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.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 16 April 2004 | ||
| 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) | |||
Club career
editŁKS Łódź
editBorn 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
editOn 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
editOn 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
editKowalczyk 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
editKowalczyk, 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]
| 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 | ||
- ^ Includes Polish Cup, Danish Cup
- ^ Appearances in IV liga Masovia promotion play-offs
Honours
editZąbkovia Ząbki
- IV liga Masovia: 2020–21 (Warsaw group)[25]
ŁKS Łódź
Individual
- Ekstraklasa Young Player of the Month: August 2024[26]
References
edit- ^ a b c Mateusz Kowalczyk at Soccerway
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Jastrzębie vs. ŁKS Łódź 1–1: Summary". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ "ŁKS Łódź vs. Sandecja Nowy Sącz 3–2: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Sikker sejr i Oddset Pokalen". Brøndby IF (in Danish). 27 September 2023. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ "Hvidovre vs. Brøndby 0–3: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ "Mateusz Kowalczyk piłkarzem GKS-u Katowice" (in Polish). GKS Katowice. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Powołania do reprezentacji Polski na wrześniowe mecze Ligi Narodów" (in Polish). Polish Football Association. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Zawodnik: Mateusz Kowalczyk". laczynaspilka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ "Zawodnik: Mateusz Kowalczyk". laczynaspilka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ "Zawodnik: Mateusz Kowalczyk". laczynaspilka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ "Sezon 2020/21". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ "IV liga 2020/2021, grupa: mazowiecka (Warszawa)". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ "Młodzieżowiec Sierpnia PKO Banku Polskiego: Mateusz Kowalczyk (GKS Katowice)" (in Polish). Ekstraklasa. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.