Jerzy Wostal
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Jerzy Adolf Wostal was a Polish soccer player, one of best forwards of interwar Poland. He was born in 1914 in Królewska Huta (later Chorzów).
In the late 1930s Wostal played for AKS Chorzów. The best year in his career was 1937. His team then became vice-champions of Poland (after Cracovia Kraków), and he was the top scorer of the Polish Soccer League, with 12 goals.
On the Polish National Team he played in 10 games, scoring 4 goals. Wostal’s debut took place on September 6, 1936, in Riga (Latvia - Poland 3-3). One of the best matches in his career occurred on October 10, 1937 in Warsaw. In a 1938 FIFA World Cup qualifier Poland beat Yugoslavia 4-0 and Wostal scored one of the goals.
Unfortunately, due to injury, he was unable to take part in Poland’s legendary 1938’s World Cup match vs. Brazil (5-6). Instead of him, coach/manager Józef Kałuża fielded Fryderyk Scherfke. Wostal’s last game in the white-red jersey took place on May 27, 1939 in Łódź (Poland - Belgium 3-3).
Little is known about Wostal's whereabouts during and after World War Two. He signed the German Nationality List (Volksliste) and changed the name to Georg Wostal. Some time between 1940-1944 played in the team of SpVgg Vorwärts-Rasensport Gleiwitz (Gliwice), which was one of best sides of Upper Silesia in those years, winning the Silesian championship for several times. Then, after 1945, his fate is unknown.
