Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Ireneusz Jeleń

Ireneusz Jeleń
Personal information
Full name Ireneusz Jeleń[1]
Date of birth (1981-04-09) 9 April 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth Cieszyn, Poland
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Right winger, striker
Team information
Current team
CKS Piast Cieszyn
Number 10
Youth career
Piast Cieszyn
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000 Piast Cieszyn 16 (8)
2001–2002 Beskid Skoczów 40 (22)
2002–2006 Wisła Płock 100 (45)
2006–2011 Auxerre 140 (48)
2011–2012 Lille 13 (1)
2012 Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała 7 (0)
2013 Górnik Zabrze 12 (2)
2014 Piast Cieszyn 4 (6)
2019– CKS Piast Cieszyn 117 (142)
International career
2003–2012 Poland 29 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 September 2024

Ireneusz Jeleń (Polish pronunciation: [irɛˈnɛuʂ ˈjɛlɛɲ] ; born 9 April 1981) is a Polish footballer who plays as a right-winger or striker for CKS Piast Cieszyn.

Club career

Jeleń was born in Cieszyn. From 2002 to 2006, he played for Ekstraklasa side Wisła Płock. In four seasons, he scored 45 goals in 100 appearances in the Polish top league.

On 28 June 2006, Jeleń moved to French Ligue 1 club Auxerre. On 9 September 2006, Jeleń scored his first league goal for Auxerre against Monaco. On 20 October 2007, he grabbed his first hat-trick, after coming off the bench in the 71st minute against Lorient. In his first couple of seasons at Auxerre, Jeleń was plagued with recurring back problems. In October 2008, he suffered a broken collarbone. He returned to action in late January 2009.[2] Auxerre's manager Jean Fernandez has described Jeleń as the player in his squad having the most ability in front of goal.[3] Prior to his return, Auxerre was in 17th place, barely above the relegation zone.[4] Upon his return, Jeleń scored 11 goals in 16 league matches, with Auxerre advancing to 8th in the table. Despite missing part of the season, Jelen tied for 4th in the Ligue 1 goalscoring charts. In May 2009, he was voted Auxerre's Player of the Season, garnering 79% of the votes.[5] In July 2009, France Football ranked him 4th among strikers and 15th overall among footballers playing in Ligue 1.[6][7]

In December 2009, he was voted Polish Player of the Year.[8]

During the 2009–10 season, he helped Auxerre to finish third in the league and win a place in the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League Play-off round. He finished fifth in the Ligue 1 goalscoring charts with 14 goals, despite missing some matches due to injury. Auxerre lost only once with Jeleń in the line up, 0–5 at Grenoble on 6 February 2010.

Jeleń signed a contract as a free agent with Lille at the end of August, after his contract with Auxerre expired.[9]

After refusing to move to Stade Brest, he was soon left without a club. He returned to Poland and signed for Ekstraklasa side Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała but after a poor half of the season he was released. After a short stint at Górnik Zabrze, where he left due to his father's illness he finished his career at the local club he started his career with, Piast Cieszyn, before eventually retiring in 2014.

Since 2019, Jeleń has been playing for CKS Piast Cieszyn at amateur level, where he also serves as the club's chairman.[10]

International career

Ireneusz Jeleń during the 2006 FIFA World Cup game against Costa Rica

As of October 2011, Jeleń has 28 caps with the Polish national team. He was selected for the 23-man squad that took part in the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals in Germany and played in all three of the Group A games, almost scoring with an impressive left foot shot that hit the crossbar against Ecuador in their 2–0 defeat. His trademarks are speed and acceleration.[11] Jelen failed to make Poland's squad for their upcoming Euro 2012 campaign, however he was placed on standby.

