For “the good of the national team,” Poland’s football association said on Thursday that Michal Probierz, the coach who had been at odds with star striker Robert Lewandowski, has resigned.
“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,” Probierz said in a statement from the Polish Football Federation (PZPN).
After Lewandowski declared on Sunday that he would not be playing for the squad as long as Probierz was still coach, Poland lost 2-1 on the road to Finland, dropping them out of the top spot in their European World Cup qualification group.
During the most recent international window, the striker did not play for Poland. The Barcelona player had requested to be allowed to take a break, according to Polish news agency PAP.
Lewandowski was upset that Probierz had taken away his captain’s armband.
“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,” Lewandowski wrote on social media.
“I hope I will still have another chance to play again for the best fans in the world,” he added.
Probierz had been coach since September 2023. He led Poland to the Euro 2024 finals where they failed to win a game and were eliminated in the group stage.
In 21 matches in charge he won nine, drew five and lost seven.
“Thank you, of course, to all the footballers I have had the pleasure of meeting along the way,” he wrote in the PZPN post. “I will keep my fingers crossed for all of you, because the national team is our common national asset.”