Jakub Błaszczykowski

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Jakub Błaszczykowski
Jakub Błaszczykowski3.jpg
Błaszczykowski with Poland in 2011
Personal information
Date of birth (1985-12-14) 14 December 1985 (age 38)
Place of birth Truskolasy,[1] Poland
Height Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Fiorentina
(on loan from Borussia Dortmund)
Number 16
Youth career
1993–2002 Raków Częstochowa
2002–2003 Górnik Zabrze
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 KS Częstochowa 24 (11)
2004–2007 Wisła Kraków 51 (3)
2007– Borussia Dortmund 197 (27)
2015– → Fiorentina (loan) 8 (2)
International career‡
2004–2005 Poland U19 8 (0)
2005–2006 Poland U21 3 (1)
2006– Poland 75 (15)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 January 2016
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 November 2015

Jakub "Kuba" Błaszczykowski (Polish pronunciation: [ˈjakub bwaʂt͡ʂɨˈkɔfskʲi] ( listen); born 14 December 1985) is a Polish footballer who plays as a winger for Italian club Fiorentina on loan from German club Borussia Dortmund. He was the captain of the Poland national football team when they hosted UEFA Euro 2012.

Club career

Early career

Raised in Truskolasy near Częstochowa, Błaszczykowski began training at Raków Częstochowa when he was eight years old.[2] In 2002, at age 16, he joined the youth side of Górnik Zabrze. In early 2003 he joined KS Częstochowa and played in the Polish fourth league until the end of 2004. His uncle, former Poland captain Jerzy Brzęczek, then helped him get a trial at Wisła Kraków, where he impressed then-manager Werner Lička.[3]

Błaszczykowski quickly broke into Wisła's first team, with his first league appearance coming on 20 March 2005 against Polonia Warsaw. By the end of the season, he was an established part of the starting 11. With Wisła he won the Polish Ekstraklasa title in his debut season, and they were runners-up the following season. Additionally he won Canal+'s "Football Oscar" for the best midfielder in the Polish top division. He was also named to the Ekstraklasa Best XI of the 2006–07 season in the Polish Footballers' Association voting.[4]

Borussia Dortmund

Błaszczykowski with Borussia Dortmund in 2007

In February 2007, Błaszczykowski signed a four-year contract with Borussia Dortmund for an undisclosed fee, joining the Bundesliga side in July of that year.[citation needed] He played with the shirt name "Kuba", a diminutive form of his first name, until 2012.[5] During the 2008–09 season, he was plagued by a torn leg muscle.[6] He was nevertheless voted Polish Footballer of the Year in December 2008.[7]

Błaszczykowski with Borussia Dortmund won the Bundesliga title for two consecutive seasons in 2010–11 and 2011–12. He also won the 2011–12 DFB-Pokal, providing two assists in the final 5–2 victory over Bayern Munich.[8] In July 2012, he was named on UEFA's 32-man shortlist for the Best Player in Europe award.[9]

Błaszczykowski signed a new contract with Borussia Dortmund on 24 July 2012, keeping him with the German club until 2016.[10][11] He scored his first goal of the 2012–13 season in the opening round of the DFB-Pokal on 18 August 2012, setting up Marco Reus for Dortmund's opening goal before netting their second, as the Yellow-Blacks achieved a 3–0 victory at FC Oberneuland.[12] On 25 January 2013, Błaszczykowski scored two goals within the first 21 minutes against 1. FC Nürnberg, sending Dortmund on their way to a 3–0 victory and putting the defending champions within just nine points of league leaders Bayern.[13] In Dortmund's 3–2 victory over Bayer 04 Leverkusen on 3 February, which moved Dortmund above Leverkusen into second place, he converted a penalty in the ninth minute to put his side up 2–0.[14] He scored Dortmund's third goal in a 3–0 rout of Shakhtar Donetsk on 5 March, completing a 5–2 aggregate victory over the Ukrainian champions as Dortmund progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.[15] The result meant that the Yellow-Blacks had advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time in 15 years.[16]

On 2 June 2013, Błaszczykowski signed a new contract with Borussia Dortmund, keeping him at the club until 2018.[17] On 27 July 2013, Błaszczykowski won the 2013 DFL-Supercup with Dortmund 4–2 against rivals Bayern Munich.[18] On 26 October 2013, Błaszczykowski scored a goal for Dortmund in the Revierderby against rivals Schalke in a 3–1 win for Dortmund.[19]

Fiorentina (loan)

On 31 August 2015, Błaszczykowski joined Fiorentina for a season-long loan from Borussia Dortmund for €1 million with an option to buy for a fee of an extra €6 million once the loan expires.[20]

International career

Błaszczykowski playing for Poland in 2011

Błaszczykowski debuted for the Poland national football team on 28 March 2006 in a friendly against Saudi Arabia. He did not receive a call up for the 2006 FIFA World Cup due to injury.[21] He scored his first goal for Poland on 22 August 2007 in a friendly against Russia.[22] Błaszczykowski was an important part of Poland's successful UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign and was named in Poland's squad for UEFA Euro 2008, but he withdrew due to injury.[23] On 17 November 2010, in a friendly match against Côte d'Ivoire, Błaszczykowski made his debut as captain of the Polish national team.

