Barcelona No 9 provisionally retired earlier this summer after former manager Michal Probierz controversially stripped him of the armband
Robert Lewandowski has been restored as Poland’s national team captain, ending months of tension that saw the Barcelona striker briefly walk away from international duty.
New manager Jan Urban confirmed the decision on Friday, describing it as a “clean slate” for the squad ahead of September’s World Cup qualifying matches against the Netherlands and Finland.
Piotr Zielinski, who was given the armband after it was stripped from Lewandowski, will remain part of the leadership group as vice-captain, with Jan Bednarek named as third in line.
The 37-year-old Lewandowski, who is Poland’s record goalscorer with 85 goals in 158 appearances, stepped aside earlier this summer after former manager Michal Probierz controversially stripped him of the captaincy.
The move created divisions within the camp and affected Poland’s World Cup qualifying campaign. Lewandowski provisionally retired, saying his return would only be possible if Probierz was no longer manager.
Probierz resigned in June following a shock 2-1 defeat against Finland. Urban, appointed in July, has moved quickly to restore stability.
Poland currently sit third in their qualifying group, behind Finland and the Netherlands. They travel to Amsterdam to face the Netherlands on 4 September before hosting Finland in Warsaw on 7 September.
Poland need to finish in at least second place if they are to qualify for the World Cup finals next year.
