– This is not “Jasiu” from the round-up, this is Jasiu Furtok – emphasized Franciszek Smuda, introducing the new member of his staff from the times when he was the coach. – Jasiu knows what socks smell like, what kind of pitch is good, what kind of shoes are good. This is a man from the industry – he said figuratively. What do you mean “Franz”.
But Jan Furtok was indeed a man from the industry. He devoted his life to football. As a player, coach, activist. He loved GKS – the club where he entered the wide waters. He was the first Pole to conquer the Bundesliga, becoming its viceroy of scorers in the colors of HSV. He has been struggling with Alzheimer's disease in recent years. He died on Tuesday, November 26, at the age of 62.
His friends, teammates and coaches say goodbye to him in their memories for Sport.pl. Everyone agrees. He was an excellent footballer, but above all, a very good person.
A table in Mława
Waldemar Prusik, 49-time representative of Poland, says:
– My first memory of him is also our first meeting. We met as young boys at the Polish junior national team camp in Mława. It was probably 1978 and the selection of players was really very good. Many of us later joined the first team. Jasiu Furtok, Waldek Matysik, Mirek Bąk – these were boys from Upper Silesia. They had their own table. Apart from him, I remember Darek Dziekanowski, Zbyszek Kaczmarek… There were many of us. We often remembered this camp in Mława. It was our first meeting.
I remember when Waldek Matysik, Mirek Bąk and Jasiu Furtok spoke Silesian. We and the guys from Wrocław had a table next to us and we joked that they would explain to us what they were saying. Their dialect was difficult to understand, but it was pleasant. We met and it was always fun. Jasiu was a smiling man. He was a cheerful boy, we joked often, but above all he was a very good footballer.
The wife was the most important guardian
Andrzej Strejlau, coach of the Polish national team in 1989-1993, says:
– A beautiful figure, a legend, respected by his colleagues, presidents, coaches – not to mention the fans who absolutely adored him in Silesia. Let me remind you that he was actually the first such outstanding Polish footballer in the Bundesliga, the viceroy of scorers.
He was a very versatile player. Great operational technique, acceleration on a few meters, looking for the game, speed of decisions – this is what today is the essence of modern football, which was once started by Rinus Michels and Johann Cruyff, proposing total football. He was able to fill the space to make it easier for his friend to play. Janek just had it. It didn't matter to him whether he played at home or away. He knew how to reach the goal in the shortest way, which was to score a goal.
I remember him forever as a warm-hearted, cheerful and kind man. He was a man full of smiles. Everyone had the highest opinion of him. He was just one of those people who were only talked about with a smile.
It's very sad, because this is another person from the football family who has recently passed away. Artur Sarnat, I just have the impression that we have said goodbye to Janusz Kupcewicz. Plus Frank Smuda. As if we hadn't closed this loop… Jasiu passed away too soon. I know he was seriously ill. The entire community in Silesia took care of him. His wife was his most important guardian. However, Alzheimer's disease was unrelenting.
That distinctive mustache
Jan Urban, 57-time representative of Poland, says:
– How will I remember him? Always cheerful, smiling, with his characteristic mustache. A great player has passed away, but also a very good man who, in my opinion, everyone could like. She was the life of the party. He liked to laugh and joke. It was hard to be sad around him. He could cheer everyone up and with such people everyone feels good and likes spending time.
We were very close to each other even though we didn't play together in the club. We played together in the “biggest club”, the Polish national team. This bond was a little bigger than with other players, and it went beyond the field. Our children were of a similar age – perhaps that also had an influence. We saw each other more often when we played professional football than after our careers. There was always telephone contact. Of course, apart from these last years, when this was not possible.
It was a pleasure watching him in action. An excellent striker.
Łazarek would call him basior
Dariusz Wdowczyk, 53-time representative of Poland, says:
– He was a striker that all defenders feared. Janek and I know each other… I mean, we've known each other since we were 16. I think I remember the tournament in France for which I was called up and Janek got it too. That's when we first met. From the junior teams to the first team. We also competed on league pitches. A great striker – when playing against GKS Katowice, everyone was afraid of Furtok. Coach Łazarek would say that he was a bass player.
It's a pity that this guy from 1962 didn't make it in the national team. We haven't achieved much. There were good and bad matches. We did not advance to the World and European Championships. When it comes to Janek, you have to appreciate what he did for GKS Katowice – also as president. He also received good reviews playing abroad.
I will tell you that at that time there were subgroups in the national team – Warsaw and Silesia, but we got along perfectly with Janek Urban and Janek Furtok. There was no problem. This shows what kind of person he was. Maybe also because we had known each other for many years? Janek would say that from “bajtel”. We met really often. I remember him very well – his behavior, what kind of person he was. We just stuck together. It was his character that made it impossible not to like him. He was there to put pressure on the wound.
