Tadeusz Gapiński, Widzew Łódź legend, dies at 78

Tadeusz Gapiński, a former player, assistant coach and long‑time manager of Polish football club Widzew Łódź, died at age 78. He spent the bulk of his playing career with Widzew from 1973 to 1979, helping the team reach two Polish league runner‑up finishes and taking part in the 1977‑78 UEFA Cup, notably beating Manchester City. After a spell in Denmark where he won the Danish Cup with Hvidovre IF, he returned to Łódź and served as the club’s head manager for more than two decades until 2008, becoming a symbolic figure for generations of supporters.

Following his retirement he entered local politics as a Łódź city councilor before stepping down in 2010. The club and former Polish captain Zbigniew Boniek issued tributes, describing Gapiński as a “legend” and noting the loss to the Widzew community. A stand at the club’s stadium bears his name, underscoring his lasting legacy.

The football world in Łódź mourns the passing of a man who embodied the club’s history and identity.