Leon Sperling
Polish footballer
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Leon Sperling (7 August 1900 – c. 15 December 1941) was a Polish footballer.[1][2][3][4]
|
Sperling (fourth from right) with Cracovia in 1921 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 7 August 1900 | ||
| Place of birth | Kraków, Austria-Hungary | ||
| Date of death | c. 15 December 1941 (aged 41) | ||
| Place of death | Lwów Ghetto, Poland | ||
| Height | 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1914–1916 | Jutrzenka Kraków | ||
| 1917 | Cracovia | ||
| 1918–1920 | Jutrzenka Kraków | ||
| 1920–1934 | Cracovia | ||
| International career | |||
| 1921–1930 | Poland | 16 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Life
Sperling was born in Kraków, and was Jewish.[5] He was a forward, playing on the left wing. Sperling represented Cracovia,[6] the team he led in 1921, 1930, and 1932 to the Championship of Poland.[7] He also played in 16 games for the Poland national team,[8] including Poland's lone game at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games.[9][10][11] He was regarded as a highly skilled dribbler.[12] He also coached in Lviv.[12] Sperling is one of Cracovia Kraków's legends.
Sperling was shot to death by the German Nazis in the Lwów Ghetto in December 1941.[11][13][3][14] His Jewish teammate, Józef Klotz, was also killed in the Holocaust.[3]
Honours
Cracovia[15]
- Ekstraklasa: 1921, 1930, 1932