Image:Waldemar Fornalik: The 49-year-old will guide Poland through their World Cup qualifying campaign that features England
Polish football chiefs have moved quickly to replace Franciszek Smuda as head of the national team by appointing Waldemar Fornalik as coach.
Fornalik was favourite despite having never played for his country
Polish football chiefs have moved quickly to replace Franciszek Smuda as head of the national team by appointing Waldemar Fornalik as coach.
Smuda stood down after a disappointing Euro 2012 tournament that saw the co-hosts crash out in the group stages.
It was no surprise that Fornalik - the former boss of Polish first-division club Ruch Chorzow - was named in charge as he was widely considered the favourite for the role.
And with only eight weeks left until the start of Poland's qualifying campaign for the 2104 World Cup in Brazil confirmation of his appointment was welcomed by Poland's PZPN football association boss Grzegorz Lato.
"We were aware that time is marching on, and that the battle for a World Cup berth begins in September," said Lato.
Fornalik's first game in charge will be a friendly away to Estonia on 15th August before Poland kick off their World Cup campaign on 7th September away to Montenegro.
His side will then take on Moldova at home four days later before hosting England on 16th October.
Ex-defender Fornalik spent his entire 1982-1994 playing career at Ruch Chorzow and managed a string of other clubs in Poland before returning to the club in 2009.
