Robert Gadocha

Robert Gadocha (born 10 January 1946) is a Polish former professional footballer who played as a left winger.

Date of birth (1946-01-10) 10 January 1946 (age 80)

Place of birth Kraków, Poland

Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)

Position Left winger

Quick facts Personal information, Date of birth ...

Robert Gadocha

Gadocha in 1973
Personal information
Date of birth	(1946-01-10) 10 January 1946 (age 80)
Place of birth	Kraków, Poland
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position	Left winger
Youth career
1957–1965	Garbarnia Kraków
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1965–1966	Wawel Kraków
1966–1975	Legia Warsaw	206	(72)
1975–1977	Nantes	45	(8)
1978	Chicago Sting	12	(1)
1980–1981	Hartford Hellions (indoor)	21	(14)
International career
1967–1975	Poland	62	(16)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Poland FIFA World Cup 1974 West Germany Olympic Games 1972 Munich Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Close

Gadocha, who started his career in Garbarnia Kraków. later also played for FC Nantes, and briefly in the United States for Chicago Sting, his last professional team. His departure to France happened when he was 29. In Poland it was forbidden for a long time to departure abroad to play football. He was the first Polish player to get a legal permission to move abroad to play football.^[1][2]

He was a member of the Poland national team that won the gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, as well as a member of the team that finished third in the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany. He has a total of 16 goals in 62 games with the Poland national team.^[3]

Gadocha holds the record for the most assists in a single match in World Cup finals history, alongside Giovanni Ferrari, assisting four goals in his team's 7–0 victory against Haiti in the group stage of the 1974 World Cup.^[4][5]

In 1978, Gadocha moved to the Chicago Sting of the North American Soccer League. He also spent one season, 1980–81, with the Hartford Hellions of the Major Indoor Soccer League.