Wellington Phoenix have signed midfielder Michal KopczyĆski on a season-long loan deal from current Polish Champions Legia Warsaw, the Hyundai A-League club confirmed on Wednesday.
At just 26, Kopczynski joins Phoenix at the peak of his career and is regarded by those at the club as a player who can âlight-upâ the competition.
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He made his debut for his boyhood club Legia Warsaw in Poland in 2012 making 77 appearances, including playing 17 times last season in the clubâs title-winning campaign.
KopczyĆski also helped Legia Warsaw to qualify for the Champions League in 2016-17, appearing in over 30 games that season, including facing the might of Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Sporting Lisbon.
“I wanted to experience something new in playing abroad and talking about the project with Mark [coach Mark Rudan] helped me to decide to come to Wellington,â the Pole said.
“Heâs clear about what he wants in his players and what he needs from me.
“I have heard about Filip (Kurto) signing so it will be good for me to help settle in.”
PLAYER NEWS | Wellington Phoenix sign Polish Champion @Kopczynski22
Welcome to Wellington and to the @ALeague!
Read more here đ https://t.co/IFwhpV2jeL#COYN #PlayerSigning pic.twitter.com/cqCsZRZfTE
— Wellington Phoenix đ„ (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 25, 2018
Itâs been a big few weeks for Wellington in terms of signings, with keeper Kurto, defender Steven Taylor and playmakers Mitch Nichols and David Williams all joining Rudanâs revolution.
The Phoenix boss sees his new recruit as a deep-lying midfielder and is delighted to have secured KopczyĆskiâs services.
“Michal has all the attributes for what I require in a holding midfielder and those key skills to excel in the A-League,â Rudan said.
“Heâs got drive, composure, skill, vision, and grit to cover a lot of ground and work hard for the whole team.
“Besides giving everything for the shirt and an incredible attitude to win, he will be the kind of player the fans will love to come and watch.
“Michalâs got all the skills to light up this league.”
