Zbigniew Boniek

Zbigniew Boniek is undoubtedly one of the best Polish players in the history and history of Juventus Turin. Selfless attacking midfielder, he will have marked the 80s.

Trophies

151

Goals

540

Games

1974/75 Zawisza Bydgoszcz (POL) 41 games, 14 goals

1975/82 Widzew Lodz (POL) 194 games, 59 goals

(Polish Championship: 172 games, 50 goals)

(Polish Cup: 9 games, 5 goals)

(European Champion Clubs' Cup: 2 games)

(UEFA Cup: 11 games, 4 goals)

1982/85 Juventus Turin (ITA) 133 games, 31 goals

(Italian Championship: 81 games, 14 goals)

(Italian Cup: 24 games, 8 goals)

(European Champion Clubs' Cup: 18 games, 3 goals)

(UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 9 games, 4 goals)

(UEFA Super Cup: 1 match, 2 goals)

1985/88 AS Roma (ITA) 92 matches, 23 goals

(Italian Championship: 76 matches, 17 goals)

(Italian Cup: 14 matches, 6 goals)

(UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 2 matches)

With the National Team :

80 caps, 24 goals

(Friendly matches: 37 caps, 10 goals)

(World Cup qualifiers: 13 caps, 4 goals)

(World Cup: 16 caps, 6 goals)

(Euro qualifiers: 14 caps, 4 goals)

1st cap: March 24, 1976 against Argentina (1-2)

Last cap: March 23, 1988 against Northern Ireland (1-1)

U23: 2 caps

U18: 4 caps

Zbigniew Boniek

Born March 3, 1956 in Bydgoszcz (POL)

Polish, Attacking-midfielder, Left-winger, Central-midfielder, 1m82

Nicknames: Zibi, Bello di Notte

1982 World Cup: From Poland to Italy

Zbigniew Boniek was born on March 3, 1956 in Bydgoszcz, Poland. He began his professional career in 1974 in the modest club Zawisza Bydgoszcz then joined Widzew Lodz in 1975. He was then 19 years old. A rising star of Polish football, he led his team to 2 Polish championship titles in 1981 and 1982. Scoring 59 goals in 194 for the Polish club, he already showed great maturity in his game.

Boniek had his first selection with the Polish national team in 1976 against Argentina, then a left winger, he revealed himself to the whole world during the 1978 World Cup during which he reached the quarter-finals then during the 1982 edition during which he reached 3rd place.

His 1982 World Cup is also among the best of an individual player, against Peru he had a perfect match, he scored 1 goal and delivered 2 assists, he succeeded in 4 of his 5 dribbles, he touched 73 balls, succeeded in 82% of his passes, he made 7 key passes and he won 10 of his 17 ground duels.

In the rest of the tournament, he produced another masterclass, achieving a hat-trick against Belgium. Then, during the match for 3rd place, he had a very good match against France, he delivered 1 assist, succeeded in 84% of his passes and he delivered 3 key passes. With this exceptional World Cup, he was recruited by Juventus Turin who teamed him up with Michel Platini.

The Serie A legend

This Boniek-Platini duo will be one of the best in history. Boniek having a much more useful defensive game will perfectly partner with the French playmaker. Boniek uses his great speed and his wonderful calls to sublimate the Frenchman's millimeter passes.

At Juventus, Boniek had his best years, he won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1984 and then the prestigious Champions League in 1985. Despite his extraordinary talent, he often had to play in positions that were not his own, because of the strong competition at the club.

In 1985, he joined AS Roma and left Juventus Turin, he stayed there for 3 years and won an Italian Cup in 1986. He then flew to Mexico and the World Cup that same year. He performed well there and returned to Italy to quietly end his career in 1988 when he was 32 years old.