Szymon Sobczak (born 7 December 1992) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a striker for I liga club Arka Gdynia.

Szymon Sobczak
Personal information
Date of birth (1992-12-07) 7 December 1992 (age 31)
Place of birth Zakopane, Poland
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Arka Gdynia
Number 7
Youth career
0000–2008 Wisła Kraków
2008–2010 Górnik Zabrze
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2014 Górnik Zabrze 5 (0)
2012–2013Termalica Bruk-Bet (loan) 17 (3)
2013Calisia Kalisz (loan) 12 (6)
2014ROW 1964 Rybnik (loan) 14 (1)
2014–2015 ROW 1964 Rybnik 32 (9)
2015–2016 MKS Kluczbork 14 (1)
2016–2017 Stal Mielec 45 (10)
2017–2018 Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała 15 (1)
2018–2019 Stal Mielec 7 (0)
2019–2020 Stomil Olsztyn 46 (14)
2020–2021 Jagiellonia Białystok 1 (0)
2020–2021 Jagiellonia Białystok II 10 (6)
2021–2023 Zagłębie Sosnowiec 77 (27)
2023–2024 Wisła Kraków 30 (7)
2024– Arka Gdynia 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 May 2024

Early life

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Sobczak was born in 1992 in Poland. He is a native of Zakopane, Poland.[1]

Career

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Having spent most of his youth career with Wisła Kraków, Sobczak started his senior career with Ekstraklasa club Górnik Zabrze. In 2012, he was sent on loan to I liga club Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza. In 2013, he moved on loan to third-tier outfit Calisia Kalisz. In 2014, he left Górnik on loan again, this time joining ROW 1964 Rybnik, before moving there on a permanent basis following his loan spell. In 2015, he moved to MKS Kluczbork for a brief period, before joining Stal Mielec in early 2016. After spending a year-and-a-half in Mielec, Sobczak moved to Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała. In 2018, he returned to Stal. In early 2019, he joined Stomil Olsztyn. In 2020, he signed for Polish side Jagiellonia Białystok. In 2021, he moved to Zagłębie Sosnowiec. He was regarded as one of the club's most important players.[2]

On 30 June 2023, Sobczak returned to his maiden club Wisła Kraków on a one-year deal, with an extension option.[3] Initially a back-up striker, he earned a regular spot in the starting line-up in November, and enjoyed a run of good form the following month, scoring thrice in three league games, which earned him Player of the Month honours.[4]

He was named in the starting line-up for the 2023–24 Polish Cup final against Pogoń Szczecin on 2 May 2024; the game ended with Wisła winning 2–1 after extra time.[5] In the 2023–24 season, he recorded 10 goals and six assists in 35 appearances across all competitions, as Wisła decided not to extend his contract.[6]

On 25 June 2024, he signed a two-year deal with fellow I liga club Arka Gdynia.[7]

Style of play

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Sobczak mainly operates as a striker. He has been described as a player who "plays well with his head, can go lower to play and shoot from distance".[8]

Career statistics

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As of 30 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Polish Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Górnik Zabrze 2010–11[9] Ekstraklasa 4 0 1 0 5 0
2011–12[10] Ekstraklasa 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 5 0 1 0 6 0
Termalica Bruk-Bet (loan) 2012–13[11] I liga 17 3 2 1 19 4
Calisia Kalisz (loan) 2013–14[12] II liga 12 6 0 0 12 6
ROW 1964 Rybnik (loan) 2013–14[12] I liga 14 1 14 1
ROW 1964 Rybnik 2014–15[13] I liga 32 9 2 1 34 10
Total 46 10 2 1 48 11
MKS Kluczbork 2015–16[14] I liga 14 1 1 0 15 1
Stal Mielec 2015–16[14] II liga 14 5 14 5
2016–17[15] I liga 31 5 3 3 34 8
Total 45 10 3 3 48 13
Podbeskidzie 2017–18[16] I liga 15 1 2 1 17 2
Stal Mielec 2017–18[16] I liga 7 0 7 0
Stomil Olsztyn 2018–19[17] I liga 13 4 13 4
2019–20[18] I liga 33 10 3 2 36 12
Total 46 14 3 2 49 16
Jagiellonia Białystok 2020–21[19] Ekstraklasa 1 0 0 0 1 0
Jagiellonia Białystok II 2020–21[19] III liga, gr. I 10 6 10 6
Zagłębie Sosnowiec 2020–21[19] I liga 14 1 14 1
2021–22[20] I liga 34 17 2 3 36 20
2022–23[21] I liga 29 9 2 1 31 10
Total 77 27 4 4 81 31
Wisła Kraków 2023–24[22] I liga 30 7 5 3 35 10
Arka Gdynia 2024–25 I liga 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 325 85 23 15 0 0 0 0 348 100

Honours

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Stal Mielec

Wisła Kraków

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Szymon Sobczak: Jesteśmy zespołem głodnym zwycięstw". igol.pl.
  2. ^ "Czy Szymon Sobczak odejdzie? Trudne rozmowy z piłkarem". sportdziennik.com.
  3. ^ "Oficjalnie: Wisła Kraków pozyskała napastnika z Zagłębia Sosnowiec". weszlo.com (in Polish). 30 June 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Szymon Sobczak piłkarzem grudnia Fortuna 1 Ligi" (in Polish). Wisła Kraków. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Olbrzymia niespodzianka w finale Pucharu Polski. Wisła Kraków wygrała z Pogonią Szczecin [WIDEO]". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Szymon Sobczak żegna się z Wisłą Kraków" (in Polish). Wisła Kraków. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Szymon Sobczak zawodnikiem Arki". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 25 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Zagadka Szymona Sobczaka. Co się dzieje z napastnikiem Jagi?". weszlo.com.
  9. ^ "Sezon 2010/11". 90minut. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Sezon 2011/12". 90minut. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Sezon 2012/13". 90minut. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Sezon 2013/14". 90minut. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Sezon 2014/15". 90minut. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Sezon 2015/16". 90minut. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Sezon 2016/17". 90minut. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Sezon 2017/18". 90minut. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Sezon 2018/19". 90minut. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  18. ^ "Sezon 2019/20". 90minut. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  19. ^ a b c "Sezon 2020/21". 90minut. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Sezon 2021/22". 90minut. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Sezon 2022/23". 90minut. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Sezon 2023/24". 90minut. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Szymon Sobczak". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 3 May 2024.