Janas and Wojtkowiak join the coaching staff

Rafał Janas and the Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds competed in the Club World Cup in December. Following the end of the tournament, Lech finalized the negotiations with the Polish coach—the 46-year-old returns to Poznań after 18 months.

“Last year, Rafał worked alongside Maciej Skorża in Japan – they won the Asian Champions League and went on to play at the Club World Cup. In the past, they achieved success at Lech and won a Polish Championship title for the club’s 100^th anniversary. We have reached out to Rafał with an offer of cooperation because he is familiar with our players and their potential, and will be able to help coach Mariusz Rumak make the most of it. We still have a lot to do in terms of organization of play and we are counting on Rafał to help us improve,” said Lech’s Sporting Director, Tomasz Rząsa.

Grzegorz Wojtkowiak is also joining the coaching staff as an assistant. The 39-year-old is a former professional footballer with over 200 appearances in the Polish top division. He won the Championship title with Lech in 2010 and a Polish Cup trophy in 2009. After hanging up his boots, Wojtkowiak embarked on a coaching journey and for the past 2.5 years he worked for Lech’s Academy. In 2023, he was an assistant coach for a team which won the Junior Central League title (U-19). Meanwhile, last autumn, he was the head coach of a U-17 side.

“Grzegorz has immense experience as a player which impacts his role as a coach. He achieved success when playing for Lech, and now he will help the current players [do the same]. He is another talented coach who has climbed up the Academy ladder and jumped to the senior team. One of his tasks will be individual work with the players, developing their skills,” explained Rząsa.

“I have talked to Rafał and Grzegorz. Both are competent and have plenty of experience in various areas. I am happy that we have reached an agreement and that the coaching staff is now complete. We have divided tasks and we have started preparing intensely for the upcoming training period,” said coach Mariusz Rumak.

The players will return to Bułgarska Street following their winter holiday break on Monday, January 8^th, whereas the staff is to resume work on January 3^rd.