Poland coach Probierz resigns amid row with Lewandowski
Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski plays the ball during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona at the Signal Iduna Park. Federico Gambarini/dpa
Poland national team coach Michal Probierz has resigned from his position, the Polish football federation PZPN said in a statement on X on Thursday.
His resignation comes amid a row with star striker Robert Lewandowski, who said he wouldn't play for the national team again as long as Probierz was the coach.
Advertisement
"I have come to the conclusion that in the current situation it's best for the national team if I resign as coach," Probierz was quoted in the PZPN statement.
Lewandowski, 36, stepped away from the national team after Probierz said that he would no longer be team captain and Piotr Zielinski would take over this role.
In an interview to the WP SportoweFakty news portal published on Sunday, Lewandowski said that Probierz "abused my trust."
"He broke our agreements and that's why I'm surprised by his behaviour," he said.
Lewandowski is currently in Poland due to legal proceedings against his former agent Cesary Kucharski.
Advertisement
On his way to the courtroom on Thursday, he was asked by reporters whether he wanted to return to the national team after Probierz's resignation. But he replied that he had other things on his mind at the moment.
Poland lost a World Cup qualifier 2-1 in Finland on Tuesday, after winning their first two games. They are third in the group, one point behind leaders Finland.
Lewandowski, who has a record 158 caps and 85 goals, was not part of the squad because he said he needed some rest after a long club season with Spanish league and Cup champions Barcelona.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Spain's prime minister asks nation for forgiveness after high court investigates a close confidant
MADRID (AP) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Thursday asked the nation for forgiveness after a close confidant in his Socialist Party was put under investigation for his alleged participation in a kickback scheme. The damaging case is the latest legal scandal — none of which have gone beyond the preliminary investigation phase — that have dogged Sánchez's inner party circle and his family for the past year. Sánchez himself hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing. ¨I want to ask forgiveness to the public because the Socialist Party and myself as its general secretary not should have trusted him," he said, referring to Socialist lawmaker Santos Cerdán. Sánchez spoke hours after Spain's Supreme Court said that Cerdán is suspected of being involved in an alleged kickback scheme for government contracts. It was part of an ongoing investigation that already had pointed to the participation of another former minister in Sánchez's government. Cerdán was the Socialist Party's No. 3 official until he resigned from that post on Thursday. 'I have known Santos Cerdán since 2011 ... and worked arm in arm with him,' he said, adding that no matter what happens in the court case 'this is an enormous disappointment.' Speaking at the Socialist Party headquarters in Madrid, Sánchez repeatedly asked Spaniards for forgiveness and said that he had learned of the corruption charges against Cerdán only hours before. Sánchez said that Cerdán is defending his innocence. The public act of contrition by Sánchez comes around 14 months after he took five days off to consider his political future when a judge launched an investigation into his wife, Begoña Gómez, for alleged influence peddling. Instead of resigning, he said he would fight on and denounced what he called a 'smear campaign' by media outlets aligned with right-wing political leanings. On Thursday, the Spanish leader said that he would order an external audit of the Socialist Party's accounts, but he refused to call an early election like his political opponents have demanded for months. 'There won't be elections until 2027, because this is not about me or the Socialist Party. This is about a project to bring positive change to the country,' Sánchez said. Despite leading a minority government, Sánchez said that he was sure he could finish out his four-year term. He has so far maintained the backing of his government's junior members and a myriad of smaller regional and leftist parties in parliament. 'There is no crisis in my government,' Sánchez said. As secretary of the Socialist Party organization, Cerdán held the third-most powerful position in the prime minister's party. Shortly after the court made public that there were sufficient indications that Cerdán was involved in the alleged kickback scheme, Cerdán renounced his seat in parliament and his party posts. While never a minister, Cerdán was charged with sensitive political negotiations, including the key talks between the Socialists and Catalan separatist parties that allowed Sánchez to form a new government in late 2023. One of Europe's longest-serving leaders, the 53-year-old Sánchez has displayed adroit negotiating skills to stay in power since 2018, when he led Spain's only successful no-confidence motion against his conservative Popular Party predecessor. This week, Spain's Supreme Court also announced that it would put the country's prosecutor general on trial over allegations of leaking confidential information in a tax fraud case involving the boyfriend of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the conservative head of the Madrid region and one of Sánchez's main political rivals. Last Sunday, tens of thousands of people protested in Madrid against Sánchez in a rally that was organized by the Popular Party under the slogan 'mafia or democracy." ___ Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain. Suman Naishadham And Joseph Wilson, The Associated Press
Associated Press
15 hours ago
- Associated Press
