Poland’s national football coach, Michal Probierz, has tendered his resignation following a fallout with star forward Robert Lewandowski, a development that has rocked the team’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
In a statement released by the Polish Football Federation (PZPN) on Thursday, Probierz said his decision to leave was driven by a desire to protect the interests of the national team.
“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 selector.”
“Performing this function was the fulfilment of my professional dreams and the greatest honour in my life,” he added.
The resignation comes just days after Lewandowski declared he would not feature for Poland as long as Probierz remained in charge.
His decision was made public ahead of Poland’s 2-1 defeat to Finland, a result that saw the team lose its lead in their World Cup qualifying group.
Though Lewandowski was absent from the squad during the recent international break, Polish news agency PAP reported that the Barcelona forward had been granted time off to rest.
Explaining his stance, Lewandowski said in a social media post:
“Taking into account the circumstances and a loss of trust in the coach, I have decided to resign from playing for the Poland national team for as long as he remains in charge.”
The public nature of the dispute and the team’s underwhelming performance appear to have contributed to Probierz’s decision to quit, as pressure mounted from both fans and the federation.
The PZPN is now expected to announce an interim coach as the search for a permanent replacement begins, with Poland set to resume their qualifying campaign later in the year.
