Wojciech Szala

Football player infobox
playername= Wojciech Szala


fullname = Wojciech Szala
dateofbirth = January 27, 1976
cityofbirth = Piotrków Trybunalski
countryofbirth = Poland
height = 183 cm
currentclub = Legia Warsaw
position = Defender
years = 1994-2001
2001-
clubs = GKS Katowice
Legia Warsaw
caps(goals) =66 (1)
146 (0)
pcupdate = October 18 2007

Wojciech Szala is a Polish footballer born on 27 January 1976 in Piotrków Trybunalski, Poland. He currently plays for Legia Warszawa as left Defender. Szala is 183 cm tall and weighs 78 kg. He has surprisingly not been called up to the Poland. This may be because of his brutality.

Career

Szala played in GKS Katowice between 1994 and 2001 for which he played in 93 matches and scored one goal. With GKS Katowice he won Polish Supercup in (1995). In summer 2001, he was recruited for Legia Warszawa by Dragomir Okuka. He made his debut in Ruch Chorzów - Legia Warszawa match (0:4). He played for ninety minutes. In this season he won the league with Legia, as well as the League Cup. While Okuka was Legia's coach, Szala played as right midfielder from time to time. Next coach, Dariusz Kubicki, put him exclusively as a right defender.The following temporary coach, Jacek Zieliński (from early 2005) moved him to center of defense. In the moment of taking over of Legia by Dariusz Wdowczyk Szala has returned to the right side of defense.He was the first squad Legia player in seasons 2003/2004, 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 and has contributed to Legia being the least goal-conceding side in the league during that time.

Brutality in game

Szala is a powerful and brave player, he prefers hard and relentless style of playing. However, his aggressive playing style does not mean he frequently breaks regulations. He also does not receive many bookings from the referees - he received 22 yellow cards and one red card in 184 first league matches, which is not much for a defensive player. During the season 2003/04, in 27 games, he did not receive even one booking. Szala is recognized to be brutal, he is associated with putting elbows into action while fighting for the ball. Such label has stuck to him after several sharp fouls.

Critic

During crisis moments of Legia, Szala's became scapegoat for team's fans (mainly it settling on famous Żyleta), who were unsatisfied with his form in particular.