View source for Zbigniew Boniek

{{short description|Polish footballer and manager (born 1956)}}
{{Redirect|Boniek|his father|Józef Boniek|the Honduran footballer|Boniek García}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Zbigniew Boniek
| image               = Zbigniew Boniek 2015.jpg
| imagesize           = 
| caption             = Boniek in 2015
| birth_name          = 
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1956|3|3|df=y}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |date=2017-04-05 |title=Zbigniew Boniek {{!}} Inside UEFA |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0238-0f8e4fd623fc-d0b4802b438f-1000--zbigniew-boniek/ |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=[[UEFA]] |language=en}}</ref>
| birth_place         = [[Bydgoszcz]], Poland
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| height              = 1.82 m
| nationality         = Polish
| occupation          = {{plainlist|
* [[Footballer]] 
* Football administrator
}}
| signature           = 
| signature_alt       = 
| module              = {{Infobox football biography | embed = yes | header-color = lavender
| position             = {{flatlist|
* [[Midfielder]]
* [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
* [[Sweeper (association football)|Sweeper]]
}}
| youthyears1          = 1966–1973
| youthclubs1          = [[Zawisza Bydgoszcz]]
| years1               = 1973–1975
| years2               = 1975–1982
| years3               = 1982–1985
| years4               = 1985–1988
| clubs1               = [[Zawisza Bydgoszcz]]
| clubs2               = [[Widzew Łódź]]
| clubs3               = [[Juventus FC|Juventus]]
| clubs4               = [[AS Roma|Roma]]
| caps1                = 41
| goals1               = 14 
| caps2                = 172
| goals2               = 50 
| caps3                = 81
| goals3               = 14
| caps4                = 76
| goals4               = 17
| totalgoals           = 95
| totalcaps            = 367
| nationalyears1       = 1976–1988
| nationalteam1        = [[Poland national football team|Poland]]
| nationalcaps1        = 80
| nationalgoals1       = 24
| manageryears1        = 1990–1991
| manageryears2        = 1991–1992
| manageryears3        = 1992–1993
| manageryears4        = 1994–1996
| manageryears5        = 2002
| managerclubs1        = [[US Lecce|Lecce]]
| managerclubs2        = [[AS Bari|Bari]]
| managerclubs3        = [[SS Sambenedettese Calcio|Sambenedettese]]
| managerclubs4        = [[US Avellino 1912|Avellino]]
| managerclubs5        = [[Poland national football team|Poland]]
| medaltemplates       = {{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|POL}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|3rd|[[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982 Spain]]|}}
}}
| termstart2          = 26 October 2012
| term_end2           = 18 August 2021
| termstart1          = 20 April 2021
| term_end1           = 3 April 2025
| predecessor2        = [[Grzegorz Lato]]
| successor2          = [[Cezary Kulesza]]
| office2             = President of the PZPN
| office1             = [[UEFA#Executive committee|UEFA Vice President]]
| alongside1          = [[Armand Duka]], [[David Gill (football executive)|David Gill]], [[Gabriele Gravina]] and [[Laura McAllister]]
| president1          = [[Aleksander Čeferin]]
| vicepresident1      = [[Karl-Erik Nilsson (referee)|Karl-Erik Nilsson]]<br />(as first vice-president)
| order2              = 26th
}}
'''Zbigniew Kazimierz Boniek''' ({{IPA|pol|ˈzbiɡɲɛv ˈbɔɲɛk}};{{efn|In isolation, ''Zbigniew'' is pronounced {{IPA|pl|ˈzbiɡɲɛf|}}.}} born 3 March 1956) is a Polish former [[association football|football]]er and was most recently a [[UEFA]] vice-president. A former [[midfielder]], who was also capable of playing mostly as a [[right winger]] and [[Forward (association football)|second striker]], he is considered one of the greatest Polish players of all time,<ref name="planetworldcup">{{cite web|url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/LEGENDS/boniek.html|title=Zbigniew Boniek|publisher=PlanetWorldCup.com|access-date=13 March 2017}}</ref> and was selected by [[Pelé]] as one of the [[FIFA 100|100 best living footballers in 2004]].<ref name="FIFA 100"/>

