Zbigniew Boniek

Boniek was born in Bydgoszcz. He first played for Polish clubs Zawisza Bydgoszcz and later at Widzew Łódź.

Boniek transferred to Italian football giants Juventus in 1982. With Juventus he won the Coppa Italia in his first season, also managing a second-place finish in the league and reaching the 1983 European Cup Final in the same season. The following season, his performances proved decisive, as Juventus won both the Serie A title and the Cup Winners' Cup in 1984, with Boniek scoring the matching-winning goal in the 2–1 victory over Porto in the final of the latter tournament in Basel; he followed up these victories by claiming the European Super Cup later that year, scoring twice in the 2–0 win against Liverpool. He also won the European Cup in 1985, against Liverpool once again, winning the penalty that Michel Platini subsequently converted to win the title for Juventus, although the team's victory was overshadowed by the Heysel Disaster.^[4][5][6][7]

The following season, Boniek joined Roma, where he won a second Coppa Italia in 1986, and eventually ended his professional career with the club in 1988.^[4][5][6][7]

Boniek represented the Poland national team in 80 international matches between 1976 and 1988, and scored 24 goals. He took part at the 1978, 1982, and 1986 FIFA World Cups with Poland.^[4][6][7]

Although he initially only appeared as a substitute in Poland's two opening group matches at the 1978 FIFA World Cup, he drew attention to himself when he scored two goals in a 3–1 victory over Mexico in Poland's final match of the group stage, helping his nation top their group; in the second round, however, Poland finished third in their group and were eliminated from the tournament.^[4][6][7]

Boniek later starred in the Polish team that won a bronze medal at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain: he helped his team reach the semi-finals of the tournament, scoring four goals in the process. In the first round, he scored in a 5–1 win over Peru on 22 June, to help Poland top their group; in the second round, he scored a hat-trick in his nation's 3–0 second round victory over Belgium, in Barcelona, on 28 June,^[8] but was forced to miss the semi-final defeat to eventual champions Italy due to a suspension after being booked in the 88th minute of a 0–0 draw against the Soviet Union.^[4][6][7]

He returned to the starting line-up for the victorious third-place match against France and was named to the team of the tournament for his performances throughout the competition. The 1986 FIFA World Cup was less successful, as Poland only qualified for the second round as the second best third-placed team, and were subsequently eliminated in the second round following a 4–0 defeat to Brazil.^[4][6][7]

Although Boniek was usually deployed as a midfielder, he was also able to play as a forward. He preferred to operate between the lines in a free role, although he was a versatile player, capable of playing in several offensive and midfield positions on either flank or through the centre, and throughout his career he was deployed as an attacking midfielder, as a right winger, in a playmaking role as a central midfielder, as a centre-forward, or as a second striker; his Juventus manager, Giovanni Trapattoni, however, often struggled to find the most suitable position for him.

Boniek was known for his extroverted personality and his trademark moustache, which made him a highly recognisable player. A tall, brave and hard-working footballer with a large, powerful, and slender physique, he was known for his blistering pace, acceleration, and quick reactions. In particular, Boniek was highly regarded for his ability to make sudden attacking runs to beat the defensive line and get on the end of his teammates' long passes, especially those of Michel Platini, with whom he formed a close friendship and formidable partnership at the Turin club, which made him lethal on counterattacks; this prompted Diego Maradona to describe Boniek as the best counterattacking player in the world.^{[citation needed]}

A highly talented, creative, intelligent, and skilful footballer, he was one of the best dribblers of his time and also displayed superb technique, flair, and class. Although he was not a particularly prolific player, he was known for his eye for goal, and as his clinical finishing with either foot, as well as his head, which enabled him to maintain a consistent goalscoring rate throughout his career; he also earned a reputation for having the tendency to score decisive goals for his team in key matches.

Despite his ability, at times he was also criticised, however, for being tactically undisciplined, inconsistent, too static in his movements off the ball, and for not being involved enough in his team's play during matches, which led him to struggle against opponents who did not give him a lot of space.^{[4][5][6][7][9][10][11]}

The Juventus president at the time of Boniek's tenure with the club, Gianni Agnelli, nicknamed him Bello di notte ("Beauty at night", which is a play on the title of the Buñuel movie Belle de Jour) because of his excellent performances in European club tournament matches, which were played in the evening; indeed, during continental tournaments, his opponents usually allowed him more space and time on the ball than in Serie A, which allowed him to get forward, undertake individual dribbling runs and score goals himself, or drop deep, link up with midfielders and create chances or provide assists for his teammates, courtesy of his passing, vision, and clever movement.^{[4][5][6][7][12]} He was also nicknamed Zibì by the Italian press.^[4]

Towards the end of his career, as he lost his pace, he often functioned in a defensive role as a sweeper.^[7]

Following his retirement, Boniek pursued a coaching career, but with less success; he also coached in Italy, with stints at Lecce in 1990–91, Bari in 1991–92, Sambenedettese in 1992–93, and Avellino in 1994–96.^[4]

