Ebi Smolarek

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ebi Smolarek

| image = Euzebiusz Smolarek 2011.jpg

| caption = Smolarek with Polonia Warsaw in 2011

| fullname = Euzebiusz Smolarek{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Poland |publisher=FIFA |page=21 |date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2019}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|1|9|df=y}}

| birth_place = Łódź, Poland

| height = 1.78m

| position = Striker, winger

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = VV Spirit

| youthyears2 = 1993–2000| youthclubs2 = Feyenoord

| years1 = 2000–2005| clubs1 = Feyenoord| caps1 = 68| goals1 = 12

| years2 = 2005–2007| clubs2 = Borussia Dortmund| caps2 = 81| goals2 = 25

| years3 = 2007–2009| clubs3 = Racing Santander| caps3 = 34| goals3 = 4

| years4 = 2008–2009| clubs4 = → Bolton Wanderers (loan) | caps4 = 12| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2009–2010| clubs5 = Kavala| caps5 = 15| goals5 = 3

| years6 = 2010–2011| clubs6 = Polonia Warsaw| caps6 = 23| goals6 = 7

| years7 = 2011–2012| clubs7 = Al-Khor| caps7 = 10| goals7 = 3

| years8 = 2012 | clubs8 = ADO Den Haag | caps8 = 12 | goals8 = 2

| years9 = 2012–2013| clubs9 = Jagiellonia Białystok | caps9 = 20 | goals9 = 4

| totalcaps = 275 | totalgoals = 60

| nationalyears1 = 2002–2010| nationalteam1 = Poland| nationalcaps1 = 47| nationalgoals1 = 19

| medaltemplates =

| club-update =

| nationalteam-update =

| manageryears1 = 2014

| managerclubs1 = Feyenoord (youth)

}}

Euzebiusz "Ebi" Smolarek ({{IPA|pol|ɛu̯ˈzɛbjuʂ smɔˈlarɛk}}; born 9 January 1981) is a Polish former professional footballer. He is currently the head of the Polish Union of Footballers.{{cite web |title=Euzebiusz Smolarek |url=https://www.laczynaspilka.pl/biblioteka/kroniki/euzebiusz-smolarek |website=laczynaspilka.pl |access-date=20 March 2024 |language=pl |date=9 January 2024}}

He played primarily as a striker or winger,{{cite web | url = http://www.borussia-dortmund.com/?%9F%2Ah%97%84%ECSm%E1%81%9D | title = Smolarek close to leaving for Spain | publisher = borussia-dortmund.com | access-date = 15 November 2007 | date = 23 August 2007}} representing clubs in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Spain, England, Greece, and Qatar.

Smolarek played 47 times for the Poland national football team, scoring 19 goals,Andrzej Gowarzewski: Biało-Czerwoni. Dzieje reprezentacji Polski (6) 2008-2015. Katowice: Wydawnictwo GiA, 2016, p. 37. {{ISBN|978-83-88232-48-0}}. the joint-tenth most in the nation's history. He was part of the Polish squads at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008. He was voted the Polish Footballer of the Year in 2005, 2006 and 2007.{{cite web |title=Smolarek wygrał plebiscyt "Piłki Nożnej" |url=https://www.wirtualnemedia.pl/artykul/smolarek-wygral-plebiscyt-pilki-noznej |website=wirtualnemedia.pl |access-date=22 December 2024 |language=pl |date=19 December 2005}}{{Cite web |url=https://radomsko.naszemiasto.pl/ebi-pilkarzem-roku-zibi-graczem-50-lecia/ar/c2-6556965 |language=pl |title=Ebi - Piłkarzem Roku, Zibi - graczem 50-lecia |website=radomsko.naszemiasto.pl |date=18 December 2006 |access-date=22 December 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://chorzow.naszemiasto.pl/ebi-pilkarzem-roku/ar/c2-6789323 |language=pl |title=Ebi Piłkarzem Roku! |website=chorzow.naszemiasto.pl |date=9 December 2007 |access-date=22 December 2024}}

Club career

Born in Łódź, Smolarek grew up in the Netherlands, where his father, Włodzimierz Smolarek, played in the Eredivisie and later worked as a coach.{{cite web | url = http://www.beijen.net/frank/nlalrtchto.htm | title = Goalscorers list Eredivisie | publisher = beijen.net | access-date = 15 November 2007 | year = 2003 | language = nl}} Smolarek went through the Feyenoord youth system and made it all the way to the first team.[https://archive.today/20210503204010/https://www.laczynaspilka.pl/specjalne/wywiady/wywiad-ebi-smolarek-salutowalem-tacie-i-kibicom Ebi Smolarek: Salutowałem tacie i kibicom] laczynaspilka.pl (Archived)

On 24 August 2007, Smolarek signed with Racing de Santander for a reported €4.8 million.{{cite web | title = Smolarek signs for Santander | url = https://int.soccerway.com/news/2007/August/24/smolarek-signs-for-santander/ | access-date = 15 November 2007 | publisher = soccerway.com}}

File:Polonia Warszawa vs Jagiellonia Białystok 05-2011 3.jpg]]

