Latest news with #JanUrban
Khaleej Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Poland coach Urban targets Lewandowski return as World Cup qualifiers loom
Poland's new manager Jan Urban said his immediate priority was persuading striker Robert Lewandowski to return to the national team. Urban was named on Wednesday to replace Michal Probierz, who resigned in June following a row over his decision to replace Lewandowski as captain. Poland sit third in their World Cup qualifying group behind Finland and the Netherlands and the Barcelona forward is widely seen as vital to their hopes of reaching next year's tournament. "I'll do everything... so that Robert comes back, because we know what situation Polish football is in," Urban told reporters on Thursday. Lewandowski, 36, is Poland's all-time top scorer with 85 goals in 158 appearances. "As of today, we can't afford not to have Robert in this team," the new manager added. Urban acknowledged the challenges faced by Poland, following a 2-1 loss to Finland in June and amid uncertainty surrounding Lewandowski's role. "Above all, we're talking about this difficult moment not because of the defeat to Finland. We have several problems to solve, including the matter of Robert Lewandowski's resignation," Urban said. "All of this needs to be properly sorted out to build a good atmosphere for this team to function. "We're aiming for a situation where every player wants to come to the national team and feels good being part of it." Poland's next World Cup qualifier is against the Netherlands away on September 4 before they host Finland three days later.
CNA
6 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Poland's Urban targets Lewandowski return as World Cup qualifiers loom
WARSAW :Poland's new manager Jan Urban said his immediate priority was persuading striker Robert Lewandowski to return to the national team. Urban was named on Wednesday to replace Michal Probierz, who resigned in June following a row over his decision to replace Lewandowski as captain. Poland sit third in their World Cup qualifying group behind Finland and the Netherlands and the Barcelona forward is widely seen as vital to their hopes of reaching next year's tournament. "I'll do everything... so that Robert comes back, because we know what situation Polish football is in," Urban told reporters on Thursday. Lewandowski, 36, is Poland's all-time top scorer with 85 goals in 158 appearances. "As of today, we can't afford not to have Robert in this team," the new manager added. Urban acknowledged the challenges faced by Poland, following a 2-1 loss to Finland in June and amid uncertainty surrounding Lewandowski's role. "Above all, we're talking about this difficult moment not because of the defeat to Finland. We have several problems to solve, including the matter of Robert Lewandowski's resignation," Urban said. "All of this needs to be properly sorted out to build a good atmosphere for this team to function. "We're aiming for a situation where every player wants to come to the national team and feels good being part of it."
Reuters
6 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Poland's Urban targets Lewandowski return as World Cup qualifiers loom
WARSAW, July 17 (Reuters) - Poland's new manager Jan Urban said his immediate priority was persuading striker Robert Lewandowski to return to the national team. Urban was named on Wednesday to replace Michal Probierz, who resigned in June following a row over his decision to replace Lewandowski as captain. Poland sit third in their World Cup qualifying group behind Finland and the Netherlands and the Barcelona forward is widely seen as vital to their hopes of reaching next year's tournament. "I'll do everything... so that Robert comes back, because we know what situation Polish football is in," Urban told reporters on Thursday. Lewandowski, 36, is Poland's all-time top scorer with 85 goals in 158 appearances. "As of today, we can't afford not to have Robert in this team," the new manager added. Urban acknowledged the challenges faced by Poland, following a 2-1 loss to Finland in June and amid uncertainty surrounding Lewandowski's role. "Above all, we're talking about this difficult moment not because of the defeat to Finland. We have several problems to solve, including the matter of Robert Lewandowski's resignation," Urban said. "All of this needs to be properly sorted out to build a good atmosphere for this team to function. "We're aiming for a situation where every player wants to come to the national team and feels good being part of it." Poland's next World Cup qualifier is against the Netherlands away on September 4 before they host Finland three days later.
Reuters
7 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Poland name Urban as new manager to replace Probierz
July 16 (Reuters) - Jan Urban has been appointed as Poland national manager, the country's football association (PZPN) said on Wednesday, with the 63-year-old replacing Michal Probierz who resigned in June following a row over his decision to replace Robert Lewandowski as captain. Urban becomes Poland's fifth coach since 2021, with Probierz lasting the longest having taken charge of 21 games before the fall-out from his captaincy choice which led to Lewandowski refusing to play for his country while Probierz was in charge. Probierz's last game was a 2-1 defeat to Finland, which leaves Poland third in their World Cup qualifying group, and Urban faces a tough start to his spell in charge with an away game against the Netherlands on September 4. "We believe that this choice will allow the national team to develop its full potential. Our goal is to qualify for the World Cup finals in 2026," PZPN president Cezary Kulesza said in a statement. Urban, who represented Poland 57 times as a player, began his coaching career in Spain at Osasuna, where he spent the majority of his playing career, as a youth team manager and reserve team coach. His first senior managerial role came at Legia Warsaw in 2007, and during that time he also served as assistant manager with Poland at Euro 2008. Urban won the Polish league title in 2013 in his second spell with Legia. Urban's last role was at Gornik Zabrze, where he was sacked in April.
