Former Poland international Zbigniew Boniek has been appointed the country's new national team coach, the Polish football federation announced today.
Boniek, who earned 80 caps and helped his country to third place in the 1982 World Cup, will leave his role as the Federation's vice-president on July 15 to begin his preparations for Poland's Euro 2004 bid.
Regarded as one of the country's biggest stars, Boniek played alongside former French star Michel Platini for Juventus in the early 1980s and starred in three World Cup finals.
The 46-year-old takes over from Jerzy Engel who was sacked after his failure to lead Poland beyond the first round of last month's World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
The Poles lost to South Korea and Portugal before defeating the United States in their last match.