Polish Diaspora and Family Background

It is estimated that as many as 20 million Poles may be living outside Poland. For years, the United States was one of the most popular destinations for emigration, and due to its geographical proximity, a large diaspora lives in Germany. The economic situation in Poland during the communist era forced Lukas Podolski's family, among others, to leave the country. His father, Waldemar, was a professional footballer in Polish clubs such as Górnik Knurów and Szombierki Bytom, and his mother played handball in Sośnica Gliwice. The footballer himself was born in Gliwice in Upper Silesia, which belonged to Germany for many years. From an early age, he was a fan of the third-best team of all time in Poland, Górnik Zabrze.

The Podolski family strongly cultivated Polish traditions, especially those associated with Upper Silesia, a region famous in Poland for its hard work in the mines and its specific culture and dialect. They often visited family who had stayed in Poland, and Lukas spoke Polish fluently. “The people in Silesia are very kind. In the past, most men worked in mines, steel mills, or large factories. This was also true of my family. We had a mine almost outside the windows of our apartment. Those times are gone, but the tradition and respect for work remain,” said Podolski, as quoted by the PolskiObserwator.de portal.

The National Team That Got Away

Who knows what would have happened to Podolski if it hadn't been for a mistake on the part of Poland. The footballer announced that he wanted to play for Poland, but never received an official offer. Fearing that they would lose a great talent, the Germans called him up and gave him his debut in the national team when he was 19. This closed the door to a change of national team. For years, Poland regretted its sluggishness in this situation. Podolski later became world champion in 2014, won medals at the World Cups in 2006 and 2010, and was runner-up at the European Championships in 2008. In total, he played 130 games for Germany, scoring 49 goals.

Joining Górnik Zabrze

When it became clear that Podolski would not represent Poland, he promised fans that he would play for a club in Poland, immediately pointing to Górnik Zabrze. Such words from a world-class star who was then playing for Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Inter Milan sounded abstract. Impatient fans watched as Podolski changed clubs one after another, moving to increasingly weaker ones - from Galatasaray to Japan's Vissel Kobe to Antalyaspor. He played for the latter club at the age of 36, and a significant number of fans doubted that the German would keep his promise. However, this was not the case.

In 2021, the Polish football community went wild when Podolski confirmed his transfer to Górnik, becoming the biggest star ever to play in the Polish league. Skeptics believed that the striker would play a few games out of obligation and then end his career. However, Podolski proved that he is a loyal fan and will put his whole heart into the team. Instead of one quick season... he is now in his fifth season in Zabrze and, despite being 40 years old, he still appears on the pitch. In total, he has played 123 matches for Górnik, scoring 25 goals and providing 22 assists. However, his role goes far beyond football itself.

Ambassador and Mentor

Podolski has become an ambassador for the club, promoting it in the media. If he is unable to be on the pitch due to injury, he goes with the fans to the “Torcida,” the stand for Górnik's most fanatical supporters. While many players avoid direct contact with fans, Podolski feels most at home among ordinary people. The footballer has also become a mentor to his younger teammates and even participates in recruiting new players. In 2023, he invited Lawrence Ennali to the club, whom Górnik sold to Houston Dynamo in the MLS for €2.75 million after the season. And it is possible that this is not the end of Podolski's work for Górnik.

Potential Ownership

Recently, there have been reports that Podolski may buy Górnik Zabrze. The team has been available for sale for a long time. “I want to buy the club as soon as possible. I have always said that it must be private, separate from the city and politics. So that people like those who were here when I first arrived don’t work there. I want to help, but I can't say what will happen. I don't know Polish law very well, but I'm doing what I can, and so is my lawyer. I'm pushing for it, I want to invest here, put in the work and money," Podolski said in an interview with TVP Sport. He also does not rule out that he may become the club's president after his career ends.

Upcoming Match

On Sunday, October 5, at 2:15 p.m., Górnik Zabrze will face Legia Warsaw. Surprisingly, Podolski's club is the leader of the Ekstraklasa this season. The Polish classic will be broadcast on beIN Sports.

Filip Zieliński, beIN Sports correspondent in Poland, journalist for Przegląd Sportowy Onet