Robert Lewandowski and the Bundesliga's best Polish players
Robert Lewandowski enjoyed a record-breaking spell in the Bundesliga, but he's not the only Polish national to have left a mark on German soil. bundesliga.com picks out five of the best...
Robert Lewandowski
Clubs: Borussia Dortmund (2010-2014), Bayern Munich (2014-2022)
Bundesliga appearances: 384 (312 goals)
When a fresh-faced 22-year-old forward joined Borussia Dortmund from Lech Poznan in 2010, few could have predicted quite what was to follow. Lewandowski's determination, clinical finishing and unrelenting professionalism saw him spearhead a Jürgen Klopp team that won back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2010/11 and 2011/12.
Lewandowski's goalscoring output would become even more prolific with time in the Bundesliga, especially after his switch to rivals Bayern Munich in 2014. Under another masterful coach, Pep Guardiola, Lewandowski hit over 30 goals in a league season for the first time. He would achieve that special feat five times, with his 41 goals in 2020/21 breaking Gerd Müller's all-time record from 1971/72.
Attacks spearheaded by Lewandowski during his time in Germany claimed a mammoth 10 Bundesliga titles, four DFB Cups, one UEFA Champions League and a FIFA Club World Cup. The living legend, now of Barcelona, is due to face Germany as Poland captain and record all-time goalscorer on 16 June.
Watch: All 312 of Robert Lewandowski's Bundesliga goals
Jakub Blaszczykowski
Clubs: Borussia Dortmund (2007-2016), Wolfsburg (2016-2019)
Bundesliga appearances: 235 (28 goals)
Jakub 'Kuba' Blaszczykowski joined Dortmund in 2007 from Wisla Krakow, and became a firm fan favourite immediately for his spirited performances and creative mastery on the right flank, earning the club's Player of the Season gong after his maiden campaign in 2008. Blaszczykowski was an integral part of the legendary side coached by Klopp that took two Bundesliga titles in 2012 and 2013, as well as making the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League final.
After nine years with Dortmund and a loan spell in Italy with Fiorentina, he joined Wolfsburg for the final three years of his stay in the Bundesliga. Still on the books at Wisla Krakow, he made a total of 108 appearances in a distinguished international career for Poland.
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Lukasz Piszczek
Clubs: Hertha Berlin (2004-2010), Borussia Dortmund (2010-2021)
Bundesliga appearances: 332 (19 goals)
Piszczek is known by many as a one-club man for his incredible 11-year service to Dortmund, but it was Hertha Berlin who first brought him to the Bundesliga. He was signed from Gwarek Zabrze in 2004 after standout performances in the UEFA U19 European Championships that year - ironically in his first position as a striker. He was loaned by the German capital club to Zaglbeie Lubin for three years before actually getting his Bundesliga career underway.
Having appeared as an attacking midfielder and left winger, he was then moved to right-back - the position he would become famed for playing during his long spell at Dortmund. For many years he patrolled the right flank behind his compatriot, Blaszczykowski. He offered an impressive creative force from a defensive position, providing a total of 49 Bundesliga assists. He is still active in Poland's third tier with hometown club Goczalkowice-Zdroj.
Watch: Piszczek's top 5 Bundesliga goals
Sebastian Boenisch
Clubs: Schalke (2006-2007), Werder Bremen (2007-2012), Bayer Leverkusen (2012-2016)
Bundesliga appearances: 124 (four goals)
Having been born in Poland but grown up in Germany, Boenisch appeared for three different clubs in the Bundesliga over a decade. The battling left-back was a Bundesliga runner-up for two successive years in 2006/07 and 2007/08 for Schalke and then Werder Bremen. He was also part of the legendary Bremen side that made the 2009 UEFA Cup final - along with Mesut Özil and Claudio Pizarro.
Having been a Germany youth international, Boenisch went on to make 14 appearances for Poland, including at UEFA Euro 2012, which the country co-hosted with Ukraine. After a stint with 1860 Munich and in the Austrian lower leagues, he retired from playing in 2020.
Ebi Smolarek
Club: Borussia Dortmund (2004-2008)
Bundesliga appearances: 81 (25 goals)
Poland-born Smolarek split his youth between Germany and the Netherlands as his father, Wlodzimierz Smolarek, played professionally in both countries, including for Eintracht Frankfurt. The younger Smolarek, whose full first name is Euzebiusz, a Polish form of Eusebio, after the great former Portugal player, started at Feyenoord, one of his father's former teams. Dortmund then pounced in 2004. He hit 13 goals in his highest-scoring campaign, in 2006/07 - a credible output given Dortmund did not finish in the top six during his time at the club.
Smolarek was named Polish Footballer of the Year for three consecutive years in 2005, 2006 and 2007, while his 47 appearances for Poland included appearances at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He retired in 2013, following spells in Spain, England, Greece, Qatar, the Netherlands and his native Poland.
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