Jan Banaś

Jan Banaś (born 29 March 1943) is a Polish former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is best known for his career with Polonia Bytom and Górnik Zabrze in Poland, and later for playing in the United States and Belgium.

Banaś was a key member of the Górnik Zabrze team that reached the final of the 1970 European Cup Winners' Cup, although he did not play in the final itself due to a dispute with the club management. He was considered one of the most talented Polish footballers of his generation.

His international career with Poland was marked by controversy. Despite being selected for the 1972 Olympic squad that won gold, he refused to travel, resulting in a ban. This followed earlier disputes with Polish authorities related to his attempts to play football abroad. He earned 21 caps for the Polish national team, scoring 8 goals.

After his playing career, Banaś worked as a coach. He remains a notable figure in Polish football history due to his skill, achievements, and the controversies that surrounded his career.