Lukas Podolski ownership of Górnik Zabrze

Former German footballer Lukas Podolski has transitioned from his playing career to club ownership and management after purchasing the Polish football club Górnik Zabrze. Upon his acquisition, Podolski criticized the German national team’s mental toughness and called for structural reforms within the DFB.

Following his takeover, Podolski has also engaged in public criticism of the Polish Ekstraklasa. Following a 2-1 victory over Wisła Kraków, he expressed frustration regarding the quality of officiating and the effectiveness of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, suggesting that while player quality in Poland is improving, the standard of refereeing remains stagnant.

In more recent comments regarding the match officiated by Damian Sylwestrzak, Podolski compared the current style of officiating to being ‘controlled by a computer or AI’. The match, which included a controversial red card issued to Wisła Kraków’s Sondre Liseth, prompted further scrutiny from fans and critics regarding questionable decisions made during play.

As the club maintains an unbeaten streak following the win against Wisła Kraków, Podolski continues to reshape the squad through new signings. Looking ahead, Górnik Zabrze is preparing for UEFA Conference League qualifiers against AS Monaco.