Former player Jerzy Brzeczek named as new head coach of Poland, replaces Adam Nawalka

Warsaw: Former Polish international Jerzy Brzeczek was appointed head coach of the national team, the country’s football association announced on Thursday. [caption id=“attachment_4731081” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Jerzy Brzeczek. Reuters[/caption] The 47-year-old replaces Adam Nawalka, whose highly-fancied national squad were eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup in Russia. Brzeczek was a midfielder who captained Poland, won 42 caps, scored four goals and was part of the team that were runners-up at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. He played for a string of Polish and Austrian clubs and had a stint with Maccabi Haifa in a 20-year career. After retiring he became a coach and led Wisla Plock to a fifth-placed finish in the Polish league last season. His first match will be away to Italy on 7 September in the new UEFA Nations League. Nawalka has said he feels responsible for the World Cup disappointment and will stand down as Poland manager on 30 July.