After a long struggle with cancer, Kazimierz Górski, former coach of Poland's national soccer team, died in Warsaw May 23 at the age of 85. Górski was regarded as the most outstanding coach in the history of Polish soccer. The achievements of his team, who were dubbed "Górski's Eagles," ushered in the golden era of Polish soccer in the 1970s and early 1980s. Górski's team was the most successful in the history of Polish soccer, winning an Olympic gold medal in Munich in 1972 in a victory over Hungary, and coming in third at the World Cup finals in 1974 in Germany, after beating Brazil. Two years later, Górski's Eagles won a silver medal at the Olympic Games in Montreal.

Górski was a mentor to some of the greatest figures in soccer history, including midfielder Kazimierz Deyna and strikers Włodzimierz Lubański and Grzegorz Lato (the king of strikers at the World Cup in 1974). One of Górski's team members was Jan Tomaszewski, known as "the man who stopped England." Oct. 17, 1973, Tomaszewski was the goalkeeper for the Polish team at the Wembley stadium in London at a match against England which closed the qualifiers. The match ended with a 1:1 tie, eliminating the English team from the competition.

Górski, one of the most recognizable and popular people in Poland's public life, had for decades been the most respected individual in the soccer community. In 1991, he was chosen as president of the Polish Soccer Association and four years later he became its honorary president.

"He was a man who enjoyed 100-percent support among Poles, one of few such people in history," said Zbigniew Boniek, the most distinguished Polish soccer player. "The symbol of Polish soccer has just passed away."

"A part of his greatness was the skill to find the right people for the team," said Lubański, once the captain in Górski's team. "His authority was so unshaken that he helped solve problems of Polish soccer even in recent years. His calmness soothed disputes."

The national team of Poland, which is in Switzerland to prepare for the World Cup in Germany, honored Górski with a minute of silence. During a friendly match against Columbia, planned for May 30, the players will be wearing black armbands.