WARSAW (AFP) – Michal Probierz has been appointed the new coach of Poland’s national team after Fernando Santos was fired just eight months into his tenure, the Polish football federation said on Wednesday.
Santos was dismissed last week after a 2-0 defeat to minnows Albania left Poland struggling to qualify for Euro 2024.
Probierz, 50, was most recently the coach of Poland’s under-21 team.
“Michal Probierz has become the coach of the Polish national team. This was the best possible choice. I wish the new coach the best of luck,” Cezary Kulesza, head of the federation, said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Poland are fourth in their Euro 2024 qualifying group with only the top two guaranteed to play in the finals in Germany next year.
Probierz has managed a host of Polish clubs – Jagiellonia Bialystok, Wisla Krakow, GKS Belchatow, Lechia Gdansk and Cracovia – as well as Greek side Aris Thessaloniki.
Santos joined Poland after Portugal’s surprise exit at the quarter-final stage of the World Cup in Qatar at the hands of Morocco, replacing Czeslaw Michniewicz.