Rainer Kuchta

Rainer Wilhelm Kuchta (born 8 July 1943) is a retired Polish footballer who played as a defender.

He was a three-time championship winner (1966, 1967, 1971) with Górnik Zabrze.

Playing career He started his career at GKS Gliwice where he went the through academy.

With Górnik Zabrze, he won the Ekstraklasa thrice: in 1966, 1967 and 1971, and four Polish Cups.

He played in Górnik's famous 13 March 1968 match against Manchester United, who had star player George Best in their squad at the time.

Personal life During the Stalinist regime in Poland, Kuchta's family was forbidden to use their real Silesian given names for "sounding too German"; in school he therefore went by the name Franciszek until the death of Stalin.

After retirement he emigrated to Germany and settled in Traunreut, but continues to be a lifelong active Górnik Zabrze fan.