Władysław Antoni Żmuda (Polish pronunciation: [vwaˈdɨswav ˈʐmuda];[a] born 6 June 1954) is a Polish former professional footballer who played as a defender for Śląsk Wrocław, Widzew Łódź, Hellas Verona, New York Cosmos and US Cremonese. He earned 91 caps for the Poland national team and is a four-time FIFA World Cup participant. At the 1974 FIFA World Cup, where Poland claimed third place, he received the FIFA Young Player Award.

Władysław Żmuda
Żmuda in 2007
Personal information
Full name Władysław Antoni Żmuda
Date of birth (1954-06-06) 6 June 1954 (age 70)
Place of birth Lublin, Poland
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1966–1970 Motor Lublin
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–1972 Motor Lublin 18 (0)
1972–1974 Gwardia Warszawa 34 (0)
1974–1980 Śląsk Wrocław 97 (0)
1980–1982 Widzew Łódź 67 (1)
1982–1984 Hellas Verona 7 (0)
1984 New York Cosmos 4 (0)
1984–1987 Cremonese 43 (1)
Total 271 (2)
International career
Poland U18
1973–1986 Poland 91 (2)
Managerial career
1989–1990 Altay
2002–2003 Poland U20
2004–2005 Poland U21
2008–2098 Poland U16
2009–2010 Poland U17
2010–2011 Poland U19
2012 Poland U20
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Poland
FIFA World Cup
Third place 1974 West Germany
Third place 1982 Spain
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1976 Montreal Team
UEFA European Under-18 Championship
Third place 1972 Spain
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Żmuda was born in Lublin. He spent six years learning his trade with his first club Motor Lublin before finally spreading his wings in 1973 and switching to Gwardia Warsaw, one of the Polish capital's clubs. The 19-year-old Żmuda was instrumental in Gwardia's UEFA Cup campaign of 1973–74 where they narrowly lost out to eventual winners Feyenoord. Żmuda pursued his career in Poland with Śląsk Wrocław and later Widzew Łódź before Italian club Hellas Verona secured permission to sign him from Poland in 1982. After two injury-plagued seasons at Verona, Żmuda spent a brief spell with New York Cosmos before returning to Italy with US Cremonese, playing two of his three seasons with the club in Serie B. Żmuda ended his playing career in 1988.

International career

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Żmuda (left) playing for Poland in a match against the Netherlands, 1979

Żmuda played for the Poland national team, for which he earned 91 caps and scored 2 goals.[1]

He was a participant at four FIFA World Cups, the first in 1974, where Poland reached third place. He received the FIFA Young Player Award at the tournament.

He played a total of 21 matches at the World Cup finals, the third-most ever, tied with Uwe Seeler and Diego Maradona and behind only Lothar Matthäus, Paolo Maldini, Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi. His four tournaments, in 1974, 1978, 1982 and 1986, place him fourth in the all-time rankings behind Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Antonio Carbajal and Matthäus and level with legends of the game, such as Pelé, Maradona and Gianni Rivera.

He was also a participant at the 1976 Summer Olympics, where Poland won the silver medal.

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Poland 1973 1 0
1974 9 0
1975 10 0
1976 9 0
1977 11 0
1978 12 1
1979 4 0
1980 9 0
1981 7 0
1982 7 0
1983 0 0
1984 7 0
1985 4 1
1986 1 0
Total 91 2
Scores and results list Poland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Żmuda goal.
List of international goals scored by Władysław Żmuda
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 5 April 1978 Poznań, Poland   Greece 3–0 5–2 Friendly
2 17 April 1985 Opole, Poland   Finland 1–1 2–1 Friendly

Honours

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Śląsk Wrocław[2]

Widzew Łódź

Poland[2]

Poland U18

Individual

Notes

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  1. ^ In isolation, Władysław is pronounced [vwaˈdɨswaf].

References

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  1. ^ Kadra.pl
  2. ^ a b c d "Władysław Żmuda". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Laureaci". pilkanozna.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 16 July 2024.
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