Michał Probierz has resigned as the manager of the Polish national team, a mere four days after star striker Robert Lewandowski declared he would no longer represent his country under Probierz's leadership. The announcement was made on Thursday, plunging the national team into turmoil ahead of critical World Cup qualifying matches.
The rift between the manager and the Barcelona forward stemmed from Probierz's decision to replace Lewandowski as the team captain, a role subsequently handed to midfielder Piotr Zielinski. Lewandowski, Poland's all-time leading goal scorer with 85 goals in 158 appearances, voiced his discontent, stating that he felt betrayed by the manner in which Probierz communicated the decision.
According to Lewandowski, the conversation consisted of a brief phone call as he was putting his children to bed. Shortly after, an official statement appeared on the Polish Football Association (PZPN) website, confirming the change in captaincy. The 36-year-old striker expressed that he was deeply hurt by the situation, leading to his decision to boycott the national team as long as Probierz remained in charge.
Probierz, 52, took over as Poland coach in September 2023, succeeding Fernando Santos. His tenure saw the team finish at the bottom of their group at Euro 2024, becoming the first nation to be eliminated from the tournament. In his 21 games managing Poland, Probierz secured nine victories, five draws, and suffered seven losses. His contract was set to expire at the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
In a statement released following his resignation, Probierz stated, "I have come to the conclusion that in the current situation the best decision for the good of the national team will be my resignation from the position of coach. Performing this function was the fulfillment of my professional dreams and the greatest honor in my life." He also extended his gratitude to the players, adding, "Thank you, of course, to all the footballers I have had the pleasure of meeting along the way. I will keep my fingers crossed for all of you, because the national team is our common national asset."
The PZPN acknowledged Probierz's decision and thanked him for his service. "The Polish Football Association would like to thank selector Michal Probierz very much for his cooperation and involvement in leading the national team, wishing him success in his further career," the association stated.
Lewandowski's absence was already felt in Poland's recent matches. He missed the 2-0 friendly win against Moldova and the subsequent 2-1 World Cup qualifier defeat to Finland, citing physical and mental exhaustion after a demanding season.
Poland currently sits third in Group G of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with six points from three games, trailing group leaders Finland by a single point. Their next challenge is a World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands on September 4, leaving the PZPN with the urgent task of finding a suitable replacement for Probierz to steer the team forward. The team finished bottom of their group at Euro 2024 and were the first country to be knocked out of the tournament.
