Double cheer for Legia
Thursday, July 4, 2002
Article summary
Coach Dragomir Okuka and defender Jacek Zielinski have signed new contracts at Legia Warszawa.
Article body
Polish champions Legia Warszawa received a double boost today when coach Dragomir Okuka and key defender Jacek Zielinski ended speculation surrounding their futures by penning new deals.
Champions League dates
Okuka had intimated that he might quit the club he guided to the Ekstraklasa title last season after a number of Legia's leading players were sold without his permission. However, the Yugoslavian has decided to stay for at least one more year, which will start with a UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie on 31 July and 7 August.
World Cup displays
Zielinski's contract at the Wojska Polskiego expired on 30 June and it was rumoured that the 35-year-old would seek pastures new after impressing for Poland at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Nevertheless, he too has decided to stay after Legia supporters pleaded with him not to follow fellow internationals Maciej Murawski (DSC Arminia Bielefeld) and Bartosz Karwan (Hertha BSC Berlin) through the exit door.
New contracts
Wojciech Szala, Marek Jszwiak and Jacek Magiera have also signed new contracts as Legia, quarter-finalists in 1995, seek to become the first Polish club since 1996 to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.