In an 80-cap international career, Boniek scored 24 goals and played at three consecutive World Cups, helping [[Poland national football team|Poland]] to 3rd place in [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]] and making the Team of the Tournament. His greatest achievements in club football were at [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] in Italy, winning the [[Serie A]], [[Coppa Italia]], [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]], [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]], and [[UEFA Super Cup|European Super Cup]] between 1983 and 1985, being the first Polish footballer to win a [[UEFA competitions|confederation title]] and one of the first [[Central and Eastern Europe]]an players to do so with a non-conational club. In 1978 and 1982, he won the [[Piłka Nożna magazine plebiscite|Polish Footballer of the Year]] Award presented by the ''[[:pl:Piłka Nożna (tygodnik)|Piłka Nożna]]'' football weekly.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/footballer_of_the_year/polen/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912100349/http://www.worldfootball.net/footballer_of_the_year/polen/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 September 2013 |title=Player of the year – Poland |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref>

In the early 1990s, Boniek managed several Italian clubs, and also the Poland national team in 2002. In 2019, he was inducted in the [[Italian Football Hall of Fame]].

==Club career==
Boniek was born in [[Bydgoszcz]]. He first played for Polish clubs [[Zawisza Bydgoszcz]] and later at [[Widzew Łódź]].

Boniek transferred to Italian football giants [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] in 1982. With Juventus he won the [[Coppa Italia]] in his [[1982–83 Serie A|first season]], also managing a second-place finish in the league and reaching the [[1983 European Cup Final]] in the same season. The [[1983–84 Serie A|following season]], his performances proved decisive, as Juventus won both the [[Serie A]] title and the [[Cup Winners' Cup]] in 1984, with Boniek scoring the matching-winning goal in the 2–1 victory over [[FC Porto|Porto]] in the [[1984 European Cup Winners' Cup Final|final]] of the latter tournament in Basel; he followed up these victories by claiming the [[European Super Cup]] later that year, scoring twice in the 2–0 win against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]. He also won the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] in [[1985 European Cup Final|1985]], against Liverpool once again, winning the penalty that [[Michel Platini]] subsequently converted to win the title for Juventus, although the team's victory was overshadowed by the [[Heysel Disaster]].<ref name="tuttojuve"/><ref name="bello di notte"/><ref name="storiedicalcio">{{cite web|url=http://storiedicalcio.altervista.org/blog/boniek-zbigniew.html|title=BONIEK Zbigniew: il bello di notte|date=23 November 2015 |publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=13 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="fifa">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=160825/profile.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106114220/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=160825/profile.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 November 2015|title=Juve and Poland's Beauty of the Night|publisher=FIFA.com|access-date=13 March 2017}}</ref>

The [[1985–86 Serie A|following season]], Boniek joined [[AS Roma|Roma]], where he won a second [[1985–86 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia in 1986]], and eventually ended his professional career with the club in 1988.<ref name="tuttojuve"/><ref name="bello di notte"/><ref name="storiedicalcio"/><ref name="fifa"/>

==International career==
[[File:Zbigniew Boniek 1986.jpg|210px|thumb|right|Zbigniew Boniek, top scorer for Poland in the [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982 World Cup]]]]

Boniek represented the [[Poland national football team|Poland national team]] in 80 international matches between 1976 and 1988, and scored 24 goals. He took part at the [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978]], [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]], and [[1986 FIFA World Cup]]s with Poland.<ref name="tuttojuve"/><ref name="storiedicalcio"/><ref name="fifa"/>

Although he initially only appeared as a substitute in Poland's two opening group matches at the [[1978 FIFA World Cup]], he drew attention to himself when he scored two goals in a 3–1 victory over [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]] in Poland's final match of the group stage, helping his nation top their group; in the second round, however, Poland finished third in their group and were eliminated from the tournament.<ref name="tuttojuve"/><ref name="storiedicalcio"/><ref name="fifa"/>

Boniek later starred in the Polish team that won a bronze medal at the [[1982 FIFA World Cup]] in Spain: he helped his team reach the semi-finals of the tournament, scoring four goals in the process. In the first round, he scored in a 5–1 win over [[Peru national football team|Peru]] on 22 June, to help Poland top their group; in the second round, he scored a hat-trick in his nation's 3–0 second round victory over [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]], in Barcelona, on 28 June,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/29/sports/boniek-is-the-whole-show-for-poland.html|title=BONIEK IS THE WHOLE SHOW FOR POLAND|newspaper=The New York Times|author1=GEORGE VECSEY|date=29 June 1982|access-date=13 March 2017}}</ref> but was forced to miss the semi-final defeat to eventual champions [[Italy national football team|Italy]] due to a suspension after being booked in the 88th minute of a 0–0 draw against the [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet Union]].<ref name="tuttojuve"/><ref name="storiedicalcio"/><ref name="fifa"/>

