Poland Head Coach Resigns Amid Fallout with Robert Lewandowski

Poland national team head coach Michał Probierz has officially stepped down from his position, the Polish Football Association (PZPN) confirmed on Wednesday. The surprise resignation comes just days after a demoralizing defeat to Finland, despite Probierz previously expressing confidence in continuing his project with the national side.

The federation acknowledged his decision and thanked him for his service, wishing him well in future endeavors. But behind the official statements lies a deeper story — one centered on a high-profile rift with national team legend Robert Lewandowski.

According to reports, tensions reached a boiling point when Probierz made the bold move of stripping Lewandowski of the captain's armband ahead of the Finland friendly, handing the responsibility instead to Piotr Zieliński. The move didn’t sit well with the FC Barcelona striker, who subsequently announced a temporary suspension from international duty — a stance he vowed to maintain as long as Probierz remained in charge.

In such a fractured environment, Probierz’s position became increasingly untenable. His resignation now leaves a power vacuum within the Polish camp just months ahead of key international fixtures. Speaking to local media, PZPN president Cezary Kulesza confirmed that the search for a successor is underway, though no specific timeline or names were formally revealed.

However, speculation is already swirling. Among the candidates reportedly under consideration are former national team boss Adam Nawałka, current Raków Częstochowa coach Maciej Skorża, and even former Ukraine manager and AC Milan legend Andriy Shevchenko, who was previously linked with the role back in 2022.