 Wilimowski (front, with ball) in a 1937 match for Ruch Chorzów against Warta Poznań. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ernest Otton Wilimowski | ||
| Birth name | Ernst Otto Prandella | ||
| Date of birth | 23 June 1916 | ||
| Place of birth | Kattowitz, German Empire | ||
| Date of death | 30 August 1997 (aged 81) | ||
| Place of death | Karlsruhe, Germany | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1932–1933 | 1. FC Kattowitz | 25 | (15) |
| 1934–1939 | Ruch Chorzów | 86 | (113) |
| 1939–1940 | 1. FC Kattowitz | ||
| 1940–1942 | PSV Chemnitz | 29+ | (68) |
| 1942–1944 | 1860 Munich | 5 | (8) |
| 1944 | 1. FC Kattowitz | 1 | (2) |
| 1944 | Karlsruher SC | 4 | (6) |
| 1944–1945 | PSV Chemnitz | 3+ | (14) |
| 1946 | SC Zwiesel | 4+ | (4+) |
| 1946–1948 | SG Chemnitz-West | 27 | (65) |
| 1948 | BC Augsburg | 6 | (3) |
| 1949–1950 | Offenburger FV | 18 | (18) |
| 1950–1951 | FC Singen 04 | 30 | (16) |
| 1951–1955 | VfR Kaiserslautern | 75+ | (73) |
| 1955–1956 | Kehler FV | 7 | (8) |
| Total | 328+ | (413+) | |
| International career | |||
| 1934–1939 | Poland | 22 | (21) |
| 1934–1939 | Silesia | 6 | (7) |
| 1941–1942 | Germany | 8 | (13) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Ernest Otton Wilimowski (German: Ernst Otto Wilimowski, born Ernst Otto Prandella; 23 June 1916 – 30 August 1997), nicknamed "Ezi", was a footballer who played as a forward. He ranks among the best goalscorers in the history of both the Poland national team and Polish club football. After re-taking German citizenship following the invasion of Poland, he also played for the Germany national team.
Wilimowski was the first player to score four goals in a single FIFA World Cup game. According to RSSSF, Wilimowski scored over 1077 total goals in at least 688 total matches, making him the 14th greatest goalscorer of all time.[1] He is the most prolific goalscorer in official matches in one season in recorded history according to RSSSF, with 107 goals scored in 45 matches.[2]
Wilimowski also occasionally played ice hockey for the team Pogoń Katowice.