When I read that some people mention him only because of his hand in San Marino… only fools can write like that. Maradona also played with his hand and this goal is still remembered today. People should remember the goals Janek scored for the national team and in clubs. For GKS, Hamburg, Eintracht – that's why we must remember him. It's just not fair to only mention the San Marino hand.
The most expensive lesson in life – Brick
Says Piotr Świerczewski, 70-time representative of Poland
– I joined GKS Katowice as a 16-year-old boy. They were the top three teams in Poland – next to Legia and Górnik Zabrze. Jasiu, as the more experienced player, was with me for a while. He went to Hamburg as a really big star. It was the icon and the biggest face of GKS.
Recently I watched the Poland-England match, in which I played together with Jaś Furtok. At that time, many GKS players played in the national team. Roman Szewczyk was the captain, Andrzej Lesiak, Jasiu Furtok, me – there were many GieKSiarzy.
We had good contact. Obviously, Jasiu had a slightly different group, he was 10 years older than me. He hung out with the older ones, I stuck with the younger ones, but it wasn't the army. We were treated well. We had great sympathy for each other.
My memories with Jaś are based more on later years. Jasiu was already retired. We met in Warsaw, at PZPN and in Katowice. I think he was the club's president at the time and I always had an open door to him.
I remember once when we played at Ceglana. It was like a GKS hotel. There were tennis courts there. At one point he said: “At least we'll play for a hundred marks.” It's as if we were playing for a thousand zlotys today. I always said afterwards that it was my most expensive lesson. I lost, but I saw his technical skills. He crushed me on that volleyball leg.
While playing for GieKS, I learned the Silesian language. I understood, I probably would understand now. They actually “godoli”. He was, above all, a positive man, you see… 62 years old. Young boy, life.
The smile of the Polish Gerd Mueller
Piotr Czachowski, 45-time representative of Poland, says:
– We have known about Janek's illness for a long time. We knew what kind of disease it was and we knew that he would be very tired. It was known that it would be very difficult to regain full health. He started the fight, but he couldn't win. What happened… if I say “too soon”, it will probably be appropriate. 62 years old, a young man with still life ahead of him. His death is unacceptable to me. I constantly see Janek running in HSV, Eintracht and Polish national team shirts. His feistiness, wit, camaraderie, sociability and that smile that never disappeared. 90 percent he smiled throughout his life. I will never forget that smile…
I came to Stal Mielec in 1985, and Janek was already playing in the very strong GKS Katowice, built by Marian Dziurowicz. Every time we went there, the coaches paid attention to Furtok. His speed, cunning – we can say that he was the Polish Gerd Mueller. The ball was always looking for him. With his flair for the game, he was a difficult player to keep an eye on. Certainly, due to this brilliant play, a chance to make money on such a player was quickly noticed. He went to Hamburg, and there he became viceroy of the Bundesliga. Only Lewandowski surpassed his achievements. We had to wait over 20 years for this.
We met at national team training camps. I shared a room with him, so it was a great satisfaction for me. Janek was four years older than me. We could laugh, but we could also talk. Janek was able to relax the atmosphere on the way to the match, already on the bus. I remember when we were going to the match at the Silesian Stadium and at one point Janek said to me: “Czacha, did you take your passport?” I didn't know what he meant, and of course it was about the fact that we were passing through Sosnowiec. I was green in such matters, so I had to ask myself. I learned a lot from him. Even before such an important match, Janek was able to say something so relaxing. The coaches also repeated this to me in subsequent years and I always associated their words with Janek.
He was a man who absolutely touched the wound. I remember one conversation with Janek – in a hotel room. I asked him out of curiosity: “Janek, how can I stop you?” He replied: “Oh, Czacha, you can't stop me, because I'm too fast!” There was actually a big problem with it. Janek often gave me advice: “Remember that if you have a fast player, you have to position yourself well against him. Then you will have more room to play. It is important that you remember this.” I tried to put this into practice. Janek always had time and answered questions – even jokingly.
We all remember when he scored against San Marino. Even in such a difficult situation, he was able to come up with something that no one noticed during the meeting. He scored with his hand, you could say the Maradona syndrome was maintained. He is certainly a legend – from GKS Katowice, but also a distinguished representative of Poland. I can't believe he is no longer among us. I can't come to terms with it and it's hard for me to say anything more. I would like us to remember him very strongly. Coach Łazarek was waiting for him upstairs, and on Tuesday Janek joined him. Now they will sit down and remember.