Jan Urban Takes Over as Poland's National Coach

Poland has officially announced the appointment of Jan Urban as the new national football coach, following the resignation of Michal Probierz in June. The decision comes after a significant fallout with star player Robert Lewandowski, who expressed his dissatisfaction with Probierz's leadership.

The Lewandowski Fallout

Probierz's tenure ended abruptly after a dispute over his decision to replace Lewandowski as the team captain. This led to Lewandowski refusing to play for the national team under Probierz's management. Lewandowski, who holds the record for the most caps (158) and goals (85) in Polish football history, stated that his trust had been betrayed by the former coach.

Urban's Background and Challenges

Urban, a former Polish international with 57 caps, brings a wealth of experience to the role. He began his coaching career in Spain at Osasuna, where he spent most of his playing career, managing youth and reserve teams. His first senior managerial role was at Legia Warsaw in 2007, where he also served as an assistant coach during Euro 2008. Urban later led Legia to a Polish league title in 2013.

Urban's most recent position was at Gornik Zabrze, where he was dismissed in April. Now, he faces the immediate challenge of leading Poland in their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign, starting with a tough away game against the Netherlands on September 4.

Future Goals

The Polish Football Association (PZPN) expressed confidence in Urban's ability to develop the national team's full potential. Cezary Kulesza, PZPN president, stated, "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."

Poland currently sits third in their World Cup qualifying group, following a 2-1 defeat to Finland in Probierz's final game. Urban's appointment marks the fifth coaching change for Poland since 2021, highlighting the team's ongoing search for stability and success on the international stage.