Antoni Piechniczek

Piechniczek was born in Chorzów. He played for clubs such as Naprzód Lipiny, Legia Warsaw, Ruch Chorzów and LB Châteauroux. He was also capped thrice for the Poland national team.

As a manager, he has led teams such as Ruch Chorzów, Górnik Zabrze, Al Rayyan (Qatar) or Espérance Tunis (Tunisia). He is well known for managing the Poland national team. He coached Poland from 1981 to 1986 and from 1996 to 1997. He led the national team at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, where Poland won the bronze medal, and at the 1986 FIFA World Cup. He coached also the Tunisia and United Arab Emirates national teams.

In the 2002 local election Piechniczek was elected to the Silesian Regional Assembly II Term and was one of the three Vice-Chairpersons of the assembly. In 2006 he was re-elected, but his term (Assembly III Term) was ended after one year. In 2007, Piechniczek was elected to the Senate of the Republic of Poland (upper chamber of Polish parliament) and served in his role until 2011.

Player

Legia Warsaw

Polish Cup: 1963–64 Ruch Chorzów

Ekstraklasa: 1967–68

Manager

Odra Opole

Polish League Cup: 1977 Poland

FIFA World Cup third place: 1982 Górnik Zabrze

Ekstraklasa: 1986–87 Individual

Polish Coach of the Year: 1978 Orders

Order of Polonia Restituta Officer's Cross: 1999 Order of Polonia Restituta Knight's Cross: 1982