Jerzy Brzęczek, a former captain of Poland's national team, has been chosen as the team's new coach after Adam Nawałka's contract was not extended following Poland's World Cup exit, the Polish Football Association said in a statement on Thursday.
Midfielder Brzęczek was part of the team which won a silver medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. He has been coach of Polish top division team Wisła Płock since 2017.
The new coach will present his plans and other members of the coaching staff on July 23, the Polish FA said in a statement.
Jerzy Brzęczek replaces Adam Nawałka, who saw his team crash out at the group stage of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Polish national team had lost 1:2 against Senegal and got severly defeated by Colombia 3:0. Some consolation came after 1:0 win against Japan, however, the overall style of play was disappointing.
Brzęczek, 47, started his career in Olimpia Truskolasy in 1982 and next year joined Raków Częstochowa. His debut in Polish top division was in 1988 when Brzęczek was playing for Olimpia Poznań. Later on, he also played for Lech Poznań, Górnik Zabrze and GKS Katowice. In 1995 he left Poland for Austria to play for Tirol Innsbruck. During 12 years abroad, Brzęczek played also played for LASK Linz, Strum Graz, FC Kaernten and Israeli side Maccabi Haifa. In 2007, he returned to Poland and Górnik Zabrze. He ended his playing career in Polonia Bytom in 2009.
Brzęczek was part of junior national team and in 1992 has won a silver medal at Olympics in Barcelona. Soon after, he began his A-team career, during which he became team captain. Brzęczek played 42 games for national team and scored 4 goals. One of his strikes found the net against England at Wembley in 1999.
In 2009, he was appointed as Polonia Bytom's assistant-coach and year after moved to Raków Częstochowa where he was the head coach. Later on he was managing Lechia Gdańsk, GKS Katowice and Wisła Płock with which he finished 5th in Polish Ekstraklasa last season.
In his private life, Brzęczek is an uncle and unofficial advisor to Jakub Błaszczykowski who has played 100 caps for Poland.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 International, Reuters, PAP