The Polish national coach Michal Probierz has resigned after his quarrel with star player Robert Lewandowski over the captain’s armband. The Polish association reported this on Thursday.
Probierz took the captain’s armband from Lewandowski on Sunday and appointed Piotr Zielinski as the new captain. According to the Polish association, the 36-year-old striker from FC Barcelona was aware of the change of captain, but he reacted furiously to the decision via social media.
Lewandowski announced that he would no longer play for Poland as long as Probierz was national coach. Two days later, the Poles suffered a costly 2-1 defeat to Finland in the World Cup qualifier. Poland is in the same group as the Dutch national team.
Immediately after the match, Probierz announced that he would speak with Lewandowski, who is the record international (158 caps) and all-time top scorer (85 goals) of Poland. As a result, it seemed that the national coach would remain, but on Thursday he still resigned.
“I have come to the conclusion that my resignation as national coach is best in the interest of the national team,” says Probierz in a statement. It is not yet clear who will succeed him. Lewandowski has not yet responded.
The 52-year-old Probierz was national coach of Poland for more than a year and a half. Under his leadership, Poland was eliminated in the group stage of the European Championship in Germany last year. The Netherlands was also one of the groupmates then. This was followed by relegation from the A-division of the Nations League.