Lechosław Olsza Explained

Lechosław Olsza
Birth Date:28 February 1949
Birth Place:Sosnowiec, Poland
Youthclubs1:Zryw Chorzów
Youthyears1:-1966
Position:Midfielder
Years1:1966–1975
Clubs1:GKS Katowice
Caps1:250
Goals1:6+
Years2:1975–1977
Clubs2:GKS Tychy
Caps2:34
Goals2:0
Years3:1978–1979
Clubs3:GKS Katowice
Caps3:22
Goals3:8
Years4:1979–1980
Clubs4:Rozwój Katowice
Years5:1980–1982
Clubs5:SV St.Veit an der Glan
Goals5:1+
Nationalteam1:Poland U-23
Nationalyears1:1971
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalteam2:Poland
Nationalyears2:1976
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Manageryears1:1984-1991
Managerclubs1:GKS Katowice (assistant manager)
Manageryears2:1996-2003
Managerclubs2:GKS Katowice (coach, director, misc.)
Manageryears3:2003
Managerclubs3:GKS Katowice (caretaker)
Manageryears4:2004
Managerclubs4:GKS Katowice
Manageryears5:2005
Managerclubs5:GKS Katowice

Lechosław "Ola" Olsza (born 28 February 1949) is a Polish football manager and former player who played as a midfielder.[1] He is primarily associated with two Upper Silesian football clubs; GKS Katowice and GKS Tychy.

Club career

Olsza was brought to GKS Katowice from Zryw Chorzów by Jerzy Nikiel, debuting in a 1–0 win against Stal Rzeszów. In 1971 he was part of the squad that upset FC Barcelona at Camp Nou in 2–0 win. His greatest successes came with GKS Tychy however, winning the vice-championship in 1976, in what was the golden era for the club; this success earned him a call-up to the national team. In 1979 he spent a year with the then Third Division side Rozwój Katowice before emigrating to Austria for four years, playing alongside other Poles such as Józef Kwiatkowski and Józef Kurzeja.

International career

Olsza played in the 1972 UEFA European Under-23 Championship in a Group 8 match, coming on a substitute against Albania in a 2–1 win on 12 May 1971. He played in two matches for the Poland senior national team in 1976,[2] making his debut against Greece.

Managerial career

In between various non-footballing activities and multiple emigrations from Poland, over the years he has had various roles at GKS Katowice, ranging from first team coach, second coach, assistant manager, manager, director of football, kit man, manual labourer, and stoker.

Personal life

Olsza comes from a sporting family; his father Józef played for Ruch Chorzów, his uncle Kazimierz Pietranek for Stal Sosnowiec. Lechosław's daughter Aleksandra is a former Wimbledon Junior Girls title holder, his wife Barbara a 29-time national tennis champion, and his son a professional sports coach with a doctorate in sports science.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lechosław Olsza . EU Football . 3 October 2021.
  2. Web site: Lechosław Olsza . worldfootball.net . 3 October 2021.