He started playing club football relatively late: He was just 15 when he joined the senior team at LZS Chrzanowice in the B class - as the youngest player in the team. Nevertheless, he quickly asserted himself. His strength, ambition and, above all, his powerful long-range shots stood out. At the age of 17, he caused a sensation in a cup match against the Polish second division team Radomsko when his shots flew wide of the goal several times - until one finally hit the target. These "rockets" earned him his first offers, which he initially turned down as he had strong ties to his home.
Culture shock in Nuremberg
It was not until a year later that he decided to take the next step and joined RKS Radomsko. There he gradually realised that football could be more than just a hobby. He was called up to area teams, impressed with consistently strong performances and worked his way up through the ranks at clubs such as Rakow Czestochowa and GKS Belchatow. Several big Polish clubs showed interest, but eventually an unexpected opportunity arose abroad: talent scouts from FC Nürnberg become aware of him.
In 1999, Jacek Krzynowek signed for FC Nürnberg - initially on loan. It was a culture shock for him. He was leaving his home country for the first time, living alone in a foreign country and initially doubted whether he had made the right decision. But he quickly made friends, also thanks to his future wife Aneta, who moves to Nuremberg to live with him a short time later. He is also successful on the pitch: Between 1999 and 2001, he played 67 second division matches and scored ten goals. His achievements did not go unnoticed - after the 2000/2001 season, he was voted the best player in Bundesliga 2 on the left flank and was promoted to the Bundesliga with the club as champions of Bundesliga 2. His coach: Klaus Augenthaler.
World Cup and Euros with Poland
New challenges followed with promotion to the Bundesliga. In the 2001/2002 season, he was initially often on the bench as Augenthaler favoured other players. It was not until the second half of the season that he got his chance - and used it impressively. He became a key factor in the fight to stay up. At the same time, he also established himself in the Polish national team and took part in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, where he impressed with strong performances. Two more major tournaments followed with Poland - he was in the Polish Eagles squad for both the 2006 World Cup and the 2008 Euros, and he went on to play 96 international matches and he scored 15 goals.
