 Piontek started his playing career with VfL Germania Leer.Between 1963 and 1972, the full-back played 203 Bundesliga matches with 14 goals for SV Werder Bremen (he previously registered 75 matches and one goal with the side in Oberliga Nord (1960–1963), prior to the creation of Bundesliga), adding six caps (no goals) for the West German national team.After retiring he managed, in Germany, Werder Bremen (1971–1975), and later Fortuna Düsseldorf (1975–1976) and FC St. Pauli (1978–1979).