“First of all I would like to thank everyone.”
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Lukas Josef Podolski is a former professional footballer who played as a striker or left winger. Born in Poland, he played for the Germany national team. He is the current owner of Ekstraklasa club Górnik Zabrze, for whom he played before his retirement in 2026. He was known for his powerful and accurate left foot, explosive shooting, technique and probing attacks from the left side.
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sports · Polish-born German footballer (born 1985) · association football player · non-fiction writer · athlete · also Lukas Podolski, Lukas Josef Podolski, Łukasz Podolski, Łukasz Józef Podolski, Podolski
Born 4 June 1985 · Q134976
95 published statements · 0 followers
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“First of all I would like to thank everyone.”
“I am glad the decision regarding my future has been taken and all the speculation about me is finally over.”
Public attention spiked: 4,903 Wikipedia readers in one day, 4.7× the usual 1,037, with 1 article edits. Editors noted: Euro 2016 and retirement
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Public attention spiked: 3,228 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.1× the usual 1,037, with 0 article edits.
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Public attention spiked: 3,800 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.7× the usual 1,037, with 0 article edits.
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Public attention spiked: 4,873 Wikipedia readers in one day, 4.7× the usual 1,037, with 0 article edits.
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Public attention spiked: 4,025 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.9× the usual 1,037, with 1 article edits.
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Won: Polish Cup with Górnik Zabrze (2025–26).
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Public attention spiked: 20,915 Wikipedia readers in one day, 8× the usual 2,605, with 0 article edits.
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Public attention spiked: 9,669 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.7× the usual 2,605, with 3 article edits. Editors noted: Górnik Zabrze
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Indiatimes: Lukas Podolski and Monika Puchalski combined net worth in 2025: World Cup winner fortune, football legacy, business ventures, and more
Yahoo! Sports: From player to owner: Lukas Podolski acquires 8.3% of his home club
Yahoo! Sports: Lukas Podolski considers retirement
nytimes.com: Lukas Podolski interview: Playing at 39, Arteta memories and why Havertz is ‘not a striker’
“Fussball ist wie Schach, nur ohne Würfel.”
“Football is like chess, only without the dice.”
“[Gaffe] Il calcio è come gli scacchi, ma senza i dadi.”
Won award: Ekstraklasa Top assists provider (2022–23).
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Played for Górnik Zabrze (2021–2026) — 122 appearances, 23 goals.
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Moved to Górnik Zabrze in Poland and in May 2026, they won the Polish Cup, his first with the club
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NBC Sports: Soccer star Lukas Podolski helps deliver financial assist for German hockey team
Played for Antalyaspor (2020–2021) — 40 appearances, 6 goals.
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Won: Emperor's Cup with Vissel Kobe (2019).
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Bleacher Report: Lukas Podolski: How Arsenal Can Keep the German Striker Scoring
Won award: Goal of the Year (Germany) (2017).
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Played for Vissel Kobe (2017–2020) — 52 appearances, 15 goals.
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Moved to Vissel Kobe in Japan, spending three seasons there before moving back to Turkey to play for Antalyaspor
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Sporting News: Lukas Podolski's song reaches number one in German charts
Won: Turkish Super Cup with Galatasaray (2016).
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Won: Turkish Cup with Galatasaray (2015–16).
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ESPN: Galatasaray to sign Arsenal's Lukas Podolski
Won: Turkish Super Cup with Galatasaray (2015).
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ESPN: Lukas Podolski the wrong player at the right time for Arsenal
Played for Galatasaray S.K. (2015–2017) — 56 appearances, 20 goals.
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Joined Galatasaray in 2015.
Played for Inter Milan (2015–2015) — 17 appearances, 1 goals.
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Bleacher Report: Lukas Podolski: A Square Peg in a Round Hole at Arsenal and Bayern Munich
NBC News: Lukas Podolski's Son Takes Penalty at Maracana After Germany Win
Won the FIFA World Cup with Germany (2014).
Won the English FA Cup with Arsenal (2013-2014).
Won award: Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (2014).
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Won: FIFA World Cup with Germany (2014).
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Won: FA Cup with Arsenal (2013–14).
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With a brace in a 4–0 FA Cup fourth round win over Coventry City
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Sports Illustrated: Lukas Podolski in doubt for Arsenal game at Bayern Munich
International Business Times: Arsenal Transfer News: Lukas Podolski Passes Gunners Medical, Report
Joined Arsenal in 2012.
Played for Arsenal F.C. (2012–2015) — 60 appearances, 19 goals.
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Won award: kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season (2010–11).
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Third place: FIFA World Cup with Germany (2010).
