Podolski says goodbye to the pitch before taking charge of the Polish club

Former striker Lukas Podolski, 40, ended his playing career this Saturday (23) in Gornik's 6-2 victory over Radomiak Radom at home, with the club finishing as runners-up in the first division behind Lech Poznan.

Now the player, who is Polish but naturalized German, will lead the team, after concluding an agreement with the city of Zabrze, which managed the club, becoming the majority owner of the club

Podoski played 130 times with the German shirt, scoring 49 goals and winning the World Cup in 2014, held in Brazil.

Górnik fans displayed a huge mosaic in honor of Podolski, with the word "boss" highlighted.

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A post shared by Górnik Zabrze (@gornikzabrzesa)

After a career with clubs including Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Galatasaray, he returned to Poland in 2021.

Górnik, a club whose glory days seemed to be behind them - having won the last of their 14 league titles in 1988 - were the team Podolski's grandmother supported, and he has remained a fan since childhood, when visiting Poland.

Górnik won the Polish Cup for the first time since 1972 at the beginning of May, and fans will be hoping that Podolski's management will lead them back to the long-awaited championship title.

In addition to a successful football career, Podolski owns a popular kebab chain in Germany, Mangal Doner, and has also invested in several other business ventures.

Source: CNN