New Coach for Pogoń Szczecin
Pogoń Szczecin announced a new coach - Spanish Josep Garcia, who will replace Danish Thomas Thomasberg. New coach arrived in Szczecin on June 21, after Alex Haditaghi, the club owner, informed him about the end of their cooperation.
Garcia, 53-year-old coach, has extensive experience in football. He started in the youth team of FC Barcelona, then played for m.in. Valencia or Espanyol. In his coaching career, he had successes in m.in. English Brighton and Watford, Austrian RB Salzburg, French St. Etienne or Stade Reims, Belgian Oud-Heverlee Leuven or Mexican Guadalajara.
Transfers of Pogoń Szczecin
The squad of Pogoń Szczecin suffered more losses than gains in the summer. The most notable departure was Sam Greenwood, who was expected to be one of the dominant players in the Ekstraklasa, but turned out to be a disappointment. Apart from the Englishman, Pogoń also lost: defenders Leonardo Koutris, Danijel Loncar, reserve goalkeeper Krzysztof Kamiński, and the club's youth product Kacper Smoliński.
Four new players joined the team. First of all, Patryk Dziczek from Piasta Gliwice, whom Pogoń contracted in the winter, but with the condition that he would join Szczecin in July. Although the club from Silesia was offered an additional million zlotys to let the midfielder spend the previous spring in the colors of 'Dumy Pomorza', Piast did not agree. It is expected that the 28-year-old midfielder will be one of the game's organizers and pillars of Pogoń.
Pogoń also acquired former Legia striker Jean-Pierre Nsame, which significantly weakens the team's position in the team. Additionally, Pogoń signed young goalkeeper Nikos Botis from Olimpiakos Pireus, who is expected to be a rival to Valentine Cojocaru.
Results of the friendly matches
The pre-season friendly matches cannot fill the fans of 'Portowców' with great optimism. Pogoń won against Dynamo Berlin 3:0 and Chrobry Glogow 2:1, but lost to Zagłębie Lubin 0:2, and during the training camp in Austria, they suffered defeats against Fenerbahce Stambul 0:4 and Sturm Graz 0:1.
