Antoni Piechniczek

Antoni Krzysztof Piechniczek (born 3 May 1942) is a Polish former professional football manager and player. From 2007 to 2011 he was a senator.

Playing career
Piechniczek was born in Chorzów. He played for clubs such as Naprzód Lipiny, Legia Warsaw, Ruch Chorzów and LB Châteauroux. He was also capped thrice for the Poland national team.

Managerial career
As a manager, he has led teams such as Ruch Chorzów, Górnik Zabrze, Al Rayyan (Qatar) or Espérance Tunis (Tunisia).

He is well known for managing the Poland national team. He coached Poland from 1981 to 1986 and from 1996 to 1997. He led the national team at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, where Poland won the bronze medal, and at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

He coached also the Tunisia and United Arab Emirates national teams.

Political career
In the 2002 local election Piechniczek was elected to the Silesian Regional Assembly II Term and was one of the three Vice-Chairpersons of the assembly. In 2006 he was re-elected, but his term (Assembly III Term) was ended after one year. In 2007, Piechniczek was elected to the Senate of the Republic of Poland (upper chamber of Polish parliament) and served in his role until 2011.

Player
Legia Warsaw
 * Polish Cup: 1963–64

Ruch Chorzów
 * Ekstraklasa: 1967–68

Manager
Odra Opole
 * Polish League Cup: 1977

Poland
 * FIFA World Cup third place: 1982

Górnik Zabrze
 * Ekstraklasa: 1986–87

Individual
 * Polish Coach of the Year: 1978

Orders
 * Order of Polonia Restituta Officer's Cross: 1999
 * Order of Polonia Restituta Knight's Cross: 1982