Lukas Podolski

Profile Football Stars |  Lukas Podolski  | Podolski began playing football at the age of six in the youth team of FC Bergheim, where he played until he joined 1. FC Köln in 1995. It was there where Podolski's talents were first noticed. In 2003, at the age of 18, Podolski was still part of the club's youth side.  Josef Lukas Podolski, is a German footballer plays as a striker who or winger. for the German national team. After three years with mixed success in Munich, Podolski returned to Cologne. 

Though his call up to the German Euro 2004 squad along Brought Several interest from top clubs, Podolski stayed at Köln to help the club gain promotion in the 2004-05 season. With 24 goals, Podolski advanced to Become the league's best scorer. Somewhat unusually, Podolski remained part of the Germany squad, even though he did not play in the national top-tier league. After Köln were Promoted, the pressure was on Podolski to keep the club in the Bundesliga Practically singlehandedly. Podolski managed to score 12 goals in the 2005-06 season, but eventually, Köln were relegated again.

FC Köln through 2007. On 1 June 2006, Podolski Announced That a transfer agreement had been reached with Bayern Munich, allowing him to join the Bavarian side for the 2006-07 season. On 14 October 2006, with his first Bundesliga goal for Bayern, Podolski helped to secure the club's 4-2 win over Hertha Berlin. Podolski missed more than five match weeks. After a rather unhappy season at Bayern, he returned to former club Cologne on 1 July 2009.

In late 2003, after Several impressive performances in his first few Bundesliga games, Polish media suggested then-Polish national team coach Paweł Janas should check Podolski out, as he was still eligible to play for Poland. " By That time Podolski was still interested in representing Poland, but as the season progressed German media increasingly highlighted his performances to suggest he should be called up to the German national team. Even though the Germans played with 10-men throughout the rest of the game, Podolski had Numerous chances on goal. In the quarter final against Argentina, Klose to Podolski assisted a goal, Bringing the score to 2-0. The Germans won the match 4-0. During qualification, Podolski Provided assists for three goals and scored three times, Helping Germany to win all 10 matches of Their qualification campaign.

Personal information
Full name Josef Lukas Podolski
Date of birth 4 June 1985 (age 26)
Place of birth Gliwice, Poland
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1/2 in)
Playing position Striker / Winger

Club information
Current club 1. FC Köln
Number 10

Youth career
1991-1995 FC Jugend 07 Bergheim
1995-2002 1. FC Köln

Senior career
years Team
2002-2004 1. FC Köln II 2 (0)
2003-2006 1. FC Köln 81 (46)
Bayern Munich 2006-2009 71 (15)
2007-2008 Bayern Munich II 2 (0)
2009-1. FC Köln 79 (31)

National team
2004 Germany U-21 5 (0)
2004-Germany 95 (43)

Honours

Club
FC Köln
Bundesliga: 2004-05

FC Bayern Munich
     Bundesliga: 2007-08
     DFB-Pokal: 2008
     DFB-Ligapokal: 2007

Individual
     FIFA World Cup Best Young Player: 2006
     UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament 

     UEFA Euro 2008 Silver Boot
     Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (2): 2006, 2010
     Second Bundesliga Top Goalscorer (24 goals): 2005

National team
     FIFA World Cup Third Place: 2006, 2010
     UEFA European Football Championship Runner-up: 2008