WARSAW, Poland — In a surprising turn of events, the head coach of Poland’s national soccer team announced his resignation just days following a disagreement with key player Robert Lewandowski.
Micha? Probierz revealed his decision to step down in a statement shared by the Polish Football Association, citing that his resignation was in the best interests of the team given the present circumstances.
Earlier this week, Probierz made the notable decision to remove Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski from his role as team captain on the cusp of a critical World Cup qualifier against Finland. Inter Milan’s Piotr Zieli?ski was appointed as the new captain in his place.
In response, Lewandowski stated he would abstain from participating in national matches for as long as Probierz held the coaching position. This rift culminated in Poland’s disappointing 2-1 loss to Finland, severely affecting their World Cup qualification prospects.
Recognized as one of Poland’s finest soccer talents, 36-year-old Lewandowski has set records with his 158 appearances and 85 goals for the national team. The striker had opted out of a recent friendly against Moldova, citing fatigue from a rigorous season with Barcelona, where they clinched the La Liga title.
Micha? Probierz had assumed the coaching role in September 2023 following Fernando Santos’ disappointing stint. Although he successfully guided the team to qualify for the 2024 European Championship, his performance has faced challenges thereafter.
Cezary Kulesza, the president of the Polish Football Association, summoned Probierz for discussions on Wednesday. Kulesza emphasized his commitment to giving coaches autonomy but stressed the importance of delivering results. “These were difficult days for the fans of the national team,” he stated.
This recent resignation leaves the Polish national team in search of new leadership as they navigate their tumultuous path to qualification.