Kazimierz Deyna

Kazimierz Deyna was a Polish professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder in the playmaker role and was one of the most highly regarded players of his generation, due to his excellent vision. He started his career in his hometown club Włókniarz Starogard Gdański, before moving to ŁKS Łódź and then Legia Warsaw, where he won two Polish championships and became a legend of the club. He was also a key member of the Polish national team that won the gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics, the silver medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics, and the third place at the 1974 FIFA World Cup, where he was also the top scorer with seven goals. He was named the Polish Footballer of the Year three times, and in 1994 he was chosen as the best Polish player of all time by the Polish Football Association. In 1978, he joined Manchester City in England, where he played for three years and became a cult figure among the fans. He then moved to the United States, where he played for San Diego Sockers in both outdoor and indoor soccer leagues. He died in a car accident in San Diego at the age of 41. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Polish footballers in history and one of the best playmakers of his era.