Michał Probierz has officially stepped down as head coach of the Polish national team, as confirmed in a statement released Thursday by the Polish Football Association. His resignation marks the end of a short but turbulent tenure, marred by poor results and internal conflict.

Rift with the captain

The 52-year-old coach’s departure comes shortly after a clash with team captain Robert Lewandowski. Probierz had stripped the FC Barcelona striker of the armband and handed it to Piotr Zieliński, informing Lewandowski of the decision over the phone. In response, Poland’s all-time top scorer (85 goals in 158 appearances) announced he would no longer represent the national team as long as Probierz remained in charge.

In his statement, Probierz said resigning was “the best decision for the good of the national team.” Ironically, just days earlier—following a 2-1 loss to Finland in Helsinki—he had insisted he wouldn't step down, claiming he knew “how to turn things around.” But after meeting with Polish FA president Cezary Kulesza, he reversed course and made his resignation official on Thursday.

A short and bumpy spell

Probierz took over on September 20, 2023, after the dismissal of Portuguese manager Fernando Santos, who was also let go due to poor results. During his brief spell, he oversaw 21 matches, recording nine wins, five draws, and six losses. Under his leadership, Poland scored 34 goals and conceded 29.

The Polish national team still has five qualifiers and a friendly to play before the end of the year. Their next match is scheduled for September, though no replacement for Probierz has been named yet.