He played most of his 20-year professional career with Widzew Łódź and Utrecht, appearing in more than 200 official games for the former. He amassed Eredivisie totals of 212 matches and 45 goals, over the course of eight seasons.
In 1986, aged 29, Smolarek was allowed to leave the Iron Curtain nation, starting with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga where he won the German Cup in his second season, playing the full 90 minutes in the 1–0 win against VfL Bochum.[1] He retired at 39 after eight years in the Netherlands, with Feyenoord and FC Utrecht, then went on to work with the first club as youth coach for nearly one decade.
International career
Smolarek made his debut for the Poland national team on 12 October 1980, in a 1–2 friendly loss in Argentina. Over the next 12 years he appeared in a further 59 internationals, being selected for the squads at two FIFA World Cups: in 1982 he helped the country finish third in Spain, scoring the opener in a 5–1 first group stage win against Peru. Four years later, celebrating his 50th appearance, he netted the only goal in the group phase contest against Portugal (his 12th and penultimate) in an eventual round-of-16 exit.[2]
In October 2009, Smolarek was hired by the Polish Football Association to oversee the national side's youth program.[3]
Poland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Smolarek goal.[2]
Personal life
Smolarek was married to Zdzisława, fathering sons Euzebiusz and Mariusz. The former was also a footballer and a forward, who also represented Feyenoord and Poland and also had a three-year spell with Borussia Dortmund.[16]
Smolarek died on 7 March 2012 at the age of 54, in his hometown, Aleksandrów Łódzki.[17][18]
^"DFB-Pokal, 1987/1988, Finale". dfb.de. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
^ a b cKlukowski, Tomasz (19 October 2002). "Wlodzimierz Smolarek – International matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 8 April 2009.
^"PZPN chce holenderskiego systemu szkolenia" [PFF want the Dutch training system] (in Polish). Sport. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
^ a b"Historia Legii Warszawa" [Legia Warsaw history] (in Polish). Legia.net. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
^"Informacje: Smolarek Włodzimierz | Sezon 1978/79" [Information: Smolarek Włodzimierz | 1978/79 season] (in Polish). WidzewLodz.info. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
^"Informacje: Smolarek Włodzimierz | Sezon 1979/80" [Information: Smolarek Włodzimierz | 1979/80 season] (in Polish). WidzewLodz.info. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
^"Informacje: Smolarek Włodzimierz | Sezon 1980/81" [Information: Smolarek Włodzimierz | 1980/81 season] (in Polish). WidzewLodz.info. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
^"Informacje: Smolarek Włodzimierz | Sezon 1981/82" [Information: Smolarek Włodzimierz | 1981/82 season] (in Polish). WidzewLodz.info. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
^"Informacje: Smolarek Włodzimierz | Sezon 1982/83" [Information: Smolarek Włodzimierz | 1982/83 season] (in Polish). WidzewLodz.info. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
^"Informacje: Smolarek Włodzimierz | Sezon 1983/84" [Information: Smolarek Włodzimierz | 1983/84 season] (in Polish). WidzewLodz.info. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
^"Informacje: Smolarek Włodzimierz | Sezon 1984/85" [Information: Smolarek Włodzimierz | 1984/85 season] (in Polish). WidzewLodz.info. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
^"Informacje: Smolarek Włodzimierz | Sezon 1985/86" [Information: Smolarek Włodzimierz | 1985/86 season] (in Polish). WidzewLodz.info. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
^"Wlodzimierz Smolarek – 1986/1987" (in German). fussballdaten.de. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
^"Wlodzimierz Smolarek – 1987/1988" (in German). fussballdaten.de. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
^ a b c d e f g h i"Włodzimierz Smolarek » Club matches". Worldfootball. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
^"Eintracht trauert um Smolarek" [Eintracht Frankfurt mourns Smolarek]. Frankfurter Rundschau (in German). 7 March 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
^"Włodzimierz Smolarek nie żyje" [Włodzimierz Smolarek is dead] (in Polish). 90 Minut. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
^"Sad farewell bid to Marquitos and Smolarek". FIFA. 9 March 2012. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
^ a b"Włodzimierz Smolarek" (in Polish). Retrieved 15 July 2024.
^"Włodzimierz Smolarek odznaczony przez prezydenta". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 10 March 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
^"Laureaci". pilkanozna.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 16 July 2024.