On 29 August 2008, Racing loaned Smolarek to Bolton Wanderers for the season, with a view to signing him permanently.{{cite news |title=Bolton bring in Smolarek on loan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/7589307.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date= 29 August 2008 |access-date= 8 October 2008}} Smolarek's debut for his new club came as the team lost 3–1 to Arsenal on 20 September 2008.{{cite news |title=Bolton 1–3 Arsenal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7613918.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 September 2008 | access-date= 8 October 2008}}

On 3 January 2009, Smolarek scored his first, and only, goal for Bolton in the FA Cup 3rd Round match away to Sunderland{{cite web

|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7803333.stm

| title=Sunderland 2–1 Bolton | publisher=BBC |date=3 January 2009 | access-date=4 September 2009}} but at the end of the season the club decided not to make his loan permanent. On 10 August 2009 he was released by Racing.{{cite news |title=Racing Santander release Ebi Smolarek|url=http://www.imscouting.com/global_news_item.aspx?id=2802 |publisher=IMS Scouting|date=10 August 2009 | access-date= 10 August 2009}}

Despite some interest from Bundesliga clubs at the start of the 2009–10 season,{{cite web | url = http://www.goal.com/es/news/21/fichajes/2009/10/06/1544116/mercado-el-hamburgo-renuncia-a-contratar-a-smolarek | title = Mercado: El Hamburgo renuncia a contratar a Smolarek | language = es | publisher = goal.com | access-date = 15 December 2009| date = 6 October 2009}} Smolarek signed on 14 December 2009 with Kavala until 30 June 2012.{{cite web | url = http://www.sports.pl/Pilka-nozna/Euzebiusz-Smolarek-zagra-w-AO-Kavala,artykul,64603,1,379.html | title = Smolarek wreszcie znalazł klub | language = pl | publisher = sports.pl | access-date = 15 December 2009 | date = 15 December 2009 | archive-date = 18 December 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091218113309/http://www.sports.pl/Pilka-nozna/Euzebiusz-Smolarek-zagra-w-AO-Kavala,artykul,64603,1,379.html | url-status = dead }} On 25 July 2010, he and the club agreed to cancel his contract by mutual consent. He signed a two-year contract with Polonia Warsaw on 27 July 2010.{{cite web | url = http://www.sports.pl/Pilka-nozna/Transfery-Euzebiusz-Smolarek-pilkarzem-Polonii-Warszawa,artykul,82452,1,717.html | title = Smolarek oficjalnie w Polonii. Czarne Koszule tworzą mistrzowską drużynę | language = pl | publisher = sports.pl | access-date = 28 July 2010 | date = 27 July 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100730073010/http://www.sports.pl/Pilka-nozna/Transfery-Euzebiusz-Smolarek-pilkarzem-Polonii-Warszawa,artykul,82452,1,717.html | archive-date = 30 July 2010 | df = dmy-all }} On 29 July 2011, Smolarek agreed to cancel his contract with Polonia due to his financial expectations.{{cite web | url = http://www.90minut.pl/news/163/news1636769-Euzebiusz-Smolarek-odchodzi-z-Polonii-Warszawa.html |title = Euzebiusz Smolarek odchodzi z Polonii Warszawa.| language = pl | publisher = 90minut.pl | access-date = 30 July 2011 | date = 29 July 2011}}

Smolarek also played for Ekstraklasa side Jagiellonia Białystok.{{cite web | url = http://www.jagiellonia.pl/aktualnosci.php?a=11116 | title = Smolarek oficjalnie w Jagiellonii | language = pl | publisher = jagiellonia.pl | date = 12 September 2012 | access-date = 12 September 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150604173834/http://www.jagiellonia.pl/aktualnosci.php?a=11116 | archive-date = 4 June 2015 | df = dmy-all }}

International career

File:Poland & US friendly soccer match in Kaiserslautern 2006-03-01.jpg of the United States in a March 2006 friendly]]

A Polish international since 2002, Smolarek was selected for the 2006 FIFA World Cup but failed to score any goals.

He was Poland's and Group A's top scorer in UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying scoring nine goals, beating Cristiano Ronaldo. Smolarek scored a hat-trick against Kazakhstan in Warsaw. He played all of the nation's matches in Switzerland and Austria, as Poland exited in the group stages.

In a memorable feat, he was the first Pole to score a goal against Portugal in 20 years, the previous one being his father. Impressively, he scored both goals in a 2–1 win in a Euro 2008-qualifying match.{{cite web | url = http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=197282&cc=5739 | title = Poland 2–1 Portugal: Smolarek stuns Portugal | publisher = ESPN | access-date = 15 November 2007 | date = 7 October 2006 | archive-date = 21 October 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121021141647/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=197282&cc=5739 | url-status = dead }}

On 1 April 2009, Smolarek scored four goals against San Marino. This made him top goal scorer for group three and tied him with Belgium's Wesley Sonck for second highest goal scorer for the European Zone of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification.{{cite web | url = https://www.przegladsportowy.pl/pilka-nozna/reprezentacja-polski/euzebiusz-smolarek-trener-powinien-odejsc-po-euro/j9c99ng | title = Trener powinien odejść po Euro | language = pl | first = Piotr | last = Wołosik | access-date = 21 April 2019}}

