Maciej Zurawski, born in Poland on 12 September 1976, crafted a remarkable career in football. Primarily positioned as a striker, Zurawski’s 5ft 10in (1.8m), 11st 13lb (76kg) frame lent itself well to his forward-facing role.
Zurawski began his career at Lech Poznan in 1998, making a noteworthy impression with 17 first team appearances and two league goals in his debut. He maintained a growing prowess, subsequently scoring 11 goals in his second season and six in his third despite a reduced number of appearances.
In the year 2000, Zurawski transferred to Wisla Krakow, where he made a monumental impact. Over six seasons, he notched up 153 first team appearances and a staggering goal tally of 101. Particularly successful was the 2004-2005 season, when he scored 24 goals, captivating football fans across Poland.
In July 2005, a new chapter of Zurawski’s career opened as he moved across the continent to join Celtic in the Scottish Premiership for a fee of around £2m. Though he spent under three seasons with the Hoops, Zurawski made an indomitable mark: in the 2005-2006 season alone, he scored 16 goals in just 24 first team appearances. His second season with Celtic saw a dip in scoring – totaling to six goals from 26 appearances. Unfortunately, Zurawski only managed five appearances and no goals in the 2007-2008 season. Despite the challenges, his time at Celtic Park was encapsulated by bursts of brilliance and goal-scoring prowess.
He concluded his time with Celtic with a move to Larissa in Greece in February 2008, for approximately £500k. Zurawski netted 15 goals over his two seasons with Larissa, before moving to Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus in June 2009, and then back to his old haunt, Wisla Krakow, in June 2010. He finished his career at Krakow with a final goal to his name, drawn from 21 appearances in the 2010-2011 season.
Despite a career punctuated by numerous club transfers, Zurawski left an unquestionable legacy within the football field, particularly at Wisla Krakow and Celtic. The potency of his play, recognised in Poland and Scotland alike, evidenced a player of substantial talent and determination.