Boniek has served as vice-president of the Polish Football Association, and in July 2002 he became the manager of Poland. He resigned in December 2002, after just five matches (2 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats, including a 1–0 home loss against Latvia in a European Championship qualifier).^[6]

Following his retirement, Boniek had a successful business career. He later also worked as a pundit and football commentator.^[6] According to Polish sources, Boniek had been favoured to become the new Minister of Sport for his country, but he denied the claims and stated that he had no intention of taking the job.^[13]

In 2004, Boniek was named by Pelé as one of the 125 Greatest Living Footballers, as part of FIFA's centenary celebrations.^[3] On 12 October 2009, he received the Golden Foot 'Legend' career award.^[14]

On 26 October 2012, he became the chairman of the Polish Football Association.^[15] He is popular for speaking in favour of decriminalising football fans by legalising pyrotechnics inside stadiums, a common practice among ultras.^[16] His term of office ended on 18 August 2021, and he was succeeded by Cezary Kulesza.^[17]

Boniek has a university diploma in education.^[4] His father, Józef Boniek, was also a professional football player and later a manager.^[18]

Honduran international footballer Óscar Boniek García was given the middle name Boniek in honour of Zbigniew Boniek.^[19] García chose to have the name "Boniek" written across the back of his jersey while playing for Houston.^{[citation needed]}

Boniek Forbes (born 30 September 1983) is a Guinea-Bissau footballer who plays as a winger for Cheshunt. He played for Leyton Orient in the Football League.^{[citation needed]}

Club

International

International goals

Scores and results list Poland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Boniek goal.

List of international goals scored by Zbigniew Boniek

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	11 May 1976	Basel, Switzerland	Switzerland	1–2	1–2	Friendly
2	31 October 1976	Warsaw, Poland	Cyprus	3–0	5–0	FIFA World Cup 1978 qualifying
3	19 June 1977	São Paulo, Brazil	Brazil	1–3	1–3	Friendly
4	5 April 1978	Poznań, Poland	Greece	5–0	5–2	Friendly
5	12 April 1978	Łódź, Poland	Republic of Ireland	1–0	3–0	Friendly
6	10 June 1978	Rosario, Argentina	Mexico	1–0	3–1	FIFA World Cup 1978
7				3–1
8	15 November 1978	Wrocław, Poland	Switzerland	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying
9	18 April 1979	Leipzig, East Germany	East Germany	1–0	1–2	UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying
10	2 May 1979	Chorzów, Poland	Netherlands	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying
11	29 August 1979	Warsaw, Poland	Romania	3–0	3–0	Friendly
12	13 May 1980	Frankfurt, West Germany	West Germany	1–1	1–3	Friendly
13	28 May 1980	Poznań, Poland	Scotland	1–0	1–0	Friendly
14	28 October 1981	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Argentina	2–1	2–1	Friendly
15	15 November 1981	Wrocław, Poland	Malta	6–0	6–0	FIFA World Cup 1982 qualifying
16	18 November 1981	Łódź, Poland	Spain	2–1	2–3	Friendly
17	22 June 1982	A Coruña, Spain	Peru	3–0	5–1	FIFA World Cup 1982
18	28 June 1982	Barcelona, Spain	Belgium	1–0	3–0	FIFA World Cup 1982
19				2–0
20				3–0
21	22 May 1983	Chorzów, Poland	Soviet Union	1–0	1–1	UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying
22	27 March 1984	Zürich, Switzerland	Switzerland	1–0	1–1	Friendly
23	19 May 1985	Athens, Greece	Greece	3–1	4–1	FIFA World Cup 1986 qualifying
24	30 May 1985	Tirana, Albania	Albania	1–0	1–0	FIFA World Cup 1986 qualifying

Widzew Łódź

• Ekstraklasa: 1980–81, 1981–82

Juventus^[4][6]

• Serie A: 1983–84
• Coppa Italia: 1982–83
• European Cup: 1984–85
• European Super Cup: 1984
• European Cup Winners' Cup: 1983–84

Roma^[4][6]

• Coppa Italia: 1985–86

Individual

• Piłka nożna magazine plebiscite: 1978, 1982^[7]
• Ballon d'Or: Third place 1982^[20]
• FIFA World Cup All-star Team: 1982^[21]
• FIFA 100: 2004^[3]
• Golden Foot Legends Award: 2009^[22]
• FAI International Football Awards – International Personality: 2012^[23]
• Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2019^[24]

Orders

• Boniek was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta: 1982 Krzyż Kawalerski Orderu Odrodzenia Polski^[25]
• Boniek is a 3rd class knight of Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: 1997 Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana^[26]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zbigniew Boniek.

• Zbigniew Boniek at 90minut.pl (in Polish)
• A song (in Polish) dedicated to Boniek
• BBC: Pele's list of the greatest