Przemysław Kaźmierczak

Przemysław Tadeusz Kaźmierczak (Polish pronunciation: [pʂɛ.ˈmɨs.waf kaʑ.ˈmʲɛr.t͡ʂak]; born 5 May 1982) is a Polish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Besides Poland, he has played in England and Portugal.[1]

Not to be confused with Przemysław Kazimierczak.

Przemysław Kaźmierczak
Kaźmierczak as a Śląsk Wrocław player (2012)
Personal information
Full name Przemysław Tadeusz Kaźmierczak
Date of birth (1982-05-05) 5 May 1982
Place of birth Łęczyca, Poland
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1990–2000 ŁKS Łódź
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2003 Piotrcovia 26 (8)
2002 → Górnik Łęczna (loan) 10 (1)
2003–2007 Pogoń Szczecin 73 (10)
2006–2007 → Boavista (loan) 28 (5)
2007–2010 Porto 11 (0)
2008–2009 → Derby County (loan) 22 (2)
2009–2010 → Vitória Setúbal (loan) 28 (4)
2010–2014 Śląsk Wrocław 89 (16)
2014–2015 Górnik Łęczna 8 (0)
Total 295 (46)
International career
2005–2013 Poland 11 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Poland
UEFA Euro U-18
Winner2001 Finland
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

During a 15-year professional career, he amassed Ekstraklasa totals of 145 games and 21 goals over the course of seven seasons. He also competed professionally in Portugal (three years) and England (one, with Derby County).

Club career

Kaźmierczak was born in Łęczyca. After entering ŁKS Łódź's youth ranks at the age of eight, and spending the following decade there, he started his professional career in 2000 with Piotrcovia Piotrków Trybunalski, playing three seasons with the club.

In 2003 Kaźmierczak moved to Pogoń Szczecin, establishing himself as an Ekstraklasa player. He then served a loan in Portugal with Boavista F.C. during the 2006–07 campaign, where he scored five Primeira Liga goals and played alongside compatriot Rafał Grzelak.

After solid overall displays, Boavista neighbours FC Porto paid Pogoń around €1.4 million to acquire Kaźmierczak's services. He helped the northerners retain their domestic supremacy, but appeared sparingly (11 league games, plus 65 minutes in a 1–4 loss at Liverpool for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League).

Kaźmierczak's disappointing first year at Porto saw him linked with a move away from the club and, on 21 July 2008, he joined English Football League Championship side Derby County on a season-long loan, with a view to a £1.3m permanent deal.[2] After coming on as a substitute he scored his first goal for his new team with a clinical finish against Norwich City, in a 3–1 win.

However, Kaźmierczak fell out of favour under new Derby manager Nigel Clough, and finished the season with 22 league appearances, scoring twice. He later revealed his frustration at being left out of the team, accusing the coach of "not liking foreign [players]", and that "I have made up my mind – I want to leave. It is all over. I am leaving Derby County".[3] Clough responded to the player's accusations, saying "Is that what he said, is it? I have got no problems with foreign players at all. If they have got the right character and they want to fight tooth and nail for Derby County, we will have players whether they are Chinese, American, Spanish – anyone to help us get three points."[4]

On 14 July 2009 Porto arranged for another loan deal for Kaźmierczak, who joined Vitória de Setúbal on a season-long move.[5] The following year he was released and returned to his country, signing for Śląsk Wrocław.[6]

International career

Whilst at Piotrcovia Piotrków, Kaźmierczak was called into the Polish under-18 national team, helping them win the 2001 UEFA European Championship in Finland. He eventually forced his way into the full side following his stint with Boavista, scoring once during UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers and helping his country qualify for the final stages in Austria and Switzerland, for which he was not finally picked.

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.24 March 2007Polish Army Stadium, Warsaw, Poland Azerbaijan
5–0
5–0
Euro 2008 qualifying

Honours

Pogoń Szczecin

Porto

Śląsk Wrocław

Poland U18

References
  1. Miałem klapki na oczach. Wydawało mi się, że jestem niezniszczalny… weszlo.com
  2. "Kazmierczak deal is completed". Derby County F.C. 21 July 2008. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  3. "Clough doesn't like foreigners, says Kaz". Setanta Sports. 7 May 2009. Archived from the original on 12 July 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  4. "Aussie clubs could move to take Mile back home". Derby Telegraph. 9 May 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  5. Kazmierczak on loan to Vitoria Setubal Archived 12 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine; Polish Soca, 14 July 2009
  6. Kolejny reprezentant wrócił do Ekstraklasy (Another international returns to the Ekstraklasa) Archived 17 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine; Sport.onet, 3 August 2010 (in Polish)
  7. "20 lat temu Polacy zdobyli mistrzostwo Europy U–18. Jakie były ich losy?" (in Polish). Łączy nas piłka. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
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