He returned to the starting line-up for the victorious third-place match against [[France national football team|France]] and was named to the team of the tournament for his performances throughout the competition. The [[1986 FIFA World Cup]] was less successful, as Poland only qualified for the second round as the second best third-placed team, and were subsequently eliminated in the second round following a 4–0 defeat to [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]].<ref name="tuttojuve"/><ref name="storiedicalcio"/><ref name="fifa"/>

==Style of play==
Although Boniek was usually deployed as a [[midfielder]], he was also able to play as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]]. He preferred to operate between the lines in a free role, although he was a versatile player, capable of playing in several offensive and midfield positions on either flank or through the centre, and throughout his career he was deployed as an [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|attacking midfielder]], as a [[Midfielder#Winger|right winger]], in a [[Playmaker|playmaking]] role as a [[Midfielder#Central midfielder|central midfielder]], as a [[Forward (association football)#Centre-forward|centre-forward]], or as a [[Forward (association football)#Second striker|second striker]]; his Juventus manager, [[Giovanni Trapattoni]], however, often struggled to find the most suitable position for him.

Boniek was known for his extroverted personality and his trademark moustache, which made him a highly recognisable player. A tall, brave and hard-working footballer with a large, powerful, and slender physique, he was known for his blistering pace, acceleration, and quick reactions. In particular, Boniek was highly regarded for his ability to make sudden attacking runs to beat the defensive line and get on the end of his teammates' long passes, especially those of [[Michel Platini]], with whom he formed a close friendship and formidable partnership at the Turin club, which made him lethal on counterattacks; this prompted [[Diego Maradona]] to describe Boniek as “one of the finest players of their generation.”<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.worldsoccer.com/best-of-ws/diego-maradona-you-will-never-find-me-saying-im-the-best-411131 |title= Diego Maradona: "You will never find me saying I'm the best" |publisher=World Soccer|date=22 January 2021|access-date=7 September 2024}}</ref>

A highly talented, creative, intelligent, and skilful footballer, he was one of the best [[Dribbling#Association football|dribblers]] of his time and also displayed superb technique, flair, and class. Although he was not a particularly prolific player, he was known for his eye for goal, and as his clinical finishing with either foot, as well as his head, which enabled him to maintain a consistent goalscoring rate throughout his career; he also earned a reputation for having the tendency to score decisive goals for his team in key matches.

Despite his ability, at times he was also criticised, however, for being tactically undisciplined, inconsistent, too static in his movements off the ball, and for not being involved enough in his team's play during matches, which led him to struggle against opponents who did not give him a lot of space.<ref name="tuttojuve">{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttojuve.com/gli-eroi-bianconeri/gli-eroi-in-bianconero-zbigniew-boniek-359493|title=Gli eroi in bianconero: Zbigniew BONIEK|publisher=Tutto Juve|language=it|author1=Stefano Bedeschi|date=3 March 2017|access-date=9 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="bello di notte"/><ref name="storiedicalcio"/><ref name="fifa"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-04-08/pope-regretted-not-praying-for-polish-team-player/1548080|title=Pope regretted not praying for Polish team: player|publisher=ABC|date=8 April 2005|access-date=13 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/top-10-goals-spain-82|title=Top 10: Goals of Spain '82|magazine=FourFourTwo|date=2 June 2014|access-date=13 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.espn.com/soccer/story?storyId=266276&wjb=|title=Real warned not to underestimate Juve|publisher=ESPN|author1=Nick Bidwell|date=6 May 2003|access-date=13 March 2017|archive-date=4 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204161353/http://m.espn.com/soccer/story?storyId=266276&wjb=|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Juventus president at the time of Boniek's tenure with the club, [[Gianni Agnelli]], nicknamed him ''Bello di notte'' ("Beauty at night", which is a play on the title of the [[Luis Buñuel|Buñuel]] movie ''[[Belle de Jour (film)|Belle de Jour]]'') because of his excellent performances in European club tournament matches, which were played in the evening; indeed, during continental tournaments, his opponents usually allowed him more space and time on the ball than in Serie A, which allowed him to get forward, undertake individual dribbling runs and score goals himself, or drop deep, link up with midfielders and create chances or provide [[Assist (football)|assists]] for his teammates, courtesy of his passing, vision, and clever movement.<ref name="tuttojuve"/><ref name="bello di notte">{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Primo_Piano/2008/10/31/boniek.shtml|title=Zibì Boniek, il bello di notte che fece litigare Roma e Juve|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author1=Giuseppe Bagnati|date=31 October 2008|access-date=9 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="storiedicalcio"/><ref name="fifa"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/zico-perfect-xi|title=Zico: Perfect XI|magazine=FourFourTwo|date=1 November 2005|access-date=13 March 2017}}</ref> He was also nicknamed Zibì by the Italian press.<ref name="tuttojuve"/>

