Warsaw: Former Polish international Jerzy Brzeczek was appointed Thursday, the head coach of the national team, the country’s football association announced.
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. Brzeczek’s first match will be away to Italy September 7 in the new UEFA Nations League.
Earlier, Nawalka has said he is to be responsible for the World Cup disappointment and will stand down as Poland manager July 30.