# Roman Kosecki

Roman Jacek Kosecki (born 15 February 1966) is a Polish former professional footballer who played as a striker. In 1994, he was voted the Polish Footballer of the Year.

## Career

In his club career, Kosecki played for RKS URSUS, Gwardia Warsaw, Legia Warsaw, Galatasaray, CA Osasuna, Atlético Madrid, Nantes, Montpellier, and the Chicago Fire. Osasuna transferred Kosecki to Atlético Madrid after the 1992–93 La Liga season, the second most expensive transfer of a foreign player in that window. After a successful year with Atlético Madrid and the Poland national team, Kosecki was chosen as the 1994 Polish footballer of the year by Piłka Nożna magazine. He came to Major League Soccer in the Fire's inaugural season in 1998, joining fellow Polish internationals Peter Nowak and Jerzy Podbrozny. Kosecki proceeded to score the first goal in Fire's history in a 2–0 win over the Miami Fusion. He then helped the club to the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup double. Kosecki played two seasons in MLS, scoring 12 goals and 19 assists in league play, before retiring as a player.
For Poland, Kosecki was capped 69 times, scoring 19 goals between 1988 and 1995.
He was a deputy (poseł) to the Polish Sejm from Civic Platform in 2005. Kosecki ran for the position of president of the PZPN in 2012 but lost to Polish soccer legend Zbigniew Boniek. Boniek however appointed him to vice president of youth development.

## Personal life

His son Jakub Kosecki is also a professional football player.

## Career statistics
### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Poland | 1988 | 7 | 3 |
| Poland | 1989 | 13 | 2 |
| Poland | 1990 | 15 | 5 |
| Poland | 1991 | 9 | 1 |
| Poland | 1992 | 6 | 4 |
| Poland | 1993 | 7 | 0 |
| Poland | 1994 | 5 | 2 |
| Poland | 1995 | 7 | 2 |
| Total | Total | 69 | 19 |

### International goals

       Scores and results table. Poland's goal tally first:
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 10 February 1988 | Tel Aviv, Israel | Israel | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 2 | 13 July 1988 | New Britain, United States | United States | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 13 July 1988 | New Britain, United States | United States | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 4 | 8 February 1989 | San José, Costa Rica | Costa Rica | 4–2 | Friendly |
| 5 | 14 February 1989 | Puebla, Mexico | Mexico | 1–3 | Friendly |
| 6 | 11 February 1990 | Cairo, Egypt | Kuwait | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 7 | 4 May 1990 | Chicago, United States | Colombia | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 8 | 21 May 1990 | Marseille, France | United Arab Emirates | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 9 | 10 October 1990 | Warsaw, Poland | United States | 2–3 | Friendly |
| 10 | 19 December 1990 | Volos, Greece | Greece | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 11 | 17 April 1991 | Warsaw, Poland | Turkey | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying |
| 12 | 19 May 1992 | Salzburg, Austria | Austria | 4–2 | Friendly |
| 13 | 19 May 1992 | Salzburg, Austria | Austria | 4–2 | Friendly |
| 14 | 5 July 1992 | Guatemala City, Guatemala | Guatemala | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 15 | 5 July 1992 | Guatemala City, Guatemala | Guatemala | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 16 | 9 February 1994 | Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain | Spain | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 17 | 4 September 1994 | Tel Aviv, Israel | Israel | 1–2 | UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 18 | 25 April 1995 | Zabrze, Poland | Israel | 4–3 | UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 19 | 7 June 1995 | Zabrze, Poland | Slovakia | 5–0 | UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying |

## Honours

Legia Warsaw
* Polish Cup: 1988–89, 1989–90
* Polish Super Cup: 1990
Galatasaray
* Turkish Cup: 1990–91
* Turkish Super Cup: 1991
Chicago Fire
* MLS Cup: 1998
* U.S. Open Cup: 1998
Poland U18
* UEFA European Under-18 Championship third place: 1984
Individual
* Polish Newcomer of the Year: 1988
* Piłka Nożna Polish Footballer of the Year: 1994
* MLS All-Star: 1999