Jan Urban Appointed as Head Coach of Poland’s National Football Team
Jan Urban has taken the helm as the new head coach for Poland’s national football team, according to an announcement made by the Polish Football Association (PZPN) on Wednesday. The seasoned 63-year-old replaces Michal Probierz, who stepped down from his position in June following controversy regarding his decision to strip Robert Lewandowski of the captaincy.
Significant Transition for the Polish Squad
This marks a significant transition for the Polish squad, as Urban is the fifth individual to hold the coaching role since 2021. Probierz had the longest tenure of these coaches, leading the team in 21 matches before departing amid tensions stemming from his captaincy decision, which resulted in Lewandowski choosing not to participate in national matches under Probierz’s leadership. The Barcelona star holds the record for the most appearances (158) and goals (85) for Poland and expressed feelings of betrayal regarding his former coach’s actions.
Probierz’s final game in charge concluded with a 2-1 loss against Finland, leaving Poland positioned third in their World Cup qualifying group. Urban’s introduction as coach comes with immediate challenges, as his first task will be to lead the team in an away match against the Netherlands on September 4.
PZPN’s Confidence in Urban
PZPN president Cezary Kulesza expressed confidence in Urban’s appointment, stating,
“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.”
Jan Urban’s Football Legacy
Jan Urban has a football legacy that includes 57 caps as a player for Poland. His coaching journey began in Spain at Osasuna, where he utilized his experience from his extensive playing career, initially working as a youth manager and subsequently as a reserve team coach. Urban’s first senior role was at Legia Warsaw in 2007, where he also served as an assistant for the national team during Euro 2008. He notably led Legia to capture the Polish league title in 2013 during his second tenure. Most recently, he was at Gornik Zabrze, but he was dismissed from that position in April.
