Jacek Magiera

Jacek Magiera
Magiera in 2019
Personal information
Date of birth (1976-12-30)30 December 1976 (actual)[1]
(1977-01-01)1 January 1977 (administrative)[1]
Place of birth Częstochowa, Polish People's Republic [1]
Date of death 10 April 2026(2026-04-10) (aged 49)[2]
Place of death Wrocław, Poland
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Positions
Youth career
Raków Częstochowa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1997 Raków Częstochowa 38 (8)
1997–2006 Legia Warsaw 176 (16)
2000–2001 → Widzew Łódź (loan) 14 (1)
2006 → Raków Częstochowa (loan)
2006 Cracovia 5 (0)
Total 233 (25)
International career
1993 Poland U16
Poland U17
Managerial career
2014–2015 Legia Warsaw II
2016 Zagłębie Sosnowiec
2016–2017 Legia Warsaw
2018–2020 Poland U20
2020–2021 Poland U19
2021–2022 Śląsk Wrocław
2023–2024 Śląsk Wrocław
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Poland
UEFA European Under-16 Championship
Winner 1993 Turkey
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jacek Magiera (30 December 1976/1 January 1977 – 10 April 2026) was a Polish professional football player and manager who played as a centre-back or defensive midfielder.

Magiera was best known for his stint with Legia Warsaw where he played from 1997 to 2006, with two loans in-between, winning the Ekstraklasa title, the Polish Cup, the Polish Super Cup and the Polish League Cup. He was a member of the Poland U16 team that won the 1993 UEFA European Under-16 Championship.

He coached several Polish sides and national youth teams. After returning to Legia as manager in 2016, he won one league title and managed them during their 2016–17 UEFA Champions League campaign.

Club career

Magiera started his senior career at Raków Częstochowa in 1991, after having come through the academy. He played there for six seasons before he moved to Legia Warsaw in 1997. He debuted for them in an away win against GKS Bełchatów on 9 April 1997 under manager Władysław Stachurski.[3]

At Legia, Magiera made 232 appearances throughout nine seasons. Under manager Franciszek Smuda, he lost his place in the starting lineup and was loaned out to Widzew Łódź in 2000,[4] but regained his place in the Legia squad upon his return.[4]

In 2006, he was loaned out to his former club Raków Częstochowa.[5] This was somewhat of a surprise, as at the time Raków competed in the fourth tier, however he stated he wanted to help his boyhood local club; he stayed there for half a season.[6]

On 19 July 2006, he signed for Cracovia,[7] where he made five league appearances before retiring in December 2006.[8]

International career

In 1993, Magiera played for Poland under-16 and under-17 national teams. He won the 1993 UEFA European Under-16 Championship in Turkey with Poland U16.[9] He also captained the under-17 side that finished fourth at the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Japan.[3]

Managerial career

Early years

On 20 December 2006, Magiera joined Legia's staff as an assistant coach,[10] whilst simultaneously holding the same role with the Poland U18s. On 7 January 2014, Magiera took charge of Legia's reserve team and left his post on 7 June 2015 after his contract expired. His last match in charge was against Pogoń Grodzisk Mazowiecki, ending an 18-year association with the club at the time.[11]

Zagłębie Sosnowiec

On 16 May 2016, Magiera became the head coach of I liga club Zagłębie Sosnowiec. He led the team in eleven games before leaving by mutual consent on 22 September that year.[12]

Legia Warsaw

Two days after departing Zagłębie, Magiera was announced by Legia as their new manager, signing a two-year contract with an extension option.[13] With Magiera in charge, Legia finished third in the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League group stage and secured a spot in the round of 32 of the UEFA Europa League.[14]

On 4 June 2017, Magiera won his first silverware as manager, after Legia secured the 2016–17 league title.[15] On 13 September, Magiera was dismissed after crashing out of the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds.[16]

Poland youth teams

Magiera became the head coach of Poland U20 on 19 March 2018, and managed the team at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup on home soil.[17] On 20 June 2020, he took charge of the under-19 team until 11 March 2021.[18]

Śląsk Wrocław

On 22 March 2021, Magiera took charge of Ekstraklasa side Śląsk Wrocław,[19] a role he held until he was sacked on 8 March 2022.[20] Since his contract with the club was still in effect, Śląsk re-appointed him as manager 13 months later, to replace the outgoing Ivan Đurđević on 21 April 2023.[21] After avoiding relegation at the end of the season, his contract was extended for another two years.[22]

