Józef Młynarczyk

Born in Nowa Sól, Młynarczyk arrived at Widzew Łódź in 1980 aged 27, after playing for three modest clubs. During his four-year spell, in which he was equally first and second-choice, the team won two Ekstraklasa titles, finishing second in the other two. In the 1982–83 European Cup, he helped Widzew to the semifinals after edging Liverpool in the last-eight (4–3 on aggregate). In 1984, aged 31, Młynarczyk signed with SC Bastia in France. In January 1986 he switched countries again, joining FC Porto from Portugal, where he won the European Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. After an interesting battle for first-choice status with Zé Beto, he eventually became the starter – he was in goal for all of these finals – but lost his importance after the emergence of 18-year-old Vítor Baía, choosing to retire from football in June 1989. Młynarczyk started immediately working with Porto's goalkeepers after his retirement, a position he would also hold at former side Widzew Łódź. On 21 April 2008, he resigned after the latter side hired Janusz Wójcik as manager.

Młynarczyk won 42 caps for Poland during seven years, the first arriving in 1979 whilst in the ranks of lowly Odra Opole. He participated – always as starter – with the national team in two FIFA World Cups, 1982 and 1986, finishing in third place in the former edition and being ousted by Brazil in the round-of-16 in the latter. Młynarczyk would also work as goalkeeping coach for the national team, before being replaced by Jacek Kazimierski.

International

Widzew Łódź

Ekstraklasa: 1980–81, 1981–82 Porto

Primeira Liga: 1985–86, 1987–88 Taça de Portugal: 1987–88 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 1986; runner-up: 1988 European Cup: 1986–87 Intercontinental Cup: 1987 UEFA Super Cup: 1987 Poland

FIFA World Cup third place: 1982 Individual

Piłka Nożna Polish Footballer of the Year: 1983 Polish Football Association National Team of the Century: 1919–2019