Former Ekstraklasa midfielder and coach Rafał Pawlak has seen Polish football from every perspective — as a title-winning player, a dressing-room leader and a manager. Having represented clubs such as Widzew Łódź, Śląsk Wrocław and Pogoń Szczecin, Pawlak offers a unique insight into the state of the league. In this exclusive interview, he discusses the unpredictability of last season, the challenges facing Widzew and Pogoń, the importance of Polish players, and what supporters can expect from the 2026/27 campaign.

Daniel Sobis: Last season was one of the most unpredictable campaigns in Ekstraklasa history. The table changed constantly, and the battle for the title, European places, and survival went down to the very last rounds. What do you think caused such unpredictability?

Rafał Pawlak: Looking back, it was certainly one of the most unpredictable seasons we’ve seen. The level across the league was very even, but I would say that happened because the top teams were not significantly stronger than the rest, rather than because the overall standard improved dramatically.

For much of the season, you could argue that ten or even twelve teams still had a chance of qualifying for European competitions. We saw clubs that spent most of the campaign near the relegation zone suddenly find themselves fighting for a place in Europe. That was quite a paradox.

In my opinion, it wasn’t necessarily because the teams at the bottom became exceptionally strong. It was more a case of the traditional frontrunners dropping points and allowing others back into the race. It made for a very entertaining league, but ideally you want six, seven, or eight genuinely strong teams setting a high standard rather than everyone being inconsistent.

At the end of the day, clubs like Legia Warsaw, Jagiellonia Białystok, Raków Częstochowa and Pogoń Szczecin were still among the strongest sides. Raków, for example, maintained their philosophy despite a coaching change. Some people find their style repetitive, but their consistency is undeniable.

I was also pleasantly surprised by Górnik Zabrze. They built a balanced squad, everyone understood their role, and several players attracted interest from other clubs thanks to their performances.

On the other hand, Lechia Gdańsk played attractive attacking football, yet various off-field issues ultimately hurt them. It showed once again that good football alone is not always enough to guarantee success.

Daniel Sobis: Do you think last season was a one-off, or could we see something similar again this year?

Rafał Pawlak: I think it was the exception rather than the new rule. I expect things to return to a more traditional order. Clubs with the strongest structures, the biggest budgets and the best recruitment will once again establish themselves at the top.

I can’t imagine another disappointing season for clubs like Widzew after the financial investment they’ve made. The transfer market will be crucial, and I expect several ambitious teams to strengthen significantly.

I’m also curious to see what happens at Pogoń Szczecin, where major changes are taking place. Overall, though, I believe the clubs that have set the pace in recent years will continue to do so.

At the same time, I hope teams like GKS Katowice maintain their identity. They’re an interesting project built largely around Polish players. As supporters, we naturally like teams we can identify with, and local players play a big part in that.

Of course, modern football is global, and there’s nothing wrong with signing quality foreign players. But if good Polish players are available, I’d always like to see them playing key roles in Polish clubs. I think some teams are beginning to move back in that direction.

Daniel Sobis: You know Widzew very well, both as a player and as someone who has followed the club closely. Why do you think the project failed to meet expectations despite significant investment and ambitious plans?

Rafał Pawlak: There isn’t one simple answer. A lot of factors contributed to the disappointment.

As a coach myself, I don’t like criticizing colleagues, but from what I heard and observed, there were issues with the coaching approach, especially at the beginning of the season. The impression was that the team relied too heavily on individual quality rather than on a clearly defined tactical structure.

Football doesn’t work like that at any level. You can’t simply assemble talented players and tell them to go out and play. Teams need organization, automatisms, and a clear game model developed through training.

Another issue was recruitment. The club brought in many foreign players, and naturally not all of them could become key figures. When players move from abroad on good contracts, they expect to play regularly. If their roles are unclear, frustration quickly follows.

A football team needs hierarchy. You need leaders, but you also need players who understand and accept supporting roles. I’m not sure that balance was achieved.

Communication was another problem. Take the example of Osman Bukari, who reportedly ended up handing out flowers at the stadium on Women’s Day because he was not included in the squad plans. When a player who cost significant money and earns one of the highest salaries in the league finds himself in that situation, it can be damaging both professionally and mentally.

The club is already making changes, both at management and sporting levels. Now it’s important to analyze what went wrong and learn from those mistakes. You can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results.

Daniel Sobis: Another club you know very well is Pogoń Szczecin. Expectations were high there too. What went wrong, and do you expect a different Pogoń in the 2026/27 season?

Rafał Pawlak: Pogoń remains a club with strong foundations and considerable potential. However, expectations have been high for several years, and when you repeatedly come close without achieving the ultimate goal, frustration naturally grows.

The key now is stability. Frequent changes can create uncertainty, while long-term development requires patience and consistency. If the club manages the transition well and strengthens intelligently, I believe Pogoń can once again challenge near the top of the table. And I hope we won't be relying on a 37-year-old Kamil Grosicki to be our best player again. Hopefully, some young talents will step up and take responsibility.

Daniel Sobis: You often hear people say that age is just a number. Looking at players who continue performing at the highest level well into their thirties, do you agree?

Rafał Pawlak: Absolutely. Age today is more of a statistic than a limitation. Modern players take much better care of themselves than previous generations. Recovery, nutrition, sports science and professionalism have all improved dramatically.

Look at Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski and many other top players. What matters most is consistency, professionalism and the willingness to work every day. Talented players who maintain those standards can perform at a high level for many years.

Daniel Sobis: You also represented Śląsk Wrocław. How difficult will the challenge be for them after returning to the Ekstraklasa?

Rafał Pawlak: Returning after just one season away certainly helps. The club still has a strong brand, a large fanbase and experience at the highest level.

However, promotion is one thing and establishing yourself in the league is another. Śląsk must build a squad capable not only of surviving but of competing consistently. The expectations will be high because this is a club with significant history and ambition.

If they make smart decisions during the transfer window and create stability around the team, there is no reason why they cannot become a solid Ekstraklasa side again.

Daniel Sobis: This wek we’ve already seen one of the biggest transfer stories of the summer. Patrik Hellebrand has moved from Górnik Zabrze, a club playing in Europe, to Korona Kielce, who were fighting to stay in the league. How should we interpret a transfer like that?

Rafał Pawlak: It shows how much football is changing. Transfers today are not determined solely by league position or prestige. Players consider many factors: sporting projects, coaching staff, financial conditions and their expected role within the team.

The fact that a player of Hellebrand’s quality chose Korona despite interest from bigger clubs suggests that the club presented a convincing vision. It’s also a positive signal for the league because it demonstrates that clubs outside the traditional top group can still attract highly sought-after players.

Ultimately, it’s a sign that Ekstraklasa is becoming more competitive and that ambitious projects can emerge in different places, not only at the biggest clubs.

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