Towards the end of his career, as he lost his pace, he often functioned in a defensive role as a [[Sweeper (association football)|sweeper]].<ref name="fifa"/>

==Managerial career==
Following his retirement, Boniek pursued a coaching career, but with less success; he also coached in Italy, with stints at [[US Lecce|Lecce]] in 1990–91, [[AS Bari|Bari]] in 1991–92, [[SS Sambenedettese Calcio|Sambenedettese]] in 1992–93, and [[US Avellino 1912|Avellino]] in 1994–96.<ref name="tuttojuve"/>

Boniek has served as vice-president of the [[Polish Football Association]], and in July 2002 he became the manager of [[Poland national football team|Poland]]. He resigned in December 2002, after just five matches (2 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats, including a 1–0 home loss against [[Latvia national football team|Latvia]] in a European Championship qualifier).<ref name="storiedicalcio"/>

==Later career==
Following his retirement, Boniek had a successful business career. He later also worked as a pundit and football commentator.<ref name="storiedicalcio"/> According to Polish sources, Boniek had been favoured to become the new Minister of Sport for his country, but he denied the claims and stated that he had no intention of taking the job.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.polskieradio.pl/thenews/sport/artykul117778_boniek_i_wont_be_sports_minister.html | title=Polskie Radio Online | access-date=13 October 2009 | archive-date=3 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235413/http://www.polskieradio.pl/thenews/sport/artykul117778_boniek_i_wont_be_sports_minister.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2004, Boniek was named by [[Pelé]] as one of the [[FIFA 100|125 Greatest Living Footballers]], as part of FIFA's centenary celebrations.<ref name="FIFA 100"/> On 12 October 2009, he received the [[Golden Foot|Golden Foot 'Legend' career award]].<ref name=goldenfoot>{{Cite news| url = http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=682076&sec=europe&cc=5901 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110604103307/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=682076&sec=europe&cc=5901 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 4 June 2011 | title = Zbigniew Boniek to receive Golden Foot career award | work = [[ESPN]] | date = 2 October 2009 | access-date =14 October 2009}}</ref>

On 26 October 2012, he became the chairman of the [[Polish Football Association]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.tvn24.pl/boniek-prezesem-pzpn,285086,s.html | title=Kosecki wiceprezesem. Boniek wyciągnął rękę}}</ref> He is popular for speaking in favour of decriminalising football fans by legalising [[pyrotechnics]] inside stadiums, a common practice among [[ultras]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.weszlo.com/2015/01/19/walkowanie-bonka-zaparzcie-kawe-przygotujcie-prowiant-bo-to-naprawde-duzo-czytania/ | title=Wałkowanie Bońka. Zaparzcie kawę, przygotujcie prowiant, bo to naprawdę dużo czytania!| date=19 January 2015}}</ref> His term of office ended on 18 August 2021, and he was succeeded by [[Cezary Kulesza]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.laczynaspilka.pl/aktualnosci/pzpn/cezary-kulesza-nowym-prezesem-polskiego-zwiazku-pilki-noznej|title=Cezary Kulesza nowym prezesem Polskiego Związku Piłki Nożnej|website=www.laczynaspilka.pl}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Boniek has a university diploma in education.<ref name="tuttojuve"/> His father, [[Józef Boniek]], was also a professional football player and later a manager.<ref name="interia">{{Citation | url = https://sport.interia.pl/reprezentacja-polski/news-zbigniew-boniek-w-zalobie-jego-ojciec-jozef-nie-zyje-on-rown,nId,3712894 | title = Zbigniew Boniek w żałobie. Jego ojciec Józef nie żyje. On również był piłkarzem | publisher = [[Interia.pl|sport.interia.pl]] | date = 2019-12-13 | language = pl}}</ref> In 1976, he married his wife Wiesława, a specialist in [[Romance studies]], with whom he has three children: two daughters Karolina and Kamila and son Tomasz.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tygodnikprzeglad.pl/boniek-pieciu-smakach/ |language=pl |title=Boniek w pięciu smakach |website=tygodnikprzeglad.pl |author=Maciej Polkowski |date=15 July 2002 |access-date=29 October 2024}}</ref>