Personal life

Smolarek is the son of another Polish international, Włodzimierz Smolarek. He was named after Portuguese footballer Eusébio.{{cite web | url = http://www.abc.net.au/sport/columns/200605/s1641691.htm | title = Ebi Smolarek: Poland star follows in father's footsteps| publisher = abc.net.au | access-date = 15 November 2007 | date = 24 April 2006}} With his Dutch fiancée Thirza van Giessen he has a son (b. 27 April 2010), named Mees.{{cite web|url=http://ekstraklasa.wp.pl/kat,1740,title,Smolarek-fotografowanie-Meesa-to-chamstwo,wid,12522494,wiadomosc.html?ticaid=1c86e |title=Smolarek: fotografowanie Meesa to chamstwo |date=29 July 2010|publisher=Wirtualna Polska |language=pl |access-date=21 June 2011}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2" width=160\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup{{efn\|Includes KNVB Cup, DFB-Pokal, Copa del Rey, FA Cup, Greek Football Cup, Polish Cup}} !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan=6\|Feyenoord \|2000–01 \|Eredivisie \|25	3	0	0	2	0	27	3
2001–02 \|Eredivisie \|19	2	1	0	7	0	27	2
2002–03 \|Eredivisie \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2003–04 \|Eredivisie \|21	7	0	0	1	0	22	7
2004–05 \|Eredivisie \|3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
colspan="2"\|Total !68	12	1	0	10	0	79	12
rowspan=5\|Borussia Dortmund \|2004–05 \|Bundesliga \|15	3	0	0	4	0	19	3
2005–06 \|Bundesliga \|34	13	1	0	2	0	37	13
2006–07 \|Bundesliga \|30	9	2	0	0	0	32	9
2007–08 \|Bundesliga \|2	0	1	1	0	0	3	1
colspan="2"\|Total !81	25	4	1	6	0	91	26
Racing Santander \|2007–08 \|La Liga \|34	4	6	2	colspan="2"\|–	40	6
Bolton Wanderers (loan) \|2008–09 \|Premier League \|12	0	1	1	colspan="2"\|–	13	1
\|Kavala \|2009–10 \|Super League Greece \|15	3	3	0	colspan="2"\|–	18	3
\|Polonia Warsaw \|2010–11 \|Ekstraklasa \|23	7	3	0	colspan="2"\|–	26	7
\|Al-Khor \|2011–12 \|Qatar Stars League \|10	3	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	10	3
\|ADO Den Haag \|2011–12 \|Eredivisie \|12	2	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	12	2
\|Jagiellonia \|2012–13 \|Ekstraklasa \|20	4	3	1	colspan="2"\|–	23	5
colspan="3"\|Career total !275	60	21	5	16	0	312	65

=International goals=

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" ! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
1.	3 September 2005	Chorzów, Poland	{{fb\|Austria}}	3–2	Win	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
2.	7 October 2005	Warsaw, Poland	{{fb\|Iceland}}	3–2	Win	Friendly
3.	13 November 2005	Barcelona, Spain	{{fb\|Ecuador}}	3–0	Win	Friendly
4.	3 June 2006	Wolfsburg, Germany	{{fb\|Croatia}}	1–0	Win	Friendly
5.	7 October 2006	Almaty, Kazakhstan	{{fb\|Kazakhstan}}	1–0	Win	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group A
6.	rowspan=2\| 11 October 2006	rowspan=2\| Chorzów, Poland	rowspan=2\| {{fb\|Portugal}}	rowspan=2\| 2–1	rowspan=2\| Win	rowspan=2\| UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group A
7.
8.	2 June 2007	Baku, Azerbaijan	{{fb\|Azerbaijan}}	3–1	Win	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group A
9.	rowspan=3\| 13 October 2007	rowspan=3\| Warsaw, Poland	rowspan=3\| {{fb\|Kazakhstan}}	rowspan=3\| 3–1	rowspan=3\| Win	rowspan=3\| UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group A
10.
11.
12.	rowspan=2\| 17 November 2007	rowspan=2\| Chorzów, Poland	rowspan=2\| {{fb\|Belgium}}	rowspan=2\| 2–0	rowspan=2\| Win	rowspan=2\| UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group A
13.
14.	10 September 2008	Serravalle, San Marino	{{fb\|San Marino}}	2–0	Win	FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying
15.	15 October 2008	Bratislava, Slovakia	{{fb\|Slovakia}}	1–2	Loss	FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying
16.	rowspan=3\| 1 April 2009	rowspan=3\| Kielce, Poland	rowspan=3\| {{fb\|San Marino}}	rowspan=3\| 10–0	rowspan=3\| Win	rowspan=3\| FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying
17.
18.
19.	12 October 2010	Montreal, Canada	{{fb\|Ecuador}}	2–2	Draw	Friendly

Honours

Feyenoord

UEFA Cup: 2001–02

Individual

Polish Footballer of the Year: 2005, 2006, 2007{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/footballer_of_the_year/polen/|title=Player of the year » Poland|website=World Football|access-date=25 September 2020}}