Career
Engel began his career in football at an early age playing at local club Junak Wloclawek, before moving to Polonia Warsaw (1975-1976), Hutnik Warszawa (1976-1977) and several other clubs. Engel, nicknamed "Jurek", began playing in midfield or attack before, at the age of 22, being cruelly forced to cut his career short because of injury. With spirits dampened only slightly, he immediately turned to coaching and took over at Polonia Warsaw in the 1976/1977 season.
In 1985 Jurek took over at Legia Warsaw, leading them to two second-place finishes in the Polish Championship in three seasons.
Just as he was becoming well known he made the strange decision to move to Apollon Limassol, in Cyprus, an island he stayed on for seven years. He later returned to Legia before taking Polonia Warsaw to runners-up spot in 1998-1999.
With the side lacking firepower when he took charge, Engel saw the qualities in Nigerian-born Olisadebe who was already playing his league football in Poland. He asked the president to speed Olisadebe"s papers through and as a result, had a talented forward available for World Cup qualifying.
Olisadebe rewarded his coach with eight goals in ten qualifying matches.
Engel steered Poland to their first World Cup finals tournament since 1986, when he oversaw their participation at the 2002 World Cup in South of Korea and Japan. The World Cup did not go well and Poland were eliminated in the first round. The opening two games provided two resounding defeats losing to South of Korea and Portugal.
After being knocked out of the tournament and now without any pressure to perform, Poland beat the United States in their final group game for a famous victory.
His most recent vocation was at Wisła Krakow where he was trainer until late-October 2005 and he has also been sports director of Legia Warsaw. In December 2005, he moved back in Cyprus and headed the coaching team of APOEL. Engel"s management career:
Legia Warsaw, Poland, July 1985 – June 1988
Apollon Limassol, Cyprus, July 1988 – June 1990
APOP Paphos, Cyprus, July 1990 – June 1991
Nea Salamis Famagusta Football Club, Cyprus, July 1991 – June 1995
Legia Warsaw, Poland, July 1995 – June 1996
Nea Salamis, Cyprus, July 1996 – December 1996
Aris Limassol, Cyprus, January 1997 – June 1997
Polonia Warsaw, Poland, July 1997 – June 1999
Poland National Team, January 2000 – June 2002
Wisla Krakow, Poland, June 2004 – October 2005
APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus, December 2005 – May 2006.