Controversial Exit: Poland's Coach Resigns Following Lewandowski's Aggressive Standoff
Following Robert Lewandowski's escalation, the Poland national football team's coach steps down.
Say goodbye to Michal Probierz, the Polish football coach, who's stepped down from his post. Why you ask? A power tussle with the country's football superstar, Robert Lewandowski. The 52-year-old coach announced his resignation following a frosty relationship with the former Bayern Munich striker.
Probierz found himself in a losing battle with Lewandowski, leading to his departure. In a statement from the Polish Football Association, Probierz stated, "I've come to the conclusion that it's best for the national team's well-being to step down from my position as national coach." This unexpected move came after a power tug-of-war between the two[1][2].
The cold war started when Probierz took away Lewandowski's captaincy, leaving the latter disappointed and announcing his decision to no longer play for Poland under Probierz's leadership[2][3]. The team's fate took a turn for the worse without Lewandowski, as Poland surprisingly lost 1:2 to Finland in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers. Currently, the team stands in third place in Group G after three games[4].
In a rather disappointing encounter, Probierz informed Lewandowski at the end of last week that midfielder Piotr Zielinski would take over the captaincy. Lewandowski, who had just put his children to bed, found the call unexpected and felt betrayed[2][3]. The striker criticized Probierz for "abusing his trust."
Sources:[1] ntv.de[2] tno/sid[3] ESPN[4] Goal.com
- Football
- Poland
- Robert Lewandowski
- Uefa
- Fifa World Cup 2026
Enrichment Data:- The power struggle primarily revolved around Lewandowski's captaincy.- Probierz's sudden decision to replace Lewandowski created tension between the coach and the striker.- Lewandowski, Poland's record goalscorer, informed Probierz that he would no longer play for the national team under Probierz's management.- Probierz's resignation was a significant development, considering his role in Poland's football scene[1][2].
The controversial resignation of Polish football coach Michal Probierz was due to a power struggle over the captaincy of the team, primarily surrounding Robert Lewandowski, the nation's record goalscorer. The employment policy within the Polish Football Association seemed to be a key factor in the tense relationship between Probierz and Lewandowski, culminating in the coach's departure and the sports star's decision to no longer play for Poland under Probierz's leadership. This incident creates a significant vacuum in Poland's community policy for the World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