Błaszczykowski captaining Poland in 2013

Euro 2012

On 8 June 2012, in the opening game of UEFA Euro 2012 against Greece, Błaszczykowski assisted Robert Lewandowski's goal in a 1–1 draw. In the second group stage match against Russia, he scored a long range equalising goal in a 1–1 draw and was named Man of the Match.[24]

World Cup 2014 qualifying

Błaszczykowski was Poland's current top scorer in their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign with four goals. His first two strikes were from the penalty spot, his first gave Poland an early lead in their opening group game with Montenegro, a match which finished 2–2. His second goal came four days later, again giving Poland the lead in their 2–0 win over Moldova. He did not feature in the 1–1 draw with England due to injury. Błaszczykowski got the assist for Piszczek's goal in the 3–1 defeat to Ukraine. He did not feature against San Marino four days later due to an injury sustained in the pre-match warm up. On 7 June 2013, he scored his third goal of the qualifying campaign by grabbing the opener against Moldova – a game which finished 1–1. After San Marino scored an equaliser in a qualifying match on 10 September 2013, Błaszczykowski restored the lead just a minute later and Poland went on to win the match 5–1.

Personal life

As a child, Błaszczykowski witnessed a family tragedy which had a major influence on his life.[25] In September 1996, when he was 10 years old, his father stabbed his mother to death.[3][25][26] After his father went to prison, he and his older brother, Dawid, were raised by their grandmother.[2] He briefly gave up football, but with the encouragement of his uncle, Jerzy Brzęczek, a former captain of the Polish national football team, he decided to resume training at Raków Częstochowa two months later.[3][27] Błaszczykowski has credited his successes to his grandmother.[28] He dedicates every goal he scores to his mother and can be seen looking up to the sky during goal celebrations.

Błaszczykowski married Agata Gołaszewska in June 2010.[29] Their daughter, Oliwia, was born on 20 April 2011.[25][30] Their second daughter, Lena, was born on 26 June 2014. He is a devout Roman Catholic, who reads the Bible on a daily basis, prays often, and participates in the "I am not ashamed of Jesus" project.[31]

Career statistics

As of 22 August 2015[32][33][34]
Club Season League Domestic League Domestic Cups[nb 1] Continental[nb 2] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
KS Częstochowa 2002–03 III Liga 2 0 – – 2 0
2003–04 13 5 – – 13 5
2004–05 9 6 – – 9 6
Total KS Częstochowa 24 11 – – – – 24 11
Wisła Kraków 2004–05 Ekstraklasa 11 1 4 1 – 15 2
2005–06 17 0 2 0 1 0 20 0
2006–07 23 2 1 1 8 0 32 3
Total Wisła Kraków 51 3 7 2 9 0 67 5
Borussia Dortmund 2007–08 Bundesliga 24 1 3 0 – 27 1
2008–09 27 3 0 0 2 0 29 3
2009–10 32 1 2 0 – 34 1
2010–11 29 3 1 0 7 0 37 3
2011–12 29 6 6 0 5 1 40 7
2012–13 27 11 4 2 10 1 41 14
2013–14 16 2 2 0 6 1 24 3
2014–15 13 0 4 0 3 0 20 0
Total Borussia Dortmund 197 27 22 2 33 3 252 32
ACF Fiorentina 2015–16 Serie A 7 1 0 0 3 0 10 1
Career total 279 41 29 4 45 3 353 48
  1. ↑ Includes DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup
  2. ↑ Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League

International goals

Score and Result lists Poland's goals first[32]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 22 August 2007 Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow, Russia  Russia 2–2 2–2 Friendly
2. 11 October 2008 Silesian Stadium, Chorzów, Poland  Czech Republic 2–0 2–1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3. 3 March 2010 Stadion Polonii Warszawa, Warsaw, Poland  Bulgaria 1–0 2–0 Friendly
4. 9 October 2010 Soldier Field, Chicago, USA  United States 2–2 2–2 Friendly
5. 10 August 2011 Stadion Zagłębia Lubin, Lubin, Poland  Georgia 1–0 1–0 Friendly
6. 6 September 2011 PGE Arena Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland  Germany 2–1 2–2 Friendly
7. 7 October 2011 Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea  South Korea 2–2 2–2 Friendly
8. 11 October 2011 BRITA-Arena, Wiesbaden, Germany  Belarus 1–0 2–0 Friendly
9. 2 June 2012 Polish Army Stadium, Warsaw, Poland  Andorra 3–0 4–0 Friendly
10. 12 June 2012 National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland  Russia 1–1 1–1 UEFA Euro 2012
11. 7 September 2012 Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro  Montenegro 1–0 2–2 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
12. 11 September 2012 Stadion Miejski, Wrocław, Poland  Moldova 1–0 2–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
13. 7 June 2013 Zimbru Stadium, Chișinău, Moldova  Moldova 1–0 1–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
14. 10 September 2013 Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle, San Marino  San Marino 2–1 5–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
15. 7 September 2015 Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland  Gibraltar 6–0 8–1 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying

Honours

Łukasz Piszczek and Jakub Błaszczykowski celebrate winning the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double with Borussia Dortmund in 2012

Club

Wisła Kraków[32]
Borussia Dortmund[32]

Individual

References

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  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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