Józef Boniek

Józef Boniek

Personal information
Date of birth	(1931-03-12)12 March 1931
Place of birth	Nakło nad Notecią, Poland
Date of death	12 December 2019(2019-12-12) (aged 88)
Place of death	Bydgoszcz, Poland
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Central defender
Youth career
	Czarni Nakło
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1946–1952	Czarni Nakło
1952–1958	Zawisza Bydgoszcz	100	(1)
1959–1961	Polonia Bydgoszcz	60	(0)
Managerial career
1966–1968	Czarni Nakło
	Unia Solec Kujawski
	Gwiazda Bydgoszcz
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Józef Boniek (12 March 1931 – 12 December 2019) was a Polish professional footballer who played as a central defender and a manager.

Club career

Having made an impression at his local club, he won the Pomeranian championship in 1952. He spent the rest of his career in Bydgoszcz. First he was a leading player at Zawisza, where he made over 100 appearances. He then moved to Polonia making 60 appearances. He was also a leading player at the club, being known for his efficient and tough style of play. He retired from playing after Polonia was relegated from the top division.

Career statistics

Club	Season	League	League		National cup		Total
			Matches	Goals	Matches	Goals	Matches	Goals
Polonia Bydgoszcz	1959	Ekstraklasa	22	0	—		22	0
	1960	Ekstraklasa	19	0	—		19	0
	1961	Ekstraklasa	19	0	0	0	19	0
Career total			60	0	0	0	60	0

Managerial career

He went to coach lower league clubs in the area starting at the same club he started his playing career.

Personal life

He was the father of Zbigniew Boniek. He was an electrician by profession, he worked in a thermal power plant in Bydgoszcz. He also performed electrical work on facilities belonging to the Zawisza club. He also had the qualifications of a football instructor.

He died at the age of 88. He was buried on 14 December 2019 at the cemetery at the Tańskich Street in Bydgoszcz.