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UPDATE: Michał Probierz unveiled as new Poland football coach

21.09.2023 01:00
Homegrown manager Michał Probierz has been officially unveiled as the new coach of the Polish national soccer team to replace Portugal's Fernando Santos.
Audio
Michał Probierz
Michał ProbierzPAP/Leszek Szymański

The head of the Polish Football Association (PZPN), Cezary Kuleszatold a news conference in Warsaw on Wednesday that Probierz, who previously coached the national under-21 soccer team, was the best choice to take over from Santos, who lost his job as Poland boss last week.

Probierz, 50, is a Polish soccer manager and a former professional player who played as a defensive midfielder. His credits as a coach include domestic clubs Jagiellonia Białystok, Wisła Kraków, GKS Bełchatów, Lechia Gdańsk and Cracovia. He also managed Greek side Aris Thessaloniki.

On July 4, 2022, he was appointed manager of Poland's national under-21 team.

Photo: Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański

The Polish Football Association, the national governing body for the sport, last week decided to part ways with Portugal's Santos less than nine months after he was hired following the team's disappointing performance in Euro 2024 qualifying.

The Polish team, captained by star striker Robert Lewandowski, on March 24 opened its Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a 1-3 defeat against the Czech Republic. The Poles then beat Albania 1-0 at home in their second qualifier on March 27 and lost 2-3 to Moldova in their third qualifier in Chișinău on June 20.

Poland beat the Faroe Islands 2-0 in their fourth Euro 2024 qualifier in Warsaw on September 7.

After five rounds of fixtures, Poland are fourth in their qualifying Group E, with six points, ahead of only the Faroe Islands.

The Poles take on the Faroe Islands away in their next qualifier on October 12.

Poland reached the last 16 of last year's World Cup in Qatar before being eliminated by eventual runners-up France.

(gs)

Source: PAP

Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Marcin Matuszewski.