Poland Coach Probierz Resigns After Conflict with Lewandowski

Michal Probierz resigned as head coach of the Polish national football team following a contentious dispute with team captain and Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski, who vowed not to play under Probierz's leadership after being stripped of the captaincy. The decision to remove Lewandowski from the captaincy and appoint Piotr Zielinski sparked a loss of trust from Lewandowski, Poland's record goal scorer and most capped player. Probierz's resignation came shortly after a 2-1 defeat to Finland in a World Cup qualifying match, despite his initial insistence that he would overcome the crisis. During his tenure since September 2023, Probierz led the team in 21 matches, achieving nine wins, five draws, and seven losses. His departure leaves Poland with six points from three qualifying matches and an urgent need to find new leadership ahead of upcoming games. Probierz expressed gratitude to the players, staff, and fans, emphasizing the national team's importance as a shared treasure.