Marek Citko (born 27 March 1974) is a Polish former professional footballer who played as an offensive midfielder.[1] During the professional career Citko represented numerous clubs in Poland and outside the native country, including Włókniarz Białystok, Jagiellonia Białystok, Widzew Łódź, Legia Warsaw, Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Hapoel Be'er Sheva, FC Aarau, Cracovia and Polonia Warsaw.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marek Citko | ||
| Date of birth | 27 March 1974 | ||
| Place of birth | Białystok, Poland | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1989–1990 | Włókniarz Białystok | ||
| 1990–1992 | Jagiellonia Białystok | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1995 | Jagiellonia Białystok | 74 | (12) |
| 1995–1999 | Widzew Łódź | 86 | (24) |
| 1999–2001 | Legia Warsaw | 36 | (6) |
| 2001 | Dyskobolia Grodzisk | 3 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | Hapoel Be'er Sheva | 17 | (1) |
| 2002 | Legia Warsaw | 0 | (0) |
| 2002–2004 | FC Aarau | 24 | (4) |
| 2004–2005 | Cracovia | 15 | (0) |
| 2005 | Yverdon-Sport FC | 6 | (0) |
| 2005–2007 | Polonia Warsaw | 36 | (7) |
| International career | |||
| 1996–1997 | Poland | 10 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career edit
Widzew Łódź edit
Citko reached the greatest heights of his career while playing for Widzew Łódź. Led by Franciszek Smuda, Widzew won the 1995–96[2] and 1996–97 Ekstraklasa titles,[3] as well as the 1996 Polish Super Cup.[4]
During the 1996–97 season, with Citko in the line-up, Widzew qualified for the UEFA Champions League. His team was eliminated from the competition after the group stage.[5] Citko performed well, scoring twice in the first two games of Widzew's campaign. On 11 September, he scored a late goal in a 2–1 away loss against eventual champions Borussia Dortmund. Two weeks later, he chipped José Francisco Molina, the then goalkeeper of the Spain national team, from 40 yards out in a 1–4 home loss against Atlético Madrid.[6]
A severe injury & later career edit
Shortly after, on 17 May 1997 in the match against Górnik Zabrze, Citko suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury, and after his 16-month recuperation was unable to capture his previous form.[7] He spent the rest of his career playing for lower profile sides. While representing Polonia Warsaw during the 2006–07 season, on 18 November 2006 Citko scored directly from the corner kick in a 2–2 draw against Zawisza Bydgoszcz. He retired on 29 June 2007, as one of the biggest unfulfilled talents in Polish football history.
International career edit
During his stint at Widzew, Citko won 10 caps for Poland. On 9 October 1996, in the 1998 World Cup qualifier at Wembley Stadium in London, Citko opened the scoring against the hosts.[8] Despite Poland losing the match 1–2, the game put Citko on foreign clubs' radar. It was reported that the Pole would join Premier League side Blackburn Rovers, but he eventually decided not to leave Poland, explaining that he wished to train as a priest.[9] He was also linked with Liverpool.[10]
Stardom in Poland edit
Scoring a goal against England turned Citko into an overnight sensation in Poland. The player came first in a contest organized by the Polish Television (TVP), Polish Radio Program 3 (PR3) and "Super Express" (a Polish daily newspaper). He also won the Polish Newcomer of the Year award given out by "Piłka Nożna", at the time the biggest football magazine in Poland, and came 10th in the contest of "Przegląd Sportowy".
International goals edit
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 9 October 1996 | Wembley Stadium, London, England |  England |
1–0 |
1–2 |
1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2. | 26 February 1997 | Estádio Serra Dourada, Goiânia, Brazil |  Brazil |
2–4 |
2–4 |
Friendly |
Honours edit
Widzew Łódź
- Ekstraklasa: 1995–96, 1996–97
- Polish Super Cup: 1996
References edit
- ^ Pięć? Za dużo. Miałem swoje dwie minuty weszlo.com
- ^ "Polish Ekstraklasa - results of the 1995/1996 season". Soccerway.com.
- ^ "Polish Ekstraklasa - results of the 1996/1997 season". Soccerway.com.
- ^ "Polish SuperCup". PolishSoccer.net. Archived from the original on 2011-08-24.
- ^ "1996/1997 Champions League group stage". Worldfootball.net.
- ^ "The 1996/1997 season match between Widzew and Atletico". Weltfussball.de. Archived from the original on 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
- ^ "Citko's severe injury". Pilkarskiefakty.pl. Archived from the original on 2012-03-23.
- ^ "Citko's goal against England". EnglandFootballOnline.com.
- ^ "Citko kills his deal over cash". Daily Mirror. 1997-02-16. Retrieved 2011-05-15.
- ^ Alan Nixon (1997-03-13). "Liverpool make move for Citko". The Independent. Retrieved 2011-05-15.
External links edit
- Marek Citko at 90minut.pl (in Polish)