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Won award: Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (2010).
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Played for 1. FC Köln (2009–2012) — 88 appearances, 33 goals.
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Joined FC Koln in 2009.
Won the German Bundesliga with Bayern Munich (2007-2008).
Won: UEFA European Championship with Germany (2008).
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Won award: UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament (2008).
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Won award: Silver Shoe (2008).
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Won: DFB-Pokal with Bayern Munich (2007–08).
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Won: Bundesliga with Bayern Munich (2007–08).
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“Opis: wyjaśnienie, dlaczego apelował do Lecha Kaczyńskiego o odebranie polskiego obywatelstwa Lukasowi Podolskiemu po meczu Polska – Niemcy na Euro 2008 (czerwiec 2008).”
“Nabelschnur durchgeschnitten, Fotos gemacht, Familie angerufen, geheult." - auf die Frage, ob er bei der Geburt seines Sohnes Louis dabei gewesen sei, Süddeutsche Zeitung WIR Nr. 1/2008 vom 5. November 2008, S. 48”
Played for FC Bayern Munich II (2007–2008) — 2 appearances, 0 goals.
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Podolski received less playing time due to coach Ottmar Hitzfeld's preference to partner Miroslav Klose and Toni together instead
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Won the FIFA Young Player with Germany (2006).
Awarded Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (2006).
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Third place: FIFA World Cup with Germany (2006).
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Won award: FIFA World Cup Best Young Player (2006).
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Won award: Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (2006).
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Clubs such as Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Hamburger SV, Werder Bremen, and Real Madrid manifested their interest in Podolski, even though he had a contract with 1
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“Polnisch, deutsch, mit den Händen. Hauptsache, der Paß kommt, und der Ball ist im Tor." - auf die Frage, ob er auf dem Platz mit Miroslav Klose polnisch oder deutsch spricht, Stuttgarter Zeitung vom 31. Mai 2006”
“Mir ist egal, ob die schlechte Verlierer sind. Die fahren jetzt nach Hause." - auf die Frage was er über Argentinien und deren Verhalten am 30. Juni 2006 direkt nach dem Viertelfinalspiel der WM 2006 denkt, dpa, 1. Juli 2006, stuttgarter-zeitung.de”
“Ich habe immer Spielfreude. Es ist mir egal, wie der Gegner heißt." - Interview mit der Stuttgarter Zeitung, 31. Mai 2006”
“Ich habe immer die Zeitung gelesen. Warum sollte ich das bei der WM nicht tun? Damit habe ich kein Problem. Egal, ob was Positives oder Negatives drinsteht. Davon lasse ich mich nicht beeinflussen. Was da heute drinsteht, das ist doch morgen schon wieder alt." - Interview mit der Stuttgarter Zeitung, 31. Mai 2006”
Played for FC Bayern Munich (2006–2009) — 71 appearances, 15 goals.
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Joined Bayern Munich in 2006.
Won the German 2. Bundesliga with FC Köln (2004-2005).
Third place: FIFA Confederations Cup with Germany (2005).
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Won: 2. Bundesliga with 1. FC Köln (2004–05).
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Won award: 2.Bundesliga Top scorer (2004–05).
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“Ich habe schon viele Hände gebrochen." - über seinen harten Schuss, Kölnische Rundschau, 8. September 2005”
“Ich geb' euch kurze Antworten, dann müsst ihr nicht so viel schreiben." - über sein Verhältnis zu Reportern, Kölnische Rundschau, 8. September 2005”
Awarded Goal of the Month (2004).
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Played for Germany national under-21 football team (2004–2004) — 5 appearances, 0 goals.
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Played for Germany men's national association football team (2004–2017) — 130 appearances, 49 goals.
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Awarded Player of the month (2003).
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At the age of 18, Podolski was still part of the club's youth side
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Played for 1. FC Köln II (2003–2003) — 2 appearances, 0 goals.
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Played for 1. FC Köln (2003–2006) — 81 appearances, 46 goals.
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Joined FC Koln in 2003.
Played for Germany national under-19 football team (2003–2003) — 3 appearances, 6 goals.
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Played for Germany national under-18 football team (2002–2003) — 7 appearances, 4 goals.
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Played for Germany national under-17 association football team (2001–2002) — 6 appearances, 2 goals.
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Where he made it into the first team in 2003 resulting in 81 appearances for the club before moving to Bayern Munich
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When Podolski was two years old, his family emigrated from Poland to West Germany and were given Aussiedler status as a result of his paternal grandparents having German citizenship prior to World War II (Gliwice was a p
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Born 1985-06-04.
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