Robert Lewandowski Rift Sees Poland Coach Michal Probierz Resign, Know What Happened

Poland Coach Quits After Tension Mounts for Stripping Lewandowski of Captaincy.

Poland national team coach Michal Probierz has officially stepped down from his role following a public and bitter fallout with team captain Robert Lewandowski. The 51-year-old resigned Thursday after the feud became public only a few days ago. The resignation ended the coach’s turbulent tenure that began in 2023.

A term that saw Poland crash out early from Euro 2024. Probierz’s decision comes in the wake of strong backlash from Lewandowski. The captain revealed that the coach abruptly stripped him of the captain’s armband via a brief phone call. He mentioned that it happened when he was putting his kids to bed.

🚨 Michal Probierz has resigned as the manager of Poland just four days after Robert Lewandowski said he will not play for his national team again whilst Probierz is in charge 😱🇵🇱❌ pic.twitter.com/66QLqq4s8X
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 12, 2025

The Barcelona striker has represented Poland in 158 matches and scored 85 goals. After the incident, he publicly declared that he would not play under Probierz again. He later elaborated on the incident, saying that the coach’s approach was “a betrayal”. He stated that “It shouldn’t be like that. The coach betrayed my trust.”

Feud Over Captaincy Sparks Fallout

The controversy began when Probierz replaced Lewandowski with midfielder Piotr Zielinski as Poland’s new captain. Lewandowski later revealed that he was caught off guard when he got a phone call about the matter just as he was putting his children to bed. He then announced that he would not play for the national team under Probierz.

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After that the Polish Football Association (PZPN) announced the captaincy change on their website. Lewandowski then stated, “I’ve had the armband for eleven years and 17 years with the national team. It seemed to me that these matters should be dealt with in a different way.”

Probierz defended his decision, claiming it was “for the good of the team.” He explained that he made the decision after consulting with his players and staff. However, following the incident, tension and public criticism mounted. As a result, it seems that the coach decided that stepping down was the best course for Poland’s future.

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Future of Poland and Captain Robert Lewandowski

In his resignation message, Probierz said, “Performing this function was the fulfilment of my professional dreams and the greatest honour in my life.” With Probierz’s departure, the door appears open for Lewandowski to return to national duty as Poland continue their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. The team currently sits third in Group G with six points from three matches.

Their next fixture is against the Netherlands on September 4. The Polish FA thanked Probierz for his service and dedication. With their next game about three months away, they have time to secure a good coach. And bring back some stability in the team in the future. Possibly, once again with Lewandowski at the helm.

Barcelona

Michal Probierz

Poland

Robert Lewandowski

Moumita Dutta

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Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.