Personal life

Jeleń was born the middle of three children, having an older sister and a younger brother. He and his wife, Anna, have a son, Jakub, born in 2003, and a daughter, Julia, born in January 2010.[12]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 21 September 2024[13][14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Piast Cieszyn 2000–01 IV liga 16 8 16 8
Beskid Skoczów 2000–01 IV liga 11 6 11 6
2001–02 IV liga 29 16 29 16
Total 40 22 40 22
Wisła Płock 2002–03 Ekstraklasa 26 8 9 4 35 12
2003–04 Ekstraklasa 26 18 1 0 2 2 29 20
2004–05 Ekstraklasa 23 12 3 2 26 14
2005–06 Ekstraklasa 25 7 9 5 2 0 36 12
Total 100 45 22 11 4 2 126 58
AJ Auxerre 2006–07 Ligue 1 32 10 2 0 5 4 39 14
2007–08 Ligue 1 32 5 4 1 36 6
2008–09 Ligue 1 26 14 1 0 27 14
2009–10 Ligue 1 29 14 3 4 32 18
2010–11 Ligue 1 21 5 0 0 4 1 25 6
Total 140 48 10 5 9 5 159 58
Lille OSC 2011–12 Ligue 1 13 1 4 3 2 0 19 4
Podbeskidzie 2012–13 Ekstraklasa 7 0 0 0 7 0
Górnik Zabrze 2012–13 Ekstraklasa 12 2 0 0 12 2
Piast Cieszyn 2013–14 Klasa A Skoczów 4 6 4 6
CKS Piast Cieszyn 2019–20 Klasa B Skoczów 6 13 6 13
2020–21 Klasa A Skoczów 25 47 25 47
2021–22 Reg. league Silesia VI 30 32 30 32
2022–23 Reg. league Silesia VI 20 14 20 14
2023–24 Reg. league Silesia VI 30 26 30 26
2024–25 Reg. league Silesia VI 6 10 6 10
Total 117 142 117 142
Career total 449 274 36 19 15 7 500 300

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 14 December 2003 Ta' Qali, Malta  Lithuania 3–1 Win Friendly
2. 30 May 2006 Chorzów, Poland  Colombia 1–2 Loss Friendly
3. 28 March 2009 Belfast, Northern Ireland  Northern Ireland 3–2 Loss 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
4. 1 April 2009 Kielce, Poland  San Marino 10–0 Win 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
5. 4 September 2010 Łódź, Poland  Ukraine 1–1 Draw Friendly

Honours

Wisła Płock

CKS Piast Cieszyn

References

  1. ^ "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Poland" (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019.
  2. ^ Piotr Koźmiński (27 January 2009). "Jeleń out to stop the rot at Auxerre". UEFA.com. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  3. ^ Alexis Billebault (13 March 2009). "Jelen, le vrai plus de l'AJA". L'Équipe (in French). Archived from the original on 15 March 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
  4. ^ Alexis Toledano (23 May 2009). "Zoom sur Ireneusz Jelen, la bonne étoile de l'AJA". FootMercato (in French). Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  5. ^ "Ireneusz Jelen, élu joueur auxerrois de la saison". Official Website of AJA Auxerre (in French). 21 May 2009. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
  6. ^ "Les 50 qui font la Ligue 1". France Football (in French). 28 July 2009.
  7. ^ "Ireneusz Jeleń wśród gwiazd Ligue 1". Przegląd Sportowy (in Polish). 30 July 2009. Archived from the original on 2 August 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
  8. ^ "Piłkarskie Oscary rozdane, Ireneusz Jeleń piłkarzem roku". Wiadomosci24. 15 December 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  9. ^ "Ireneusz Jeleń podpisał kontrakt z OSC Lille". onet.pl. 30 August 2011. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  10. ^ "10 IRENEUSZ JELEŃ". ckspiast.pl.
  11. ^ "ESPNsoccernet – Ireneusz Jelen Profile". ESPNsoccernet. Archived from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  12. ^ "Official website of Ireneusz Jeleń". Archived from the original on 2 April 2009.
  13. ^ "Ireneusz Jeleń". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Zawodnik: Ireneusz Jeleń". laczynaspilka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Klasa A 2020/2021, grupa: Skoczów I". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Klasa A 2020/2021, grupa: Skoczów (mistrzowska)". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Klasa B 2019/2020, grupa: Skoczów". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 19 September 2024.