Śląsk enjoyed a much more successful start to the 2023–24 campaign, occupying the top spot in the table from mid-September until the winter break and setting a new club record of seven straight Ekstraklasa wins.[23] On 1 March 2024, Magiera penned a new deal, tying him with the club until mid-2026.[24] Śląsk finished the season level on points with eventual champions Jagiellonia Białystok, losing the title on head-to-head goal difference.[25]

After kicking off the following season with dropping out of the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round, Śląsk spent the majority of the league campaign in the relegation zone. On 12 November 2024, with the team placed 18th and last, with one win after 14 league games played, Magiera was relieved of his duties,[26] and terminated his contract with the club days later.[27]

Poland (assistant)

On 17 July 2025, Magiera was named the assistant manager of the Poland national team to newly appointed Jan Urban.[28] He held this position until his death in April 2026.[29]

Personal life and death

Jacek Magiera was born on 30 December 1976 in Częstochowa. As his grandmother did not want him and his brother Marek (born 28 December 1974) to both be the youngest in their year groups in school, Jacek's date of birth was changed officially to 1 January 1977.[1]

He completed a masters degree in history at the Jan Długosz Academy in Częstochowa. His masters dissertation was titled The historical and heraldic emblems on the basis of football clubs (Polish: Historyczna i heraldyczna emblematyka na podstawie klubów piłkarskich).[30]

He was married to Magdalena and had two children: Małgorzata (born 2012) and Jan (born 2014).[31] His brother Marek is a sports commentator.

Jacek Magiera was a practising Roman Catholic.[32] After leading Śląsk to a runner-up spot in 2024, he went on pilgrimages to Medjugorje and Jasna Góra Monastery.[33]

On 10 April 2026, Magiera was hospitalised at the Military Clinical Hospital in Wrocław after he fainted during a morning running workout. He was pronounced dead later that day.[2][29]

His sudden death shocked the football community, and condolences were sent by many persons associated with football, as well as Ekstraklasa clubs, UEFA officials, and the President of Poland Karol Nawrocki.[34][35][36] On the same day, the Polish Football Association announced a minute of silence would be held before all nationwide league matches played on 10–13 April 2026.[37]

Magiera was buried at the Powązki Military Cemetery in Warsaw on 16 April.[38] He was posthumously awarded the Order of Polonia Restituta,[39] and inducted into the Ekstraklasa Hall of Fame.[40]

Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Legia Warsaw II 7 January 2014 7 June 2015 51 23 11 17 90 72 +18 045.10
Zagłębie Sosnowiec 16 May 2016 22 September 2016 11 7 3 1 26 12 +14 063.64
Legia Warsaw 24 September 2016 13 September 2017 50 28 11 11 100 57 +43 056.00
Poland U20 19 March 2018 20 June 2020 18 6 2 10 26 27 −1 033.33
Poland U19 20 June 2020 11 March 2021 2 0 1 1 2 4 −2 000.00
Śląsk Wrocław 22 March 2021 8 March 2022 39 13 13 13 56 59 −3 033.33
Śląsk Wrocław 21 April 2023 12 November 2024 61 25 16 20 81 72 +9 040.98
Total 232 102 57 73 381 303 +78 043.97

Honours

Player

Legia Warsaw[41]

