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Mateusz Kowalczyk (footballer)

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Mateusz Kowalczyk
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-04-16) 16 April 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Warsaw, Poland
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 GKS Katowice
(on loan from Brøndby)
Number 77
Youth career
2010–2018 Ząbkovia Ząbki
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 Ząbkovia Ząbki 34 (13)
2021–2022 ŁKS Łódź II 15 (1)
2022–2023 ŁKS Łódź 38 (7)
2023– Brøndby 1 (0)
2024– → GKS Katowice (loan) 14 (2)
International career‡
2022 Poland U18 2 (0)
2022–2023 Poland U19 6 (1)
2023– Poland U20 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:35, 16 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:35, 19 November 2024 (UTC)

Mateusz Kowalczyk (born 16 April 2004) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ekstraklasa club GKS Katowice, on loan from Danish Superliga club Brøndby.

Club career

[edit]

ŁKS Łódź

[edit]

Born in Warsaw and raised in nearby Marki, Kowalczyk began his football journey at the age of six with Ząbkovia Ząbki.[2] Displaying remarkable maturity at a young age, he took his first steps in senior football at the age of 14 with Ząbkovia.[2] His talent quickly attracted the interest of several Polish clubs.[3] Ultimately, in 2021, he chose to sign with ŁKS Łódź. The club's second team competed in the fourth tier, providing Kowalczyk with an opportunity to develop against senior opposition at a higher level.[3] He made his second-team debut on 7 August 2021, starting in a 4–3 victory against Ursus Warsaw.[4]

Kowalczyk made his professional debut for the ŁKS first team on 26 February 2022, coming on as a substitute for Jakub Tosik in the 65th minute during a 1–1 away draw against GKS Jastrzębie in the second-tier I liga.[5] On 8 April 2021, he scored his first professional goal, securing a late winner in the 95th minute of a 3–2 home win over Sandecja Nowy Sącz.[6]

During the 2022–23 season, Kowalczyk played a significant role in ŁKS' promotion to the top-tier Ekstraklasa, scoring six goals in 26 appearances for the Knights of Spring—including a decisive goal that secured the league title on 26 May 2023, against Arka Gdynia.[1][7]

Brøndby

[edit]

On 2 August 2023, Kowalczyk signed a four-year contract with Danish Superliga club Brøndby, with the club paying a reported fee of €1.2 million to secure his services.[8][9] He made his debut for the club on 27 September, replacing Nicolai Vallys in the 68th minute of a 3–0 victory in the Danish Cup over HIK.[10] Four days later, he made his Superliga debut, again coming on as a late substitute for Vallys in a victory against Hvidovre.[11]

Loan to GKS Katowice

[edit]

On 17 July 2024, Kowalczyk returned to Poland to join newly promoted Ekstraklasa club GKS Katowice on a season-long loan, with an option to make the move permanent.[12]

International career

[edit]

Kowalczyk has represented Poland at under-18 level.[13] In August 2022, he was called up to by Poland U-19's coach Marcin Brosz for training camp in Reda ahead of the 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifiers against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia and Italy.[14] He scored on his debut for the under-19s, contributing to Poland's 2–0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on 21 September 2022.[15] On 28 August 2023, Kowalczyk received his first call-up for the Poland U-20, and he subsequently gained his first cap for the team on 8 September during a 4–0 home win over Portugal in the Under 20 Elite League.[16][17]

Kowalczyk was called up to the senior Poland national team for the first time for the Nations League games against Scotland and Croatia in September 2024.[18]

Style of play

[edit]

