Poland Head Coach Michal Probierz Resigns Following Lewandowski Fallout
Poland’s national football team is in turmoil after head coach Michal Probierz resigned amid growing tensions with star striker Robert Lewandowski, who declared he would no longer play for the country under Probierz’s leadership.
The dramatic turn of events followed Probierz’s controversial decision to strip Lewandowski of the captaincy and hand the armband to Piotr Zieliński. Lewandowski, Poland’s all-time leading scorer with 85 goals in 158 appearances, announced on Sunday that he would not represent the national team while Probierz remained in charge.
Just days later, Poland suffered a 2-1 defeat to Finland in a 2026 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, further intensifying pressure on the manager. The loss leaves Poland third in their qualifying group with six points from three matches, behind the Netherlands (six points from two games) and group leaders Finland (seven points from four games).
In a statement released on Wednesday, Probierz said:
“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.”
Describing the role as “the greatest honour” of his life, the 52-year-old added gratitude for the players he worked with during his tenure, expressing hope for Poland’s future success.
Probierz took over the national team in September 2023, but results under his leadership have been mixed. Poland finished bottom of their group at Euro 2024, becoming the first team eliminated from the tournament. Across 21 matches, he recorded 9 wins, 5 draws, and 7 losses.
His resignation now leaves Poland scrambling for stability just months into the World Cup qualifying campaign, and questions remain over whether Lewandowski, who turns 37 in 2025 will return under new leadership.