Tuesday, April 07, 2026
A Pole in Pittsburgh, Part 4
Stanislaw Terlecki's blistering form in the indoor game secured him a move to the headline club of the NASL, the New York Cosmos, in the winter of 1983. He had managed to remain active in the outdoor game with the Golden Bay Earthquakes earlier in the year, and the Cosmos used him in both their indoor and outdoor teams.
Although the Cosmos's most glamorous days were behind them, they were still the biggest draw in the competition, and the playing roster was an interesting mix of ageing European heavyweights and promising younger players. Johan Neeskens, still a force to be reckoned with, played in defence, while the attack featured the young Paraguayan star Roberto Cabañas, among others.
Pelé was still involved with the club, and Terlecki struck up an acquaintance with the Brazilian legend during his time with the Cosmos - hence the title of his eventual autobiography. In it, he stated that Pelé had outlined to him the "three pillars" of true football mastery: running with the ball without looking (at the ball), picking a pass without looking, and shooting without looking. Indeed!
Playing with the Cosmos enabled the Polish star to encounter some international opposition as well in the "Trans-Atlantic Challenge Cup", a four-team summer friendly competition pitting NASL clubs against some of Europe and South America's finest (well, finest available). In 1984, the Cosmos were the only American participants, along with Barcelona, Udinese and Fluminense of Brazil.
In the "semi-final" against Barcelona, Terlecki lined up for the Cosmos against none other than Diego Maradona. It was not the first time the two had faced each other: an under-strength Polish team had met Argentina in a friendly in Buenos Aires in 1980 (just prior to the Okecie airport incident), and Maradona had put on a superb display, securing a 2-1 victory for the then-world champions with a trademark free kick. Terlecki was probably Poland's best player on the day, but there was little he or the others could do about Maradona's sublime passing and surges from midfield.
Less than four years later, a great deal of water had passed under the bridge for both players. The Challenge Cup clash was an exciting and vibrant game, perfect summer entertainment for the crowd at Giants Stadium. Although Maradona's compatriot Armando Husillos scored a hat-trick for the Spaniards, they ultimately went down 5-3. Maradona even missed a penalty in the second half, after which two fine crosses from Terlecki, who played excellently throughout, set up the Cosmos's final two goals.
In the final against Udinese, the Cosmos won 4-1. Again Terlecki was prominent, scoring with a beautiful glancing volley on the run (quite reminiscent of Johan Cruyff's famous goal against Brazil in 1974) to put his side 3-1 ahead.
Buoyed by his American form, Terlecki began to harbour hopes of returning to the Polish national team in time for the 1986 World Cup. The political situation in his homeland was thawing, and his family was keen to return. After one more (slightly less prolific) season with the Pittsburgh Spirit, he decided to head home. Okecie was now a long time ago, and he could start with a clean slate.
To be concluded in Part 5.