==Legacy==
Honduran international footballer [[Óscar Boniek García]] was given the middle name ''Boniek'' in honour of Zbigniew Boniek.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://sport.onet.pl/pilka-nozna/ms-2010-rpa/ms-boniek-bedzie-kibicowal-bonkowi,1,3236761,wiadomosc.html | title = MŚ: Boniek będzie kibicował... Bońkowi | language = pl | publisher = onet.pl | date = 4 June 2010 | access-date = 1 February 2014 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120229171131/http://sport.onet.pl/pilka-nozna/ms-2010-rpa/ms-boniek-bedzie-kibicowal-bonkowi,1,3236761,wiadomosc.html | archive-date = 29 February 2012 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> García chose to have the name "Boniek" written across the back of his jersey while playing for [[Houston Dynamo FC|Houston]].{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

[[Boniek Forbes]] (born 30 September 1983) is a [[Guinea-Bissau]] [[Association football|footballer]] who plays as a winger for [[Cheshunt F.C.|Cheshunt]]. He played for [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] in [[the Football League]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boniek Forbes Biography |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/bio/_/id/20518/boniek-forbes |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=ESPN |language=en}}</ref>

In 2018, Boniek became an honorary citizen of [[Łódź]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://lodz.pl/artykul/zbigniew-boniek-honorowym-obywatelem-lodzi-to-legenda-widzewa-zdjecia-52703/ |language=pl |title=Zbigniew Boniek honorowym obywatelem Łodzi. To legenda Widzewa! [ZDJĘCIA] |website=lodz.pl |date=13 August 2018 |access-date=29 October 2024}}</ref> In 2019, he was named the most influential person in [[Sport in Poland|Polish sport]] by the Forbes Polska magazine and Pentagon Research.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pzpn.pl/federacja/aktualnosci/2019-11-26/zbigniew-boniek-na-czele-rankingu-50-najbardziej-wplywowych-ludzi-w-polskim-sporcie |language=pl |title=Zbigniew Boniek na czele rankingu 50 Najbardziej Wpływowych Ludzi w Polskim Sporcie |date=26 November 2019 |access-date=29 October 2024}}</ref> The same year, he was voted as a member of Poland's Team of the Century in a poll organized on the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the [[Polish Football Association]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pzpn.pl/federacja/aktualnosci/2019-12-07/poznalismy-reprezentacje-100-lecia-zobacz-najlepszy-zespol-w-historii-polski |language=pl |title=Poznaliśmy Reprezentację 100-lecia! Zobacz najlepszy zespół w historii Polski! |website=pzpn.pl |date=7 December 2019 |access-date=29 October 2024}}</ref>

