Zbigniew Kruszyński Explained

Zbigniew Kruszyński
Fullname:Zbigniew Kruszyński
Birth Date:14 October 1960
Birth Place:Tczew, Poland
Height:1.82 m
Position:Midfielder, utility player
Youthclubs1:Unia Tczew
Years1:1976–1979
Clubs1:Lechia Gdańsk
Caps1:56
Goals1:12
Years3:1979–1982
Clubs3:Hamburger SV II
Years4:1982–1983
Clubs4:SC Concordia von 1907
Years5:1983–1987
Clubs5:1. FC Saarbrücken
Caps5:127
Goals5:9
Years6:1987–1988
Clubs6:FC 08 Homburg
Caps6:33
Goals6:2
Years7:1988–1992
Clubs7:Wimbledon
Caps7:71
Goals7:4
Years8:1992
Clubs8:Brentford (loan)
Caps8:8
Goals8:0
Years9:1992–1993
Clubs9:Brentford
Caps9:6
Goals9:0
Years10:1993
Clubs10:Coventry City
Caps10:2
Goals10:0
Years11:1993–1994
Clubs11:Peterborough United
Caps11:3
Goals11:0
Years12:1994
Clubs12:Oxford City
Years13:1994–1995
Clubs13:St Albans City
Caps13:9
Goals13:0
Years14:1996
Clubs14:Hayes
Caps14:2
Goals14:0
Years15:1996
Clubs15:Chertsey Town
Years16:1996–1997
Clubs16:Kingstonian
Caps16:10
Goals16:2
Nationalyears1:1977–1978

Zbigniew Kruszyński (born 14 October 1960), commonly known as Detsi Kruszyński or Detzi Kruszyński, is a Polish-German former footballer. Primarily a midfielder, he was also adept in defence and attack. In an 18-year professional career, he played league football in Poland, Germany and England. He is probably best remembered for his three-year spell in Germany with 1. FC Saarbrücken, for whom he made over 130 appearances. He also made over 70 First Division appearances for Wimbledon in England. Kruszyński represented Poland at U18 level and was part of the team which finished third at the 1978 European U18 Championship. Kruszyński currently coaches youth football in Ohio, United States.

Career

Lechia Gdańsk

Born in Tczew, Kruszyński began his career as a youth at hometown club Unia Tczew, before moving to II Liga club Lechia Gdańsk in 1976.[1] Despite being aged just 16, he made his professional debut in a league match versus Olimpia Poznań on 5 June 1977, coming on as a substitute for Andrzej Głownia after 67 minutes.[2] Kruszyński broke into the team the 1977–78 season, making 23 league appearances and scoring two goals and improving again the following year, scoring ten goals in 34 appearances. Kruszyński travelled with the club to take part in a friendly tournament in West Germany in the summer of 1979 and refused to return to Poland with the team, which caused the Polish FA to suspend him for a year.[3] He made 61 appearances and scored 13 goals for Gdańsk.[4]

Hamburger SV II

While in West Germany, Kruszyński signed for Hamburger SV II in 1979. In a three-season spell, he failed to make an appearance for the club's first team, but trained with high-profile players Franz Beckenbauer, Kevin Keegan, Manfred Kaltz and Felix Magath.

SC Concordia von 1907

Kruszyński joined Oberliga Nord club SC Concordia von 1907 in 1982 and departed at the end of the 1982–83 season.

1. FC Saarbrücken

Kruszyński moved back up the German pyramid to sign for 2. Bundesliga club 1. FC Saarbrücken in 1983. He quickly established himself in the team, missing just five league games during the 1983–84 season.[5] Kruszyński made 32 appearances to help Saarbrücken to a third-place finish in the 1984–85 season and though he did not play, the club secured promotion to the Bundesliga after winning a playoff versus Arminia Bielefeld. Now playing in the Bundesliga, Kruszyński was moved from his forward position back into the defence and made 32 appearances in a poor season which saw Saarbrücken relegated straight back to the 2. Bundesliga. Kruszyński departed the club at the end of the 1986–87 season, after disastrous campaign in which Saarbrücken narrowly avoided relegation to the Oberliga. He made 132 appearances and scored ten goals during three years at the Ludwigsparkstadion.

FC Homburg

Kruszyński remained within Saarland to sign for Bundesliga club FC 08 Homburg in 1987. He made 34 appearances and scored two goals during a disastrous 1987–88 season, which saw Homburg relegated back to the 2. Bundesliga after just two seasons in the top-flight.[6]

Wimbledon

Kruszyński moved to England to sign for First Division club Wimbledon in December 1988 for a £100,000 fee and he became the third Pole to play in the English top-flight.[7] Utilised as a midfielder by manager Bobby Gould, he struggled to adapt to the physicality of the English game. Kruszyński dropped out of contention during the 1991–92 season and departed the club in August 1992. Kruszyński made 71 league appearances and scored four goals during three and a half years with the Dons.[8]

Brentford (loan and permanent signing)

Kruszyński joined Third Division club Brentford on loan for the final eight games of the 1991–92 season.[9] He played in each game in midfield and helped the Bees secure the Third Division championship and promotion to the second tier. Kruszyński signed permanently for a £60,000 fee in August 1992, but managed only eight appearances during the whole of the 1992–93 season, as the Bees suffered relegation straight back to the third tier. Kruszyński failed to see eye-to-eye with manager Phil Holder and was transfer-listed in September 1992, before being fined two weeks' wages for a training ground bust-up with coach Graham Pearce later in the year. His contract was cancelled at the end of the 1992–93 season, after making 16 appearances in just over a year at Griffin Park.

