Game over for unwanted Matysek

Out of use
Matysek decided to hang up his gloves after failing to find a club this season following his return from the FIFA World Cup finals, where he was the only unused player in coach Jerzy Engel's squad.

Time to go
"I really wanted to play on but I don't have anywhere to go and I've had enough of this situation. I have decided to say goodbye," said Matysek, who was twice a German Bundesliga runner-up with Bayer 04 Leverkusen, the club he joined in 1998.

Homeward bound
Matysek left the BayArena in the spring of 2001. He had turned down a new contract because of German international Hans-Jörg Butt's impending arrival from Hamburger SV, and returned to the Polish Ekstraklasa first with Zaglebie Lubin then with RKS Radomsko.

Hero of Oslo
Despite Radomsko's relegation last summer, Matysek was included in Poland's squad for Korea/Japan yet was destined to be remembered for his heroics during the qualifying campaign rather than for any exploits in the finals. Polish supporters labelled him the 'Hero of Oslo' after he denied Norway in a tie in Oslo in March 2001, won 3-2 by the Poles. But the last of his 34 caps came in a pre-tournament friendly against Estonia last May.

Early days
Matysek began his career with Zaglebie Walbrzych and Górnik Walbrzych before spending three seasons with his hometown club Slask Wroclaw between 1990 and 1993. He subsequently played for SC Fortuna Köln and FC Gütersloh in the German lower divisions.