Now the owner of Górnik Zabrze
©IMAGO
One day after Lukas Podolski bought the Polish club Górnik Zabrze, the 40-year-old attacker announced the end of his career. “World champion Lukas Podolski will end his successful career this weekend. He is now the owner of his youth club – Górnik Zabrze. Thank you for everything, Poldi, and good luck in your new role!”, said the Polish Cup winner on Instagram.
Podolski has been active for Górnik since 2021. In 134 games for his youth club, the former world champion scored 25 goals and prepared 22 more. Only for 1. FC Cologne did he play more games – Podolski appeared on the pitch 181 times for the Domstadt team and was involved in 127 goals. In total, the left-footer made 703 appearances for Cologne, Górnik Zabrze, FC Bayern, Arsenal, Galatasaray, Vissel Kobe, Antalyaspor and Inter Milan. On Saturday he will be on the pitch for the last time at the home game against Radomiak.
Podolski won cups in Germany, Poland, Japan, England and Turkey during his career, but his greatest triumph was probably the World Cup title with Germany in Rio 2014. Podolski, who was born in Gliwice, wore the DFB jersey 130 times and scored 49 goals. Among Germany’s record players, he is in fourth place behind Thomas Müller, Miroslav Klose and Lothar Matthäus. Furthermore, only Klose and Gerd Müller scored more goals.
“Now we have won the Polish Cup, we are in second place, but next season will be very difficult,” said Podolski recently about the purchase of his club. “You have to be careful. You have to make as few mistakes as possible so that the next season is successful. And we will continue to develop the club on and off the pitch. For me it is important to build the Górnik brand. For now, I am not planning a revolution that Górnik will become a different club. You have to build it up calmly and we will see in which direction it goes.” There shouldn’t be any profound changes when it comes to team planning either.