In 2020, Boniek's [[biography]] entitled ''Zibi, czyli Boniek'' written by Roman Kołtoń was published.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://lubimyczytac.pl/ksiazka/4930178/zibi-biografia-zbigniewa-bonka |language=pl |title="Zibi". Biografia Zbigniewa Bońka |website=lubimyczytac.pl |access-date=29 October 2024}}</ref> The footballer himself also published his autobiography the same year entitled ''Zbigniew Boniek. Mecze mojego życia'' (Zbigniew Boniek: The Matches of My Life).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://lubimyczytac.pl/ksiazka/4943456/zbigniew-boniek-mecze-mojego-zycia |language=pl |title=Zbigniew Boniek. Mecze mojego życia |website=lubimyczytac.pl |access-date=29 October 2024}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Widzew Łódź]]
|[[1975–76 Ekstraklasa|1975–76]]
|rowspan="7"|[[Ekstraklasa]]
||27||7||0||0||0||0||27||7
|-
|[[1976–77 Ekstraklasa|1976–77]]
||24||9||1||0||0||0||25||9
|-
|[[1977–78 Ekstraklasa|1977–78]]
||30||11||2||1|||4||3||36||15
|-
|[[1978–79 Ekstraklasa|1978–79]]
||28||4||1||1||0||0||29||5
|-
|[[1979–80 Ekstraklasa|1979–80]]
||26||10||2||1||2||1||30||12
|-
|[[1980–81 Ekstraklasa|1980–81]]
||11||1||0||0|||5||0||16||1
|-
|[[1981–82 Ekstraklasa|1981–82]]
||26||8|||3||2||2||0||31||10
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!172!!50!!9!!5!!13!!4!!194!!59
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Juventus FC|Juventus]]
|[[1982–83 Serie A|1982–83]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Serie A]]
||28||5||12||3||9||2||49||10
|-
|[[1983–84 Serie A|1983–84]]
||27||3||6||2||9||4||42||9
|-
|[[1984–85 Serie A|1984–85]]
||26||6||6||3||10||3||42||12
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!81!!14!!24!!8!!28!!9!!133!!31
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[AS Roma|Roma]]
|[[1985–86 Serie A|1985–86]]
|rowspan="3"|Serie A
||29||7||5||1||0||0||34||8
|-
|[[1986–87 Serie A|1986–87]]
||26||4||6||4||2||0||34||8
|-
|[[1987–88 Serie A|1987–88]]
||21||6||3||1||0||0||24||7
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!76!!17!!14!!6!!2!!0!!92!!23
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!329!!81!!47!!19!!43!!13!!419!!113
|}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="13"|[[Poland national football team|Poland]]
|1976||6||2
|-
|1977||11||1
|-
|1978||12||5
|-
|1979||10||3
|-
|1980||5||2
|-
|1981||6||3
|-
|1982||8||4
|-
|1983||3||1
|-
|1984||6||1
|-
|1985||5||2
|-
|1986||7||0
|-
|1987||0||0
|-
|1988||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!80!!24
|}

[[File:Gwiazda boniek.jpg|thumb|310px|’’Boniek Star’’, [[Władysławowo]], Poland]]

===International goals===
:''Scores and results list Poland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Boniek goal''.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Zbigniew Boniek
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || 11 May 1976 || [[Basel]], Switzerland || {{fb|SUI}} || align="center"|1–2 || align="center"|1–2 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || 31 October 1976 || [[Warsaw]], Poland || {{fb|CYP|1960}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|5–0 || [[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1|1978 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|3 || 19 June 1977 || [[São Paulo]], Brazil || {{fb|BRA|1968}} || align="center"|1–3 || align="center"|1–3 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|4 || 5 April 1978 || [[Poznań]], Poland || {{fb|GRE|variant=old}} || align="center"|5–0 || align="center"|5–2 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|5 || 12 April 1978 || [[Łódź]], Poland || {{fb|IRL}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|3–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|6 || rowspan="2"|10 June 1978 || rowspan="2"|[[Rosario]], Argentina || rowspan="2"|{{fb|MEX}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" align="center"|3–1 || rowspan="2"|[[1978 FIFA World Cup Group 2|1978 FIFA World Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|7 || align="center"|3–1
|-
| align="center"|8 || 15 November 1978 || [[Wrocław]], Poland || {{fb|SUI}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|2–0 || [[UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying Group 4|UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying]]
|-
| align="center"|9 || 18 April 1979 || [[Leipzig]], [[East Germany]] || {{fb|GDR}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–2 || UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying
|-
| align="center"|10 || 2 May 1979 || [[Chorzów]], Poland || {{fb|NLD}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|2–0 || UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying
|-
| align="center"|11 || 29 August 1979 || Warsaw, Poland || {{fb|ROM|1965}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|3–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|12 || 13 May 1980 || [[Frankfurt]], [[West Germany]] || {{fb|West Germany}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|1–3 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|13 || 28 May 1980 || Poznań, Poland || {{fb|SCO}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|14 || 28 October 1981 || [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina || {{fb|ARG}} || align="center"|2–1 || align="center"|2–1 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|15 || 15 November 1981 || Wrocław, Poland || {{fb|MLT}} || align="center"|6–0 || align="center"|6–0 || [[1982 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 7|1982 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|16 || 18 November 1981 || Łódź, Poland || {{fb|ESP}} || align="center"|2–1 || align="center"|2–3 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|17 || 22 June 1982 || [[A Coruña]], Spain || {{fb|PER}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|5–1 || [[1982 FIFA World Cup Group 1|1982 FIFA World Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|18 || rowspan="3"|28 June 1982 || rowspan="3"|[[Barcelona]], Spain || rowspan="3"|{{fb|BEL}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="3" align="center"|3–0 || rowspan="3"|[[1982 FIFA World Cup Group A|1982 FIFA World Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|19 || align="center"|2–0
|-
| align="center"|20 || align="center"|3–0
|-
| align="center"|21 || 22 May 1983 || Chorzów, Poland || {{fb|URS}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–1 || [[UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying Group 2|UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying]]
|-
| align="center"|22 || 27 March 1984 || [[Zürich]], Switzerland || {{fb|SUI}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–1 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|23 || 19 May 1985 || [[Athens]], Greece || {{fb|GRE}} || align="center"|3–1 || align="center"|4–1 || [[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1|1986 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|24 || 30 May 1985 || [[Tirana]], Albania || {{fb|ALB|1946}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification
|}

