Frankowski Biography

Born : August 16 1974, Białystok, Poland

Career

1991-1993 - Jagiellonia Białystok

1993-1994 - RC Strasbourg (B team)

1994-1996 - RC Strasbourg,

1996 - Nagoya Grampus Eight, Japan

1996-1997 - CFP Poitiers

1997-1998 - FC Martigues

1998-2005 - Wisła Kraków

2005-2006 - Elche CF, Spain

2006 Wolves

Honours

Polish Championship 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005,

Polish Cup 2002, 2003

League Cup 2001

Golden Boot 1999, 2001, 2005

Goalscoring Record

Poland

115 goals in 173 games

Spain

8 goals in 13 games

European Competition

13 goals in 26 matches

International

10 goals in 17 appearances for Poland



History

Frankowski should be familiar to most football fans in England. It was Franek who scored a magnificent volley for Poland against England at Old Trafford during the World Cup Qualifying campaign.

He started his career playing for Jagiellonia in his hometown of Białystok before coming to the atention of RC Strasbourg in 1993. Following a year being groomed in their B Team, he progressed to the first team where in 1996 he caught the eye of a young manager in Japan. That man was Arsene Wenger who signed him for Grampus Eight.

Wenger moved on to Arsenal, and Frankowski moved on to France where he spent 2 years, first playing for CFP Poitiers, and then FC Martigues before returning to his homeland in 1998, signing for Wisła Kraków.

This nomadic period was a difficult time for Frankowski, and it saw him make only 36 appearances in his first 6 years as a professional, but his return to Poland was to usher in a new phase for the player, and for Wisła Kraków.

Following his arrival Kraków dominated Polish football. They secured League Titles in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005. The Polish Cup in 2002 and 2003, The League Cup in 2001 and he was 3 times highest scorer in the Ekstraklasa in 1999, 2001, 2005.

His prolific domestic form saw him drafted into the Polish national side ahead of their Germany '06 World Cup campaign where he was instrumental in earning them qualification in the same group as England, scoring 7 goals.

2005 was his last season for Wisła Kraków where he finished as the leagues top scorer, chalking up 25 goals in 26 games helping them to the Ekstraklasa title.



In that year Jose Uribe signed him for Spanish Segunda Liga side Elche CF to fire them into La Liga. He had an immediate impact and this season has scored 8 goals in 14 appearances.

He signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers January 2006 on a 2 and a half year deal after almost a month of protracted negotiations