Spain's prime minister asks nation for forgiveness after high court investigates a close confidant
MADRID (AP) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Thursday asked the nation for forgiveness after a close confidant in his Socialist Party was put under investigation for his alleged participation in a kickback scheme. The damaging case is the latest legal scandal — none of which have gone beyond the preliminary investigation phase — that have dogged Sánchez's inner party circle and his family for the past year. Sánchez himself hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing. ¨I want to ask forgiveness to the public because the Socialist Party and myself as its general secretary not should have trusted him,' he said, referring to Socialist lawmaker Santos Cerdán. Sánchez spoke hours after Spain's Supreme Court said that Cerdán is suspected of being involved in an alleged kickback scheme for government contracts. It was part of an ongoing investigation that already had pointed to the participation of another former minister in Sánchez's government. Cerdán was the Socialist Party's No. 3 official until he resigned from that post on Thursday. 'I have known Santos Cerdán since 2011 ... and worked arm in arm with him,' he said, adding that no matter what happens in the court case 'this is an enormous disappointment.' Speaking at the Socialist Party headquarters in Madrid, Sánchez repeatedly asked Spaniards for forgiveness and said that he had learned of the corruption charges against Cerdán only hours before. Sánchez said that Cerdán is defending his innocence. The public act of contrition by Sánchez comes around 14 months after he took five days off to consider his political future when a judge launched an investigation into his wife, Begoña Gómez, for alleged influence peddling. Instead of resigning, he said he would fight on and denounced what he called a 'smear campaign' by media outlets aligned with right-wing political leanings. On Thursday, the Spanish leader said that he would order an external audit of the Socialist Party's accounts, but he refused to call an early election like his political opponents have demanded for months. 'There won't be elections until 2027, because this is not about me or the Socialist Party. This is about a project to bring positive change to the country,' Sánchez said. Despite leading a minority government, Sánchez said that he was sure he could finish out his four-year term. He has so far maintained the backing of his government's junior members and a myriad of smaller regional and leftist parties in parliament. 'There is no crisis in my government,' Sánchez said. As secretary of the Socialist Party organization, Cerdán held the third-most powerful position in the prime minister's party. Shortly after the court made public that there were sufficient indications that Cerdán was involved in the alleged kickback scheme, Cerdán renounced his seat in parliament and his party posts. While never a minister, Cerdán was charged with sensitive political negotiations, including the key talks between the Socialists and Catalan separatist parties that allowed Sánchez to form a new government in late 2023. One of Europe's longest-serving leaders, the 53-year-old Sánchez has displayed adroit negotiating skills to stay in power since 2018, when he led Spain's only successful no-confidence motion against his conservative Popular Party predecessor. This week, Spain's Supreme Court also announced that it would put the country's prosecutor general on trial over allegations of leaking confidential information in a tax fraud case involving the boyfriend of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the conservative head of the Madrid region and one of Sánchez's main political rivals. Last Sunday, tens of thousands of people protested in Madrid against Sánchez in a rally that was organized by the Popular Party under the slogan 'mafia or democracy.' ___ Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain.
UPI
20 hours ago
- UPI
Poland soccer coach Probierz resigns after argument with Lewandowski
Coach Michal Probierz (R) recently replaced Robert Lewandowski (L) as captain of the Poland men's national team. Photo by Leszek Szymanski/EPA-EFE June 12 (UPI) -- Poland men's national team coach Michal Probierz resigned after an argument with striker Robert Lewandowski, who refused to play after being replaced as captain, he announced Thursday. "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," Probierz said in a statement. "Performing this function was the fulfillment of my professional dreams and the greatest honor of my life. "I would like to thank all my coworkers, employees of the Polish Football Association. I could always count on you. Thank you for trusting the president and board of the Polish Football Association. Of course, I would like to thank all the footballers, whom I had the pleasure of meeting on this path. I will keep my fingers crossed for all of you, because the national team is our common national asset. I would also like to thank our wonderful fans. You are with us through thick and thin. Wherever the national team played, your support was heard." Probierz announced Sunday that he informed Lewandowski that he would be replaced by Piotr Zielinski as Poland's captain. Lewandowski proceeded to announce that he resigned from playing from the team under Probierz. "Taking into account the circumstances and a loss of trust in the coach, I have decided to resign from playing for the Poland national team for as long as he remains in charge," Lewandowski said. "I hope I will still have another chance to play again for the best fans in the world." Probierz became Poland's coach in 2023. Lewandowski, 36, scored a record 85 goals over 158 appearances for the men's national team. He last played for Poland during a 2-0 win over Malta on March 24 in Warsaw. The Netherlands will host Poland in a World Cup qualifier at 2:45 p.m. EDT Sept. 4 in Rotterdam.
