Homecoming hero lifts Wisla

By Marcus Christenson

In 1978, Henryk Kasperczak left Poland. After ending his playing career in France with FC Metz, he embarked on a coaching odyssey which took him to Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Mali, the United Arab Emirates and China.

Back home
Then, last summer, at the age of 55, he went home. He has subsequently taken Wisla Kraków to the top of the Polish First Division and within sight of the UEFA Cup quarter-finals. "When I left Poland there was a regulation that meant players could only leave if they were over 30," Kasperczak told uefa.com. "I had no thought then of going back. When Wisla approached me I agreed to return because they offered a chance to work with a promising team in good conditions."

Extraordinary impact
Kasperczak's impact has been extraordinary. Quite apart from sweeping through the domestic league, Wisla have won plaudits across Europe for a patient attacking game that has brought resounding victories against NK Primorje, Parma AC and FC Schalke 04 in the UEFA Cup.

Same blueprint
Kasperczak has made a habit of making teams play to their potential and beyond, taking Tunisia to the final stages of two FIFA World Cups, and coaxing Mali to the last four of last year's African Cup of Nations. The blueprint is always the same - maintain possession, work the ball until space becomes available, and then attack at pace.

Teamwork matters
Kasperczak remains modest, though, about his role in Wisla's success. "I have merely stimulated the team to give their best," he said. "Many things are being said about our forward Maciej Zurawski and left winger Kamil Kosowski, but in my opinion the strength of Wisla results from the play of our whole team."

Another scalp
Today against S.S. Lazio, Wisla could claim another scalp. At the Stadio Olimpico a fortnight ago only some unfortunate defending prevented them coming away with more than the 3-3 draw they did achieve. "If we are to finish the job," Kasperczak explained, "we must make the most of any chances we have because you can be sure there won't be many of them. We have to go into the game with confidence. We have nothing to fear - they are people like us."

Polish progress
Once in the quarter-finals - where they would meet Besiktas JK - anything is possible, but Kasperczak dismisses talk of actually winning the competition. "You will hear nothing like that from Wisla," he said. "We are enjoying good results, but before we can fight for the biggest trophies many things have to be put right in Poland. Above all, our league has to improve."

Golden age
His exile has made Kasperczak reluctant to speak of what has gone wrong in Polish football since the 1970s and early 80s, when Poland twice reached the semi-finals of the World Cup. Kasperczak, indeed, was part of the side which beat Brazil in the third/fourth-place play-off in 1974. "We had a hunger," he said. "We had a good coach in Kazimierz Gorski and there was a good atmosphere in the squad. Then something jammed, and I was too far away to say what that was."

'Time and patience'
Kasperczak is confident, though, that Poland can regain past glories. "It will take time and patience," he said. "The state needs to help. In France they have an excellent youth system, and that is why they became world and European champions. And a lot of work needs to be done by the clubs." Wisla's progress may just be the start of that.