Jacek Magiera, a former coach for Legia Warsaw, Śląsk Wrocław, and assistant coach for the Polish national team, died Friday at age 49.
Early Reports of Death
The Polish Football Association (PZPN) announced the death of Jacek Magiera on Friday, April 10th. Magiera was the second coach of the Polish national team and a former manager of Legia Warsaw and Śląsk Wrocław.
The PZPN expressed its condolences to Magiera’s family, friends, and loved ones, and requested privacy during this difficult time.
Circumstances of Death
According to Radio Wrocław, Jacek Magiera collapsed during a morning training run. He was transported to the Military Clinical Hospital in Wrocław, where he later died.
Playing Career
Jacek Magiera began his career at Raków Częstochowa. He played in the Ekstraklasa for Raków, Widzew Łódź, and Cracovia, with a significant period at Legia Warsaw.
Throughout his playing career, Magiera appeared in 233 top-flight matches, scoring 25 goals. He won two Polish championships, the Polish Cup, the Polish SuperCup, and the Polish League Cup with Legia Warsaw.
He also achieved success in youth national teams, winning the European U-16 Championship in 1993 and finishing fourth in the U-17 World Championship as captain.
Managerial Career
After retiring as a player, Magiera transitioned into coaching. He served as an assistant coach for the Poland U-18 team and Legia Warsaw, and managed Legia’s reserve team.
In 2016, he became the first-team coach of Legia Warsaw, leading them to the Polish championship in the 2016/2017 season and guiding them through the group stage of the Champions League.
He later managed the Polish U-20 and U-19 national teams. From 2021, he worked with Śląsk Wrocław, achieving a second-place finish in the 2023/2024 season. He had been the second coach of the Polish national team since July 2025, working under Jan Urban.
Legacy
Jacek Magiera’s death is a significant loss for Polish football. He left a lasting impact on the sport as both a player and a coach.
