Jacek Magiera, assistant coach of the Poland national football team, has died at the age of 49 after suffering cardiac arrest on April 10, 2026.
According to reports, Magiera collapsed during a morning run. Emergency responders were able to resuscitate him at the scene before he was rushed to Wrocław Military Clinical Hospital. Despite efforts to save him, he later passed away.
Magiera had been serving as assistant coach since July 2025 under head coach Jan Urban, recently working with the national team during their World Cup playoff campaign.
A respected figure in Polish football, Magiera was a former player for Legia Warsaw, where he won two Ekstraklasa titles, along with the Polish Cup and Super Cup. As a manager, he led the club to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League in 2016—one of the club’s notable modern achievements.
Tributes have poured in following his passing. The Polish Football Association (PZPN) expressed deep sadness and asked for privacy for his family during this difficult time. Legia Warsaw also paid tribute, describing him as a man of “engagement and heart” who will be remembered forever.
His sudden death has sent shockwaves through the football community in Poland and beyond.