The coaching tenure of Adam Nawałka with the Poland national team, which spanned from 2013 to 2018, remains a significant chapter in the country's football history. During this period, he became the first manager to guide the national side into the UEFA European Championship, culminating in a historic appearance in the tournament quarterfinals.
Early Career and Playing Days
Born in Kraków in 1957, Nawałka entered the professional football sphere in 1969 with Wisła Kraków. He debuted in the highest division of Polish football on 21 May 1975. Over his tenure, he played 190 matches and scored 9 goals for the club, securing an Ekstraklasa title in 1977–78. Internationally, he earned 34 caps for the Poland national team and participated in the 1978 FIFA World Cup, where he played nearly every minute of the team's matches at age 20.
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Recurrent injuries starting in late 1978 forced Nawałka to retire from professional sports in 1984. He moved to the United States in 1985, playing semi-professional football for the Polish-American Eagles while working in manual labor. Upon returning to Poland in 1990, he engaged in vehicle sales before obtaining his coaching qualifications in 1995. His early managerial path included leadership roles at Świt Krzeszowice and multiple technical positions at Wisła Kraków, including scouting and sporting director roles.
National Team Leadership
Zbigniew Boniek, president of the Polish Football Association, appointed Nawałka as head coach of the national team on 26 October 2013, replacing Waldemar Fornalik. His tenure featured a notable 2–0 victory over Germany during the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. He led Poland to the 2018 FIFA World Cup after a successful qualifying group phase, though the team was eliminated after two losses to Senegal and Colombia. Following the tournament, his contract concluded in July 2018.
Later Appointments
On 25 November 2018, Nawałka took charge of the Ekstraklasa club Lech Poznań with a contract scheduled to last until mid-2021. This stint proved brief, as he was relieved of his duties on 31 March 2019. He concluded his time at the club with a record consisting of five wins, one draw, and five losses.
Fast facts
- Born: 1957, Kraków
- Professional playing debut: 21 May 1975
- Total international caps: 34
- Coaching qualifications obtained: 1995
- Poland national team coach tenure: 2013–2018
- Polish Coach of the Year awards: 2015, 2016, 2017
- Lech Poznań tenure: 2018–2019
Questions readers ask
What major honours did Nawałka achieve as a coach?
He won the Ekstraklasa and Polish League Cup in 2000–01 with Wisła Kraków, as well as a regional Polish Cup with Sandecja Nowy Sącz.
When did Nawałka retire as a professional player?
He retired in 1984 due to recurrent injuries that began in the fall of 1978.
Achievements
- Worked as association football player and association football coach
