Lewandowski Rift Forces Poland Coach Probierz to Resign
Poland’s national football team was thrown into turmoil on Thursday after head coach Michal Probierz resigned, following a public fallout with star striker Robert Lewandowski.
The Barcelona forward had earlier declared that he would no longer play for the team under Probierz, citing a loss of trust after being removed as team captain.
Lewandowski, Poland’s all-time top scorer, said Probierz informed him of the captaincy change via a brief phone call while he was putting his children to bed.
Soon after, an official statement on the Polish Football Association’s website confirmed Piotr Zielinski as the new captain.
Lewandowski described the incident as a betrayal and was deeply hurt by the handling of the situation.
Amid growing tensions, Probierz stepped down, saying resignation was the best move for the national team’s stability. “Coaching Poland was my biggest dream and an incredible honor, but given the current circumstances, stepping away is the right move,” said Probierz, as reported by AFP Sport.
Probierz took charge in 2023, overseeing 21 matches, securing nine wins, five draws, and seven defeats.
His tenure included a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, where Poland became the first team eliminated.
The team’s World Cup qualifying struggles continued with a 2-1 defeat to Finland, leaving Poland third in Group G, trailing Finland and the Netherlands.
In Belgium, OH Leuven parted ways with manager Chris Coleman after just six months in charge.
The former Wales coach led Leuven to an 11th-place finish, earning a spot in the European competition playoffs, but the team’s performances fell below expectations.
The club’s owners, who also control Leicester City, opted for a coaching change ahead of the next season.
Coleman, (55) has an extensive coaching résumé, having led Wales to the Euro 2016 semifinals.
He previously coached Fulham, Sunderland, Coventry City, and Spain’s Real Sociedad.
His 27-game spell at Leuven saw the team record seven wins, 10 draws, and 10 losses before his dismissal.
