Jacek Krzynowek

Jacek's football career started with LZS Chrzanowice. Then in 1994 he landed in RKS Radomsko. In Radomsko he played two seasons, and then moved to another Polish club, Raków Częstochowa in which he made his debut in the Polish Ekstraklasa (28 July 1996). After a season with Rakow, he moved to second league club, GKS Bełchatów. In the 1997–98 season, he with his team advanced to the Ekstraklasa. Unfortunately, his club was unable to keep itself in the Polish first league, and was demoted back to the second league. Despite this, his skills and play impressed scouts from other clubs, including 1. FC Nürnberg, as well as coach of the Polish National Team, Janusz Wojcik.

Still a player for GKS Bełchatów, he made his debut in the Polish national team on 10 November 1998 against Slovakia in a 3–1 Poland win. In 1999, he moved to 1. FC Nürnberg in the 2. Bundesliga. He made his return to the Polish National Team in the beginning of 2000, after Jerzy Engel became coach. Very shortly, he became one of the most important players in the team qualified for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

In 2002, he contributed to the promotion of 1. FC Nürnberg to the Bundesliga, and was named the best left midfielder in the 2. Bundesliga. Also in 2002, he went to South Korea and Japan for the 2002 World Cup with Poland. Despite a poor performance by Poland, he was praised for his play, and appeared in all three matches.

He is regarded as one of the best Polish footballers. He has earned many awards and trophies, not only in Poland, but also abroad. He has earned the honour of twice being named the Polish Footballer of the Year by magazine Pilka Nozna in 2003 and 2004. He has appeared in 96 international matches for Poland, scoring 15 goals. He is also a member of the Elite Polish National Team Footballers by the PZPN.

During 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, he played in the most important games for Poland and contributed to Poland's qualification to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. As a result of another injury during the spring of 2006, he was unable to play regularly at his club, Bayer Leverkusen. This was evident in his poor form during the 2006 FIFA World Cup and was one of the poorest performers in the Polish team as they lost 2–0 to the surprising Ecuador and 1–0 to hosts Germany. After a disappointing 2005–06 season, he moved to VfL Wolfsburg.

On 17 November 2007, Wisła Kraków announced that they were interested in purchasing Krzynówek during the Ekstraklasa transfer window, but after negotiations the Polish club could not agree to terms with VfL Wolfsburg.

On 2 February 2009, Krzynówek moved to Hannover 96 where he stayed until the summer of 2010. On 15 August 2011, Krzynówek officially announced his retirement after 178 matches in the German top-flight.