Kowalczyk, a hard-working central midfielder, displayed remarkable maturity on the pitch early on, making his senior football debut at the young age of 14.[3] He describes himself as a player capable of controlling the game's pace, comfortable both in attacking and defensive roles. Despite his average height (1.81 m), he possesses excellent heading abilities.[19] Often referred to as a 'piranha' in midfield, he excels in dispossessing opponents and is adept at playing a Gegenpressing style.[20]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 9 November 2024[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ząbkovia Ząbki 2018–19[21] IV liga Masovia 1 0 — — 1 0
2019–20[22] IV liga Masovia 8 1 — — 8 1
2020–21[23][24] IV liga Masovia 23 12 — 2[b] 0 25 12
Total 32 13 — 2 0 34 13
ŁKS Łódź II 2021–22 III liga, gr. I 15 1 — — 15 1
ŁKS Łódź 2021–22 I liga 12 1 — — 12 1
2022–23 I liga 26 6 1 0 — 27 6
Total 38 7 1 0 — 39 7
Brøndby 2023–24 Danish Superliga 1 0 2 0 0 0 3 0
GKS Katowice (loan) 2024–25 Ekstraklasa 14 2 1 0 — 15 2
Career total 100 23 4 0 2 0 106 23
  1. ^ Includes Polish Cup, Danish Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in IV liga Masovia promotion play-offs

Honours

[edit]

Ząbkovia Ząbki

ŁKS Łódź

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Mateusz Kowalczyk at Soccerway
  2. ^ a b Łodko, Bartosz (9 April 2023). "Pierwszy trener: Mateusz Kowalczyk". Weszlo! Junior (in Polish). Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Walczyk, Jerzy (4 October 2022). "Czołowy piłkarz ŁKS-u na sprzedaż. Ile jest wart Mateusz Kowalczyk?". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Zwycięstwo na inaugurację. ŁKS II – Ursus Warszawa 4:3". ŁKS Łódź (in Polish). 7 August 2021. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Jastrzębie vs. ŁKS Łódź 1–1: Summary". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  6. ^ "ŁKS Łódź vs. Sandecja Nowy Sącz 3–2: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Kibice i pilkarze ŁKS Łódź świętują awans do Ekstraklasy! [ZDJĘCIA]". Łódź.pl (in Polish). 3 June 2023. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Brøndby IF henter Mateusz Kowalczyk". Brøndby IF (Press release) (in Danish). 2 August 2023. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  9. ^ Wøhlk, Alexander (2 August 2023). "Brøndby opruster: Henter Mateusz Kowalczyk". Ekstra Bladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 2 August 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Sikker sejr i Oddset Pokalen". Brøndby IF (in Danish). 27 September 2023. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Hvidovre vs. Brøndby 0–3: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Mateusz Kowalczyk piłkarzem GKS-u Katowice" (in Polish). GKS Katowice. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Mateusz Kowalczyk z kolejnym powołaniem na konsultacje kadry U-18". ŁKS Łódź (in Polish). 29 April 2022. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Mateusz Kowalczyk powołany do reprezentacji Polski U-19". ŁKS Łódź (in Polish). 18 August 2022. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  15. ^ Ptak, Jakub (21 September 2022). "Ważne zwycięstwo Polaków. Udany start eliminacji". TVP Sport (in Polish). Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  16. ^ "U-20: Powołania na mecze z Portugalią i Niemcami - Reprezentacja młodzieżowa U-20". PZPN (in Polish). 28 August 2023. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Świetny start Polaków w turnieju Elite League. Portugalia rozbita - Reprezentacja młodzieżowa U-20". PZPN (in Polish). 8 September 2023. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Powołania do reprezentacji Polski na wrześniowe mecze Ligi Narodów" (in Polish). Polish Football Association. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  19. ^ Piotrowski, Remek (30 June 2021). "Mateusz Kowalczyk: Zawsze ze starszymi". ŁKS Łódź (in Polish). Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  20. ^ Theilade, Toke (27 July 2023). "Eksperter om Kowalczyk: Talentfuld, arbejdsom og ambitiøs spiller". Vilfortpark.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Zawodnik: Mateusz Kowalczyk". laczynaspilka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  22. ^ "Zawodnik: Mateusz Kowalczyk". laczynaspilka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  23. ^ "Zawodnik: Mateusz Kowalczyk". laczynaspilka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  24. ^ "Sezon 2020/21". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  25. ^ "IV liga 2020/2021, grupa: mazowiecka (Warszawa)". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  26. ^ "Młodzieżowiec Sierpnia PKO Banku Polskiego: Mateusz Kowalczyk (GKS Katowice)" (in Polish). Ekstraklasa. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
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