==Honours==
[[File:Euro 2012 qualifying play-offs draw (2).jpg|thumb|Boniek (right) in 2011.]]
[[File:AM 100 dram Ag 2009 Football Boniek b.PNG|thumb|Boniek depicted on an Armenian commemorative coin in 2009.]]
'''Widzew Łódź'''
*[[Ekstraklasa]]: [[1980–81 Ekstraklasa|1980–81]], [[1981–82 Ekstraklasa|1981–82]]

'''Juventus'''<ref name="tuttojuve"/><ref name="storiedicalcio"/>
*[[Serie A]]: [[1983–84 Serie A|1983–84]]
*[[Coppa Italia]]: [[1982–83 Coppa Italia|1982–83]]
*[[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]: [[1984–85 European Cup|1984–85]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup|European Super Cup]]: [[1984 UEFA Super Cup|1984]]
*[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1983–84 European Cup Winners' Cup|1983–84]]

'''Roma'''<ref name="tuttojuve"/><ref name="storiedicalcio"/>
*Coppa Italia: [[1985–86 Coppa Italia|1985–86]]

'''Poland'''
*[[FIFA World Cup]] third place: [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]]<ref>{{cite web |title=1982: krytyka Bońka i medale na tacy |url=https://sport.tvp.pl/20787867/1982-krytyka-bonka-i-medale-na-tacy |website=sport.tvp.pl |access-date=2 August 2024 |language=pl |date=10 July 2015 |archive-date=2 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802192253/https://sport.tvp.pl/20787867/1982-krytyka-bonka-i-medale-na-tacy |url-status=dead }}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*[[Piłka Nożna magazine plebiscite|Polish Newcomer of the Year]]: 1976<ref>{{cite web |title=Laureaci |url=https://pilkanozna.pl/laureaci/ |website=pilkanozna.pl |access-date=16 July 2024 |language=pl}}</ref>
*[[Piłka nożna magazine plebiscite|''Piłka Nożna'' Polish Footballer of the Year]]: 1978, 1982<ref name="fifa"/>
*[[Ballon d'Or]] third place: [[1982 Ballon d'Or|1982]]<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy82.html|title=European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 1982|work=RSSSF|access-date=31 October 2016 }}</ref>
*[[FIFA World Cup awards#All-Star Team|FIFA World Cup All-star Team]]: [[1982 FIFA World Cup#Awards|1982]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://football.sporting99.com/fifa-world-cup-all-star-team.html|title=FIFA World Cup Awards: All-Star Teams|access-date=23 September 2015}}</ref>
*[[Allgemeiner Deutscher Nachrichtendienst|ADN Eastern European Footballer of the Season]]: 1982<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ukrfootball.ua/news/albert-dzhayich-blohin-stoyichkov-levandovski-shcho-spilnogo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200112/http://ukrfootball.ua/news/albert-dzhayich-blohin-stoyichkov-levandovski-shcho-spilnogo |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-03-04 |website=WebArchive |title=Eastern European Footballer of the season|access-date=5 July 2024 }}</ref>
*[[FIFA 100]]: 2004<ref name="FIFA 100">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/2374252/Pele-open-to-ridicule-over-top-hundred.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/2374252/Pele-open-to-ridicule-over-top-hundred.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Pele open to ridicule over top hundred|newspaper=The Telegraph|author1=Christopher Davies|date=5 March 2004|access-date=9 July 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
*[[Golden Foot#Award legends|Golden Foot Legends Award]]: 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenfoot.com/legends.php?l=en|title=Legends|publisher=Golden Foot|access-date=23 September 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925120930/http://www.goldenfoot.com/legends.php?l=en|archive-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>
*[[FAI International Football Awards]] – International Personality: 2012<ref name="award_2012">{{cite web|title=Stars honoured at 23rd International Awards |url=http://www.fai.ie/international/senior-men/103008-stars-honoured-at-23rd-international-awards.html |work=fai.ie |publisher=FAI|date=3 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211043252/http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/stars-honoured-at-23rd-international-awards |archive-date=11 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[Italian Football Hall of Fame]]: 2019<ref name="2019-SerieAHoF">{{cite web|url=https://www.football-italia.net/149677/pirlo-mazzone-boniek-hall-fame|title=Pirlo, Mazzone, Boniek in Hall of Fame|publisher=Football Italia|date=5 February 2020|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref>
*[[Polish Football Association]] National Team of the Century: 1919–2019<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 December 2019 |title=Poznaliśmy Reprezentację 100-lecia! Zobacz najlepszy zespół w historii Polski! - Federacja |url=https://pzpn.pl/federacja/aktualnosci/2019-12-07/poznalismy-reprezentacje-100-lecia-zobacz-najlepszy-zespol-w-historii-polski |access-date=28 January 2025 |website=PZPN - Łączy nas piłka |language=pl}}</ref>

