Radosław Sobolewski (Polish pronunciation: [raˈdɔswaf sɔbɔˈlɛfskʲi]; born 13 December 1976) is a Polish professional football manager and former player who played as a defensive midfielder. He is currently the manager of I liga club Odra Opole. He played for the Poland national team.
Born in Białystok, Sobolewski started his career playing for Jagiellonia Białystok. In 1998, he was transferred to Wisła Płock, where he played for the next four years. He debuted in the top division on 7 March 1998 playing for Wisła Płock against Raków Częstochowa. In January 2003 he joined Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski, where he stayed until December 2004. In January 2005, he moved to Wisła Kraków, helping the team win four Ekstraklasa titles, in 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09 and 2010–11 seasons.[2]
During the 2005–06 winter transfer period, he was approached by English side Southampton . However, the offer was turned down by Wisła Kraków's board.[3]
Sobolewski was selected to the 23-men national squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals in Germany. At this tournament, he received a red card for two bookable offences in his team's second group-stage match against Germany. He was the fourth player to see red in the tournament and the first Polish player to be sent off in the World Cup.
Sobolewski retired from international football on 20 November 2007, shocking Polish football fans by doing so as it was just three days after Poland's 2–0 win over Belgium which ensured their passage to Euro 2008.
After retiring in the summer 2016, Sobolewski became assistant manager of his former club Wisła Kraków.[4] During his period at the club, which lasted until August 2019, Sobolewski was appointed joint-caretaker manager alongside the club's second assistant manager, Kazimierz Kmiecik, three times: The first time on 10 November 2016, when Dariusz Wdowczyk was fired until Kiko Ramírez was appointed on 5 January 2017.[5] The second time on 10 December 2017, where Kiko Ramírez was fired again, for the rest of 2017 before Joan Carrillo was appointed manager.[6] And the last and third time on 12 June 2018, where Carrillo was fired again, this time it lasted for only one week before a new manager was appointed.[7]
On 7 August 2019, he was appointed manager of Wisła Płock.[8]
On 12 April 2021, he was fired from Wisła Płock.
On 14 February 2022, Sobolewski was appointed assistant manager at Wisła Kraków after Jerzy Brzęczek became their head coach.[9]
On 3 October 2022, following Brzęczek's dismissal, he became Wisła's new head coach.[10] On 1 December 2023, following a 3–1 league defeat against Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza, Sobolewski resigned from his post during the post-match press conference,[11] and he left the club the following day.[12]
On 31 May 2024, Sobolewski returned to management by taking charge of another I liga club Odra Opole, on a two-year deal.[13]
Wisła Płock
Dyskobolia
Wisła Kraków
Individual
Individual
