Franciszek Smuda
Franciszek Smuda ( born June 22, 1948 in Lubomia, powiat Wodzisławski, Poland) is a former football player and current coach with German and Polish nationality.
Playing career
Smuda started his career with the youth teams of KP Unia Racibórz and GKS Odra Wodzisław Slaski. In 1970 he came into the squad for the first team of FKS Stal Mielec. From 1970 to 1971 he was with Piast Gliwice under contract.
Following several Verletzungenam cruciate ligament and the outer band left Smuda 1972 or 1973 age 24, went to Europe and North America to have surgery in the United States because the medicine 'is already a step further, " was there. Then he went there in the rehabilitation. After a successful rehab he stayed in the U.S. and played for Vistula Garfield in New Jersey and in 1975 at the Hartford Bicentennials. In the latter, he could " again for the Polish league recommend". So he left then North America and returned to Poland. Smuda was then for two years at Legia Warsaw active. In 1978 he went back to North America and was active in the United States at the Oakland Stompers, the Los Angeles Aztecs and most recently with the San Jose Earthquakes.
After his stay overseas, he returned to Europe and played until 1979-1981 for SpVgg Fürth ( today SpVgg Greuther Fürth ) and then finished his career as a footballer at Oberliga VfB Coburg.
Coaching career
VfB Coburg was also Smuda's first as a coach. Later he coached from 1984 to 1987 the German club ASV Forth, 1987-1988 DJK Eintracht South Nuremberg and 1988-1989 1 FC Herzogenaurach. From 1989 to 1993 Smuda lived in Turkey. He coached one years Altay Izmir and another two years Konyaspor. In 1993 he returned to Germany and became coach of the FV Wendelstein.
After a short time he returned to Poland. Smuda joined his very first professional club as a player FKS Stal Mielec, with which he could prevent in its first year, the descent from the top Polish league. In 1995 he signed a contract with Widzew Łódź and was in the years 1996 and 1997 champion. In the 1996/97 season, he qualified as a coach with Widzew for the UEFA Champions League. In a group with Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid and Steaua Bucharest, the Polish representatives claimed third place. In 1998 he had to Lodz to a fourth place in the league left and went to Wisla Krakow. With Wisła, he was again champion, but did not qualify for the Champions League. In 1999 he went to Legia Warsaw. This time he returned to Krakow Titellos to Wisła back, he (2002) then Piotrcovia Piotrków (2003), then left also Titellos first to Widzew Łódź Łódź Widzew again. In the second stint, he got off with Widzew. After that, he left Poland to Cyprus and stood for half a year at Omonia Nicosia under contract. He returned back end of 2004 and trained first Odra Wodzisław Slaski, then Zagłębie Lubin and Lech Poznan.
From 29 October 2009, he was coach of the Polish national team; his contract ran until 30 August 2012. Following the resignation of the national team in the preliminary round of the 2012 European Football Championship Smuda did not renew his contract.
For the second half of 2012/13 Smuda was appointed coach of second division side SSV Jahn Regensburg. He received a contract until the end of season. When he took office Jahn finished bottom of the table with 13 points from 19 games. After the descent Smuda's contract was not renewed.
In the summer of 2013 Wisła Kraków Smuda committed as new head coach.
Achievements
- Polish Champion (1996, 1997, 1999 )
- Polish Cup (2009)
- Place in the group stage of the Champions League ( 1996)
Find out more
Smuda has in addition to the Polish and German citizenship. While he is out in Polish documents as Franciszek Smuda, he is guided in his German passport, as well as in other German documents as Franz Smuda. Franz Smuda is married and has one son. He divides his time between Nuremberg and Cracow.