was opened in 1805. In the second half of...
, a district of the Upper Silesian city of Ruda Śląska
Ruda Slaska
Ruda Śląska is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. It is a district in the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union, a metropolis with a population of 2 million. It is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Kłodnica river ....
. From early childhood he loved soccer and was a very fast runner, so at age 14 he became a forward on the local team Wawel Wirek.
In the 1930s Wawel played in Silesian A-Class, the strongest regional league in Poland (in interwar Poland, A-Class was equivalent of today’s Second Division). Cyganek was widely regarded as too good for this division and several top teams of the Polish Soccer League wanted to buy him. Among these were Śląsk Świętochłowice, Ruch Chorzów
Ruch Chorzów
Ruch Chorzów is a Polish association football club based in Chorzów, Upper Silesia. It is one of the most successful football teams in Poland: 14 time national champion, and 3 time winner of the Polish Cup. Currently the team plays in the top Polish league, the Ekstraklasa. Their stadium capacity...
and Cracovia.
Their offers were refused, but finally, at the beginning of 1939, he decided to move to Fablok Chrzanów
Fablok Chrzanów
Fablok Chrzanów is a Polish sports club, founded in 1926 in Chrzanów. Its name reflects the name of club’s sponsor - Fablok, the biggest and most important company of the town....
, another A-Class team, from the Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
region. In 1939 his team won Kraków’s qualifiers, which allowed it to play in inter-regional games for promotion to the Polish Soccer Division. On the way, however, Fablok lost to Śląsk Świętochłowice. Cyganek, who was making good money with Fablok, was feeling good there, improving his play virtually every day. After a Kraków - Upper Silesia 4-1 game (mid-1939) his class was noticed by Józef Kałuża, who called him to the National Team.
Lone game for the Polish National Team
On August 27, 1939 in WarsawWarsaw
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 faced 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...
. Cyganek was among the starters, sidelining Gerard Wodarz
Gerard Wodarz
Gerard Wodarz was one of the best soccer players of interwar Poland. He was a multiple champion of the country and also played 28 games on the Polish national football team, scoring 9 goals.He was born in 1913 in Wielkie Hajduki Gerard Wodarz (August 10, 1913 – November 8, 1982) was one of...
, one of the best left wingers in Poland.
The game vs. Hungary was a big success for the Poles, as they beat the 1938 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:...
runners-up 4-2. Apart from Ernest Wilimowski
Ernest Wilimowski
Ernst Willimowski was a football player who played for both the Polish and German national teams....
, Leonard Piątek
Leonard Piatek
Leonard Franciszek Piątek was a Polish football player of Upper Silesian origin who played in the interwar period....
and Ewald Dytko
Ewald Dytko
Edward Jan Dytko was a German-born Upper Silesian soccer player, who, when his home country became Poland by Treaty of Versailles represented the no longer existing team of Dąb Katowice, also in 1935-39 he played in the Polish National Team.He was born in Zalenze and since early childhood played...
, Cyganek, a debutant, was regarded as the best player on the field. Chrzanów’s player was hoping for more such games and looking forward to the 1940 Olympic Games
1940 Summer Olympics
The anticipated 1940 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XII Olympiad and originally scheduled to be held from September 21 to October 6, 1940, in Tokyo, Japan, were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, but his plans were brutally thwarted on September 1, as with the German attack on Poland
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
, 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...
began.
German occupation
In late fall of 1939 Germans decided to reopen soccer games in occupied Upper SilesiaUpper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
. Cyganek, who in the meantime had returned to Wirek, started playing for the German-sponsored team Winter Sport-Verein Antonienhutte (formerly Wawel Wirek). He supposedly lost none of his class, as was noticed by Sepp Herberger
Sepp Herberger
Josef "Sepp" Herberger was a German football player and manager...
, manager of German National Team. However, the player was soon kicked out by Herberger, because he continued to speak Polish.
End of career
In early 1945, after the Red ArmyRed Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
poured into Upper Silesia, Cyganek started to organize soccer games under new, Communist authorities. Soon afterwards Fablok’s officials got in touch with him, so he returned to Chrzanów. He spent several years there, finishing his career in 1955 as a defender of Otmęt Krapkowice. Afterwards, he became a coach of several teams such as Pogoń Zabrze, Urania Ruda Śląska and Wawel Wirek.
Cyganek died in 1995 in Wirek.
See also
- The Last Game (August 27, 1939)The Last Game (August 27, 1939)The Last Game, as it is known in Poland, was played on Sunday August 27, 1939, at the Wojska Polskiego Stadium in Warsaw. It was the last game of the interwar Polish football team before the Second World War. The Polish national football team faced and beat one of the best teams of that period -...