Pre-holiday coup, i.e. taking over the helm by Jacek Zielińskias expected, he had a great influence on the situation with the coach. It is, of course, about Mark Papszunwhich Dariusz Mioduskand anointed with this one and only dream trainer. Resignation Marek Gołębiewski, return Alexander Vukovic, sick leave Radosław Kucharski (he was responsible for “Operation Papszun”) – put the work of the current coach of Raków Częstochowa at Łazienkowska into a serious question. Of course, it cannot be said with certainty that he will not be in Legia, but the aforementioned events meant that Legia is no longer so in love with him, and he is not as close to her as it seemed until recently.
In the Liga + Extra program, from the beginning of December 2021, Papszun said: – I have an appointment with the owner of Raków that I will give an answer regarding my future by the end of the year.
Back then, the matter seemed simple. If Legia convinces Papshun to his project, it will take up the challenge in his hometown, and leave Raków’s reins to someone else. It’s just that the change in the position of the sports director will work both ways. Zieliński, who, as promised, was given a great deal of autonomy, does not insist on hiring the 47-year-old. – I know that Marek Papszun is one of the best coaches in the league, I know his advantages, I also see some risks related to employment – spoke in an interview with the Prawda Futbolu channel.
In turn, Papszun, as we hear, does not quite like the change of Kucharski (with whom he knows well) to Zieliński. To sum up, today it is more realistic that the Papszun will extend the contract in Częstochowa than sign it in Warsaw. There is also a version that he is waiting for a signal from the Polish Football Association after he escaped from the Polish national team Paulo Sousa, but this looks more like a convenient explanation than a real assessment of the situation, because both sides have drifted significantly away from each other.
Papszun was to get a very high contract in Legia, it was said that the amount was 250,000. euros per year of his salary. You have to remember that a staff of people was to come with him. Estimated, because it would also depend on the provisions in the contracts, the maintenance of the new coach and his assistants would cost around 600,000. PLN per month. After the change of sports director, people wondered if this was too much.
What next – this is probably the question the fans are asking themselves. First of all, the priority is here and now, i.e. a delicate reconstruction of the team by Vukovic, and most of all – reconstruction. He can do it, as he has shown before. Looking a bit further, more problems arise, perhaps not the ones that are worth analyzing in depth. If Vuković cope with the task, the team will return to the right track, achieve the goal or win the Polish Cup, and the main builder will lose his job, it will not be well received again. Not only by sympathizers, but also inside the club, with the players at the forefront. The Serb can build a team with a capital Z, and most of all with team spirit. Probably not many people remember when they were hired Czesław Michniewicz, the players left the training center before the arrival of the new coach. They were angry not only at the fact that they did not receive any information 24 hours a day, but most of all by protesting against the decision of the club’s authorities.
Of course, these are just assumptions and fortune-telling on tea leaves, because with scripts you write them first, and then life laughs at them. The only thing that is certain for today is that the number one option is to communicate with the new coach as soon as possible, assuming that Vuković is working until the end of the season, as agreed.
Is this the right way? Hard to say. First of all, you need to find a trainer. In Legia, they want one who knows the Polish league, its specificity, and can handle such a large club. Looking at the list of trainers that would be available from next season, he is definitely in the lead Kosta Runjaicwhose contract expires after the end of the current competition. However, the German coach of Croatian origin, born in Vienna, is fighting with Pogoń for the Polish championship. It would be hard for him to think about anything else today, he will certainly get an offer to extend the contract. It is hard to expect that Legia (assuming resignation from the Pope) considered someone else. He showed himself from the great side Dariusz Banasik in Radomiak, the newcomer played an impressive round, and in addition, the coach spent many years at Łazienkowska Street, but he is at the beginning of the road, and he has a contract in Radom until the end of the 2022/2023 season.
Therefore, the most sensible option seems to be the simplest – focus on the current work, observe the market, see the greatest crisis in post-war history being managed by Vuković. Legia has shown that three months in football can be forever, you can go fast from hero to zero, or vice versa. Rush is never a good adviser, especially in situations where it is absolutely not required. Jacek Zieliński he has as much experience with Legia as the owner, supervisory board, management board and all managers combined do not have. Even if he has spent the last time in the freezer, there are reasons that he will be able to make the right, optimal decision.
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