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Football: Michał Probierz takes over as Poland boss

20.09.2023 08:30
Homegrown manager Michał Probierz was on Wednesday named as the new head coach of the Polish national soccer team to replace Portugal's Fernando Santos.
Audio
Image: pzpn.pl
Image: pzpn.plpzpn.pl

The announcement by the chief of the national governing body for the sport came after Santos lost his job as Poland boss a week earlier.

The head of the Polish Football Association (PZPN), Cezary Kulesza, said in a social media post: "Michał Probierz has become the manager of the Polish national team. This is the best possible choice. I wish the new coach the best of luck."

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 the Polish national under-21 soccer team. 

Michał Probierz został trenerem Bruk-Bet Termaliki Nieciecza Michał Probierz. Photo: PAP/Łukasz Gągulski

The Polish Football Association is scheduled to hold a news conference in Warsaw at noon on Wednesday to introduce the new manager.

The national soccer governing body last week decided to part ways with 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.