Jan Furtok

Polish footballer (1962–2024) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jan Furtok

Jan Furtok (9 March 1962 – 26 November 2024) was a Polish professional footballer who played as a striker.[1] Regarded as the greatest player in GKS Katowice's history,[2] he is the club's all-time best goalscorer.

Quick Facts Personal information, Date of birth ...
Jan Furtok
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Furtok in 2010
Personal information
Date of birth (1962-03-09)9 March 1962
Place of birth Katowice, Poland
Date of death 26 November 2024(2024-11-26) (aged 62)
Place of death Katowice, Poland
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1976–1977 MK Górnik Katowice
1977–1978 GKS Katowice
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1979–1988 GKS Katowice 169 (77)
1988–1993 Hamburger SV 135 (51)
1993–1995 Eintracht Frankfurt 53 (9)
1995–1998 GKS Katowice 40 (8)
Total 397 (145)
International career
1984–1993 Poland 36 (10)
Managerial career
2005 GKS Katowice
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
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Career

Born in Katowice, Furtok spent the early and latter parts of his career playing for his hometown club GKS Katowice, with a seven-year stint in (West) German clubs Hamburger SV and Eintracht Frankfurt in-between.[3]

With GKS, he won the 1985–86 Polish Cup, the club's first major domestic achievement. He then led the Silesian side to third-place and second-place finishes in the 1986–87 and 1987–88 league campaigns, accordingly. With 122 goals in 299 appearances across all competitions, he is the best goalscorer in GKS Katowice's history.[4] GKS retired the number 9 in honour of Furtok's service to the club.[5]

Furtok played for the Poland national team, scoring 10 goals across 36 appearances.[6] He was a participant at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.[7] His goal scored by hand rescued Poland from humiliating goalless home draw against San Marino in 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification.[8]

Death

Furtok had been suffering from Alzheimer's for years. He was diagnosed in 2015.[9] Furtok died on 26 November 2024, at the age of 62.[10][9] Posthumously, the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, awarded him the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. His funeral took place on 29 November 2024 at the cemetery of the Holy Trinity Parish in Katowice. The ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including Jan Urban, Jerzy Brzęczek, Lukas Podolski, and representatives from GKS Katowice and Górnik Zabrze.[11]

Commemoration

On 29 November 2024, the Polish Football Association announced that all matches of the I, II, and III leagues played between 29 November and 2 December would be preceded by a minute of silence in memory of Furtok.[12] A similar announcement was made by the Ekstraklasa. However, the minute of silence for Furtok was not observed by Ruch Chorzów before their match against Odra Opole, which sparked controversy and various reactions from fans and the public.[13]

Career statistics

More information National team, Year ...
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Poland 198410
198531
198630
198742
198863
198952
199030
199161
199200
199351
Total36[7]10
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Scores and results list Poland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Furtok goal.
More information No., Date ...
List of international goals scored by Jan Furtok
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
111 December 1985Altay Alsancak Stadium, İzmir, Turkey Turkey1–01–1Friendly
218 March 1987Municipal Stadium, Rybnik, Poland Finland3–13–1Friendly
324 March 1987Olympic Stadium, Wrocław, Poland Norway1–04–1Friendly
424 August 1988Municipal Stadium, Białystok, Poland Bulgaria2–03–2Friendly
521 September 1988Stadion der Freundschaft, Cottbus, East Germany East Germany1–12–1Friendly
62–1
72 May 1989Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway Norway1–03–0Friendly
82–0
916 October 1991Municipal Stadium, Poznań, Poland Republic of Ireland2–33–3UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying
1028 April 1993Widzew Stadium, Łódź, Poland San Marino1–01–01994 FIFA World Cup qualification
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Honours

GKS Katowice

Individual

References

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