Iwan passed away in his hometown of Kraków on Tuesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Youngest player of 1978 World Cup
Usually employed as a striker or an attacking midfielder, Iwan burst onto the Polish football scene at a very young age, making his debut for the Wisła Kraków side in May 1976, well before his 17th birthday.
Two years later, after helping Wisła to the Polish title, he was included in Poland’s squad for the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, becoming the youngest player of the tournament.
Iwan made two appearances in Argentina, playing alongside the likes of Grzegorz Lato and Zbigniew Boniek as Poland finished fifth.
Four years later, he was part of the Polish side that claimed third place at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, although his role was limited to two appearances due to a serious injury sustained in the group stage.
Iwan remained one of Poland’s best attacking players throughout the 1980s, as his club career took him to Górnik Zabrze in the country's south, VfL Bochum in Germany and Aris Thessaloniki in Greece.
In all, he played 29 times for Poland, scoring 11 goals, including a memorable brace in the team's 2-1 win against Spain in Barcelona in 1980.
However, a combination of injuries and off-field problems, including alcoholism and gambling addiction, meant that Iwan never really fulfilled his early promise, according to news outlets.
'Great player, colourful person, Wisła Kraków legend'
After a brief foray into coaching and management, Iwan became a successful football pundit, much valued for his perceptive comments, forthright opinions and photographic memory, as evidenced by tributes that have been pouring in since the news of his passing.
Poland's top football official Cezary Kulesza described Iwan as "a great player, a colourful person, a Wisła Kraków legend."
Kulesza, who heads the Polish Football Association (PZPN), added in a tweet that Iwan's opinions on football were "always extremely valuable," and that "he will remain in our memory forever."
Iwan’s 2012 autobiography, entitled Spalony (Caught Offside), provided an unflinching look at his life, including the struggles with his weaknesses, which led him to several suicide attempts.
The book became “a true bestseller,” the PAP news agency reported.
In early 2021, Iwan joined the scouting team at the Wisła Kraków club.
One of his two children, son Bartosz, was also a professional footballer.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, polskieradio24.pl, fifa.com