Poland U16

Manager

Legia Warsaw

Individual

  • Ekstraklasa Hall of Fame: 2026[40]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Maciej Gąsiorowski (11 April 2026), "Tajemnica Jacka Magiery wyszła na jaw po śmierci. Wszystko przez babcię", o2.pl (in Polish), o2.pl
  2. ^ a b "Nie żyje Jacek Magiera. Znany trener zasłabł podczas biegania". radiowroclaw.pl (in Polish). 10 April 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  3. ^ a b "Jacek Magiera (1977–2026). Śmierć, z którą trudno się pogodzić". sport.rp.pl (in Polish). 10 April 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  4. ^ a b "Magiera: Praca ze Smudą dużo mi dała", polsatsport.pl (in Polish), Polsat Sport, 16 December 2016
  5. ^ "Jacek Magiera". legia.net (in Polish). Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  6. ^ Paweł Mielczarek (9 June 2006), Rozmowa z Jackiem Magierą: “Przyjść na trening i wyjść z niego uśmiechniętym” (in Polish), vol. 0757, Gazeta Częstochowska
  7. ^ "Jacek Magiera podpisał kontrakt z Cracovią". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 19 July 2006. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  8. ^ "Jacek Magiera kończy karierę". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 19 December 2006. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  9. ^ a b "30 lat temu Polacy zostali mistrzami Europy do lat 16. "Nikt nie spodziewał się tego sukcesu"". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). 8 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Magiera oficjalnie w Legii" (in Polish). 20 December 2006. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  11. ^ Magiera: Legia to klub, dzięki któremu jestem tym, kim jestem (in Polish), legionisci.com, 6 June 2016
  12. ^ "Magiera rozwiązał kontrakt z Zagłębiem Sosnowiec!". polsatsport.pl (in Polish). 22 September 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Jacek Magiera trenerem Legii". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 24 September 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  14. ^ Bernaciak, Piotr; Czaplewski, Jacek (7 December 2016). "Mecz Legia – Sporting. Waleczna Legia pokonała Sporting! Jest trzecie miejsce i Liga Europy". gol24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  15. ^ a b "Legia mistrzem Polski! Jagiellonia zakończyła sezon na drugim miejscu!". polsatsport.pl (in Polish). 4 June 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Jacek Magiera odchodzi z Legii". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Oficjalnie: Jacek Magiera poprowadzi Polskę na MŚ U-20 2019". sportowefakty.wp.pl (in Polish). 19 March 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  18. ^ "U-19: Jacek Magiera przestał być trenerem reprezentacji Polski". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 11 March 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  19. ^ "JACEK MAGIERA NOWYM TRENEREM ŚLĄSKA" (in Polish). 22 March 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Jacek Magiera odchodzi ze Śląska". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 8 March 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  21. ^ "Jacek Magiera wrócił do Śląska Wrocław. Ivan Djurdjević został zwolniony". gazetawroclawska.pl (in Polish). 21 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Jacek Magiera na dłużej w Śląsku". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 5 June 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  23. ^ "KLUBOWY REKORD ŚLĄSKA. ZNÓW ZOSTAŁ LIDEREM". eurosport.tvn24.pl (in Polish). 30 September 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Magiera na dłużej we Wrocławiu! Szkoleniowiec przedłużył kontrakt". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). 1 March 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Piłkarski cud się nie wydarzył. Śląsk Wrocław nie wywalczył mistrzostwa Polski". wroclaw.wyborcza.pl (in Polish). 25 May 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  26. ^ Ptak, Jakub (12 November 2024). "Jacek Magiera i David Balda zwolnieni ze Śląska Wrocław. Wielkie zmiany u wicemistrzów Polski". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  27. ^ "Komunikat w sprawie rozwiązania kontraktu z Jackiem Magierą" (in Polish). Śląsk Wrocław. 16 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  28. ^ Czaplewski, Jacek (17 July 2025). "Sztab szkoleniowy Jana Urbana w reprezentacji Polski. Mocna pozycja Jacka Magiery. Jest Meksykanin, będzie też Hiszpan?" (in Polish). Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  29. ^ a b "Nie żyje Jacek Magiera". pzpn.pl (in Polish). 10 April 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  30. ^ Mirosław Drożdż (26 February 2005), Magister historii na boisku (in Polish), Legia.Net, archived from the original on 1 February 2014, retrieved 3 July 2011
  31. ^ Robert Błoński, "A jak alkohol, Ż jak żona. Alfabet Jacka Magiery", przegladsportowy.pl (in Polish), Przegląd Sportowy, retrieved 23 December 2016
  32. ^ "Nie żyje trener Jacek Magiera", niedziela.pl (in Polish), Niedzela, retrieved 10 April 2026
  33. ^ Instytut Gość Media (10 April 2026). "Nie żyje Jacek Magiera. Asystent selekcjonera reprezentacji Polski..." Instytut Gość Media. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  34. ^ Maciej Skorupa (10 April 2026), UEFA przemówiła po śmierci Jacka Magiery. Wyjątkowe słowa (in Polish), Przegląd Sportowy
  35. ^ Piotr Ciastek (11 April 2026), Świat sportu żegna Jacka Magierę po śmierci w wieku 49 lat. "Brak słów" – napisał Boniek (in Polish), Częstochowa Nasze Miasto
  36. ^ Maciej Skorupa (10 April 2026), Karol Nawrocki reaguje po śmierci Jacka Magiery. Oto co napisał (in Polish), Przegląd Sportowy
  37. ^ Minuta ciszy dla Jacka Magiery – Federacja, PZPN – Łączy nas piłka, retrieved 10 April 2026
  38. ^ Gawron, Amanda (16 April 2026). "Jacek Magiera spoczął obok legendy. Pracowali razem dwie dekady". sport.interia.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  39. ^ Lewandowski, Karol (16 April 2026). "Karol Nawrocki pośmiertnie odznaczył Jacka Magierę. Order z rąk prezydenta odebrała żona". onet.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  40. ^ a b "Lech Poznań z dwoma nagrodami na Gali Ekstraklasy. Wybrano najlepszych w sezonie 2025/26" (in Polish). Ekstraklasa. 25 May 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  41. ^ "Jacek Magiera". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 27 June 2025.
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