'''Orders'''
* Boniek was awarded the Knight's Cross of the [[Order of Polonia Restituta]]: 1982 [[Image:POL Polonia Restituta Kawalerski BAR.svg|80px]] ''Krzyż Kawalerski Orderu Odrodzenia Polski''<ref>{{cite web| url = https://sport.onet.pl/ofsajd/kiedys-i-dzis/zbigniew-boniek-poznaj-lepiej-sportowe-legendy/edxwlz |language = pl |title=Zbigniew Boniek - poznaj lepiej sportowe legendy |  access-date = 19 December 2021}}</ref>
* Boniek is a 3rd class knight of [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]]: 1997 [[Image:ITA OMRI 2001 Com BAR.svg|80px]] ''Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana''<ref name="http://www.quirinale.it">{{Cite news| url = http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=101852 | title = Dettaglio decorato |  access-date = 29 June 2012}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Zbigniew Boniek}}
* {{90minut|6400}}
* [http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=688287&t=3936 A song (in Polish) dedicated to Boniek]
* [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm BBC: Pele's list of the greatest]

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box |
 |before=[[Grzegorz Lato]]
 |title=President of [[Polish Football Association]]
 |years=26 October 2012 – 17 August 2021
 |after=[[Cezary Kulesza]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Navboxes
|bg=gold
|fg=navy
|title=Awards
|list1=
{{1982 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{Polish Footballer of the Year}}
{{Polish Newcomer of the Year Award}}
{{FIFA 100}}
{{Golden Foot Legends Award}}
{{Italian Football Hall of Fame}}
{{Awards of Plebiscite of Przegląd Sportowy}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Poland squads
| bg = white
| fg = #D4213D
| bordercolor = red
| list1 = 
{{Poland squad 1978 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Poland squad 1982 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Poland squad 1986 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Zbigniew Boniek managerial positions
|list1 =
{{US Lecce managers}}
{{SSC Bari managers}}
{{Poland national football team managers}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boniek, Zbigniew}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Bydgoszcz]]
[[Category:People born in Bydgoszcz]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:FIFA 100]]
[[Category:Polish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Polish football managers]]
[[Category:Polish expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Poland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Zawisza Bydgoszcz players]]
[[Category:Widzew Łódź players]]
[[Category:AS Roma players]]
[[Category:Juventus FC players]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:US Lecce managers]]
[[Category:SSC Bari managers]]
[[Category:US Sambenedettese managers]]
[[Category:US Avellino 1912 managers]]
[[Category:Serie A managers]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Italy]]
[[Category:Poland national football team managers]]
[[Category:1978 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1982 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1986 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Polish expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Ekstraklasa players]]
[[Category:Polish Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Polish expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Polish sports executives and administrators]]
[[Category:20th-century Polish sportsmen]]