Zygmunt Maszczyk

Zygmunt Maszczyk
Personal information
Full name	Zygmunt Paweł Maszczyk
Date of birth	3 May 1945 (age 79)
Place of birth	Siemianowice Śląskie, Poland
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1955–1962	Siemianowiczanka
Senior career*
Years	Team
1963–1976	Ruch Chorzów
1977–1978	Valenciennes
1979–1980	CKS Czeladź
Total
International career
1968–1976	Poland
Medal record
Men's football
Representing Poland
FIFA World Cup
Olympic Games
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Zygmunt Paweł Maszczyk (born 3 May 1945) is a Polish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

He earned 36 caps with the Poland national team and was a participant at the 1974 FIFA World Cup, where Poland won the bronze medal, at the 1972 Summer Olympics, where Poland won the gold medal and at the 1976 Summer Olympics, where Poland won the silver medal.

Career

Early in his career (1955–1962), Maszczyk played in local club Siemianowiczanka Siemianowice Śląskie. He moved to the well-renowned Ruch Chorzów in 1963 and played there until 1976, appearing in 310 matches. He was instrumental in Ruch becoming three time national champion (1968, 1974, 1975) and winning the Polish Cup (1974).

During his career, Maszczyk was perhaps the most popular player of Ruch. He was well regarded for his flawless technique, exceptional work ethic, tirelessness, and quietness and aversion to media.

As an example of his style, Maszczyk was acclaimed as obviously moving the most in the field of all the players of the Poland national team that won the bronze medal at the 1974 FIFA World Cup.

Fans called him "Zyga" (a Silesian diminutive for Zygmunt).

Later, Maszczyk moved to Germany, where he left the sports career. By 1981, he lived and work in Lüdenscheid.