Tomasz Radzinski

Tomasz Radzinski (born 15 December 1973) is a former professional football player who played as a striker and winger. He featured for clubs including North York Rockets in Canada, Germinal Ekeren, Anderlecht (where he won the national championship twice), Lierse and Waasland-Beveren in Belgium, Everton and Fulham in England and Skoda Xanthi in Greece. Born in Poland, he represented Canada at international level having moved there as a teenager, receiving 46 full caps between 1995 and 2009.

Tomasz Radzinski
Personal information
Date of birth (1973-12-14) 14 December 1973
Place of birth Poznań, Poland
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Striker, winger
Youth career
Cuiavia Inowrocław
1987–1990 VfL Osnabrück
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1993 North York Rockets 32 (7)
1994 St. Catharines Wolves – (–)
1994–1998 Germinal Ekeren 104 (42)
1998–2001 Anderlecht 77 (52)
2001–2004 Everton 91 (25)
2004–2007 Fulham 103 (11)
2007–2008 Skoda Xanthi 25 (14)
2008–2012 Lierse 86 (39)
2012 Waasland-Beveren 14 (7)
Total 500 (190)
International career
1994 Canada U23 3 (0)
1995–2009 Canada 46 (10)
Managerial career
2013–2015 Lierse (sporting director)[1][2]
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Prior to his moving to Canada, Radziński began his playing career as a youth with Cuiavia Inowrocław in his native Poland, and Germany's VfL Osnabrück. He joined the North York Rockets of the Canadian Soccer League in 1990 and remained with the club through the league's demise in 1992 to the club's last year, played in the National Soccer League (NSL), in 1993.[3] He played in the summer of 1994 with the St. Catharines Wolves (of the same league which however was by then renamed to the Canadian National Soccer League).

Radziński returned to Europe, joining Germinal Ekeren in Belgium in 1994. From there he eventually signed for Belgian giants Anderlecht for whom he scored 57 goals in 90 appearances – including five UEFA Champions League strikes in his last season with the Belgian champions – before moving to Everton for around £4.5 million,[4] the highest transfer fee paid for a Canadian up to that time.

At Everton, Radziński scored 25 times in 91 Premiership outings before requesting a transfer, eventually securing a three-year deal with Fulham F.C. worth £1.75 million.[5] Radzinski wasn't as prolific at Fulham as he was in his previous side, but won over the fans with several crucial goals. Radzinski was released at the end of the 2006–07 season by new manager Lawrie Sanchez,[6] totalling 17 goals in 117 appearances.

On 28 August 2007, he signed for Greek team Skoda Xanthi, on a free transfer.

One year later, on 30 August 2008, he signed a one-year contract for Belgian Second Division club Lierse, although his previous contract was valid until 2010. Lierse first had their eye on Peter Utaka, but when he transferred to Odense, they elected to sign Radzinski. Radzinski had disclosed to the press his belief that members of Skoda Xanthi had been involved in match fixing and was seeking a transfer.

On 29 January 2012, Belgian Second Division side Waasland-Beveren announced they had signed Radzinski on a short-term deal until the end of the 2011–12 season with an option for an additional year.[7]

International career

Radzinski made his debut for the Canada national team in a June 1995 friendly match against Turkey. He earned a total of 46 caps, scoring 10 goals making him tied 9th with Paul Peschisolido in all-time scoring for Canada.[8]

Radzinski after a Canada - Mexico second round World Cup qualifying match at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta on 16 October 2008.

In October 1999, Radzinski had been called up to the Canada national team by coach Holger Osieck, he promised to attend, failed to turn up and later refused to be interviewed about it. The Canadian Soccer Association approached FIFA to have Radzinski prevented from playing for Anderlecht as a result. Kevan Pipe, the head of the CSA called Radzinski's actions "an insult to his teammates, his coach and the country".[9] In October 2001, he announced that he'd like to play for Canada again as they had a friendly against European opponents, Malta.[10] He has represented Canada in 19 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.[11] in three FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns (1998, 2006 and 2010)

He also holds a Belgian passport through his marriage.

Post-playing career

Radzinski was the technical director of Belgian football club Lierse S.K.[12] from 2013 to 2015.

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by national team and year[13]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Canada 199540
199671
199720
199800
199900
200000
200110
200222
200332
200472
200520
200641
200741
200891
200910
Total4610
Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Radzinski goal.
List of international goals scored by Tomasz Radzinski
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
112 January 1996Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States Brazil1–31–41996 Gold Cup
215 May 2002Espenmoos, St. Gallen, Switzerland  Switzerland1–03–1Friendly
33–0
411 October 2003Ratina Stadium, Tampere, Finland Finland1–32–3Friendly
515 November 2003Na Stínadlech, Teplice, Czech Republic Czech Republic1–51–5Friendly
613 June 2004Richardson Memorial Stadium, Kingston, Canada Belize2–04–02006 World Cup qualification
716 June 2004Richardson Memorial Stadium, Kingston, Canada Belize1–04–02006 World Cup qualification
88 October 2006National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica Jamaica1–01–2Friendly
925 March 2007Bermuda National Stadium, Hamilton, Bermuda Bermuda2–03–0Friendly
1015 October 2008Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada Mexico2–12–22010 World Cup qualifier

Honours

Germinal Ekeren

Anderlecht

Lierse

Individual

References
  1. Tomasz Radzinski is nieuwe technisch directeur Lierse‚ nieuwsblad.be, 17 April 2013
  2. Radzinski trekt de deur bij Lierse helemaal dicht, sporza.be, 6 February 2015
  3. Hall, Dave (31 May 1993). "Rockets blast Wheels, 5-0". Newspapers.com. The Windsor Star. p. 9. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  4. Everton land Radzinski at last
  5. Fulham land Radzinski
  6. Fulham release striker Radzinski
  7. Tomasz Radzinski tekent bij Waasland-Beveren
  8. Appearances for Canada National Team – RSSSF
  9. O'Reilly, Dominic (11 February 2001). "No need to stand on the shoulders of giants; Forget Jan Koller, says Dominic O'Reilly, Tomasz Radzinski is Anderlecht's real threat". Sunday Herald  – via Highbeam (subscription required) . Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  10. "Radzinski ready to rejoin Canada". CBC. 25 October 2001. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  11. Tomasz Radzinski – FIFA competition record (archived)
  12. Tomasz Radzinski nommé directeur technique au Lierse
  13. "Tomasz Radzinski". Canadian Soccer Association. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  14. "Belgium National Levels (First to Fourth) 1999/2000". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
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