Coventry City

After a deal to move back to Germany fell through,[10] Kruszyński remained in England and signed for Premiership club Coventry City in September 1993.[11] He made just three appearances and departed the club in December 1993.

Peterborough United

After a proposed move to Second Division club Birmingham City failed to materialise, Kruszyński joined First Division club Peterborough United in December 1993. He managed just five appearances before departing London Road.[12]

Non-league football

Kruszyński dropped into non-league football in 1994 and played for Oxford City, St Albans City,[13] Hayes,[14] Chertsey Town and Kingstonian before retiring in 1997.

International career

Kruszyński represented Poland at U18 level and was part of the team which finished third at the 1978 European U18 Championship. Kruszyński's decision to play club football in Germany in 1979 effectively ended his international career, due to citizenship issues.

Coaching career

Since 2001, Kruszyński has coached youth players at his coaching school in Ohio, United States.[15] At one time, the school had links with Spanish club Barcelona.[16]

Personal life

Kruszyński's brothers Bogdan and Andrzej were also footballers.[17]

Career statistics

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lechia Gdańsk1976–77II liga410041
1977–78II liga23251283
1978–79II liga29900299
Total6113516614
1. FC Saarbrücken1983–842. Bundesliga32240362
1984–852. Bundesliga2811000291
1985–86Bundesliga31010320
1986–872. Bundesliga35621377
Total12698113210
FC Homburg1987–88Bundesliga33210342
Wimbledon1988–89First Division162000000162
1989–90First Division272000000272
1990–91First Division270000000270
1991–92First Division1000000010
total714000000714
Brentford (loan)1991–92Third Division8080
Brentford1992–93First Division6000101[18] 080
Coventry City1993–94Premier League201030
Peterborough United1993–94First Division302050
St Albans City1994–95Isthmian League Premier Division906[19] 0150
Kingstonian1996–97Isthmian League Premier Division1020000102
Career total32930162207035432
  1. Web site: Zbigniew KRUSZYSKI . 20 November 2014.
  2. Web site: Raport meczowy: Olimpia Poznań vs Lechia Gdańsk . 20 November 2014.
  3. Web site: Zbigniew Kruszyński – spokojny członek "Szalonego Gangu". https://web.archive.org/web/20141129050728/http://kopnijbiegnij.com/zbigniew-kruszynski-spokojny-czlonek-szalonego-gangu/. 29 November 2014. 20 November 2014.
  4. Web site: Informacje o graczu – Zbigniew Kruszyński . 20 November 2014.
  5. Web site: Zbigniew Kruszynski – Spieler bei FC 08 Homburg – Bundesliga 1987/1988 – Fussballdaten – Die Fußballdatenbank . 20 November 2014.
  6. Web site: 1. Bundesliga 1987/88, der 34. Spieltag . kicker online . 12 May 2016.
  7. Book: Croxford, Mark . The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties . Lane . David . Waterman . Greville . Legends Publishing . 2013 . 9781906796723 . Sunbury, Middlesex . 396.
  8. Web site: Players: Detzi Kruszynski . 20 November 2014.
  9. Book: Haynes, Graham . Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 . Coumbe . Frank . Yore Publications . 2006 . 978-0955294914 . Harefield . 93.
  10. News: Winter . Henry . Football Diary: Stoke's silent tribute . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-diary-stokes-silent-tribute-1392099.html . 7 May 2022 . subscription . live . The Independent . 20 November 2014.
  11. Web site: Detzi Kruszynski . 11v11.com . 20 November 2014.
  12. Web site: Detzi Kruszyński . 20 November 2014.
  13. Web site: Past Players Database – Saintsnet – St Albans City F.C. Official . 20 November 2014.
  14. Web site: Hayes & Yeading United FC: The Official Website . 20 November 2014.
  15. Web site: GotSoccer Team Detail . home.gotsoccer.com . 21 January 2018.
  16. Web site: Barcelona Ohio FC . 20 November 2014.
  17. Web site: www.Unia.Tczew.pl – Serwis Kibicw Unii Tczew . 20 November 2014.
  18. Appearance in Anglo-Italian Cup
  19. two appearances in London Challenge Cup, one appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in Isthmian League Cup, one appearance in Herts Senior Cup, one appearance in Herts Charity Cup

Honours

1. FC Saarbrücken

Brentford

1991–92

Poland U18