Jozef Garbien

Background

Garbien was born in Łupków (near Sanok).

Career

He was part of the legendary Pogoń forwards, who in the early 1920s were superior to all opponents in the country. Apart from playing football, he was a physician, a 1924 graduate of Lwów"s January Kazimierz University. His career started on Pogoń Stryj.

In 1916 he moved to Pogoń Lwów, where remained until 1928 (then, until 1933, he played for Oldboye Lwów, a team of veteran players).

Garbien"s nickname "Tank" fully reflected his physique and style of play. He was strong and dynamic, but some sources claim that he could be too selfish on the field

After retirement from playing, in 1933 he moved to Chrzanów, where he was director of the hospital. He participated in the Polish September Campaign as an officer of the Polish Army.

After World World War II he was captured by the Communists and incarcerated for his alleged anti-Soviet attitude.

Released, he settled in Chorzów, where until 1949 he was director of the hospital. He died in Cieszyn.

Achievements

• With Pogoń, he was multiple champion of Poland (1922, 1923, 1925, 1926). He also played 8 games on the national team

Membership

A member of Józef Piłsudski"s Polish Legions, he fought on the Italian Front in World War I, then was severely wounded in 1919, during the conflict with Ukraine over LwóWest During the Nazi occupation of Poland he was an active member of the underground, was captured by the Gestapo, and spent several months in the Gestapo"s notorious prison on Montelupi Street in KrakóWest