There’s a buzz across the terminal at Cologne Bonn Airport. Lukas Podolski has simply landed in his personal jet – a Cessna CJ1 – and phrase is spreading that he will likely be having lunch at his new kebab restaurant within the arrivals space.
He’s a hero in these elements. Having left Poland for Germany as a baby, he joined Cologne’s youth crew on the age of 10. That is the place he lower his tooth. It’s the place he impersonated the Brazilian Ronaldo on the streets, earlier than profitable a World Cup of his personal for Germany.
An keen crowd has fashioned. Podolski indicators autographs and stops for selfies earlier than getting into the kitchen. ‘I hope you’re hungry!’ he says, selecting up an enormous carving knife. Slicing off half a pound of doner meat, he stuffs it right into a recent pitta bread and we dig in.
‘I grew up consuming kebabs,’ he says. ‘They’re well-known right here. I began this enterprise six years in the past and we wish to make it large. I am not residing to simply practice, sleep and watch Netflix. Lately, no one needs to work. Everybody desires of changing into a social media star or a YouTuber. That is why an increasing number of bakeries are closing. No one needs to rise up within the morning and do the soiled work.’
Now 38, Podolski performs for Gornik Zabrze within the Polish first division, again within the robust mining city the place he was born. It’s the very place that cast his urge for food for soiled work. His journey throughout the border is a flying one, in between coaching and reducing the ribbon on his latest restaurant earlier than 1000’s of followers flood in for the Euros.
Former Arsenal and Germany ahead Lukas Podolski has chewed the fats with Mail Sport
Podolski owns greater than 30 eating places as a part of his profitable enterprise empire
His title favourites? ‘France or England… possibly Spain, Germany or Belgium.’
Over lunch we focus on Arsenal, Harry Kane, VAR and this summer time’s event, topics we are going to revisit in additional depth later. ‘Harry Kane has received as many trophies at Bayern Munich as he did at Tottenham,’ he jokes. None, after all.
To start with, the main focus is on his enterprise empire. Podolski owns greater than 30 eating places and has a web value of round £180million. What does he plan to spend it on? ‘Gornik Zabrze,’ he says, with a twinkle in his eye. ‘Let’s examine! We have now a house match in opposition to Legia Warsaw… you need to come.’
Inside minutes, we’re booked on a flight to Poland’s Higher Silesian area. We reconvene 600 miles away, at Zabrze’s previous water tower. Standing 46 metres above the bottom, Podolski scans the skyline. There are pits each few miles on the horizon. It’s a working neighbourhood, the place probably the most dominant structure is the easy, geometric blocks constructed to accommodate households in the course of the industrial period.
‘We lived over there, simply behind the stadium, in Sosnica,’ he says, utilizing the large chimneys to assist discover his bearings. ‘I lived in Poland till I used to be two-and-a-half. We had no one in Germany on the time, so we had been at all times again in the course of the holidays. We did not have cash to go to Spain so we might take the bus from Germany, 20 hours or longer, as a result of it was low cost.
Now 38, Podolski, who performed for Arsenal between 2012 and 2015, has returned to Poland
Over lunch with Mail Sport’s Nik Simon (centre), Podolski additionally mentioned Euro 2024
‘You possibly can see the mines throughout. Some are nonetheless open, some are destroyed, some are museums. I have been down and also you see the arduous work. You’re in darkness for eight hours, you see nothing, it is harmful. I feel 90 per cent of the folks had been working there and the soccer membership was sturdy. This area was sturdy, cash clever. Now, with mines closing, you must discover different options.’
The previous water tower is now a restaurant and we order Silesian meals, the dishes that his grandmother made. Over the previous 20 years, Podolski has travelled the world taking part in soccer, to Germany, England, Italy, Turkey and Japan. He has achieved all of it, however at all times felt the urge to return his roots.
‘My dream was to play within the Premier League, the nationwide crew and different large leagues, however with regards to the tip, it was at all times a dream to play right here in Zabrze.
‘I used to be born in Poland and I even have a Polish coronary heart. After all folks attempt to make tales, saying you’re extra German than Polish since you play for the nationwide crew, however I do not care. My household are nonetheless right here, residing in the identical place as after I left. Nothing has modified. I do know the streets right here. I do know the place to drive. It was like coming residence.’
Dunking his spoon into Zurek soup – made with mushroom, mashed potato and white sausage – he nods in approval. ‘You get muscle groups like me once you eat this from a child. Soiled, with the sausage, Polish meals could be very heavy.’ How in regards to the kebabs? ‘For me, Polish kebabs are s**t!’
His contract right here runs till subsequent yr, when he could properly transfer into funding. ‘I’ve a deal till 2025 after which let’s examine. I will likely be 40 then. In the future it involves the tip as a result of your physique will say no.
A World Cup winner with Germany in 2010, Podolski earned 130 senior caps for his nation
Podolski performs for Gornik Zabrze within the Polish first division, again within the city the place he was born
‘This yr I will likely be 39 so I am nonetheless joyful that I can play and do what I really like, in a great league in my residence city. It is a totally different environment to England, extra aggressive, extra ardour. On the pitch, we really feel it.’
Podolski has cleared the afternoon for this interview, figuring out the protection will assist enhance the membership’s profile. On early impressions, he’s a troublesome, no-nonsense character, uncompromising, like the very best old-school strikers, with a stern stare.
But he has a deep understanding of his group. He loves the folks they usually love him again.
He generally sits within the stands with the fanatical extremely supporters, who’ve painted his mural on property partitions across the city.
Is he prepared to maneuver into possession? ‘Ask me the query after I’ve stopped taking part in! If it is a chance, why not? It is an ideal membership with tradition, with historical past, with a stadium and with alternative. It isn’t a giant metropolis like Krakow. This mentality is like Stoke, for instance. Everyone seems to be behind the membership as a result of there’s nothing round. Right here it is comparable. It isn’t everybody coming in a go well with with no environment. It is tough, robust, actual soccer.
‘My father was not a millionaire or the president of a membership to open me the door. No one threw me a ball and stated, “You’ll be a Bundesliga participant”. I labored arduous. I’m from right here, I’m one in all them, I’ve the identical mentality.’
He’s a hero in Cologne, having left Poland for Germany as a baby and lower his tooth on the membership
Our second course is the type of beneficiant serving you’d anticipate after an extended day’s work down the mine. Interviews with Podolski are excessive in energy. Meat roulade with pickled cucumbers and dumplings, swimming in a wealthy sauce. I clear my plate however Podolski, being the skilled athlete, decides sufficient is sufficient.
An hour passes by shortly and it’s time for him to do the varsity run in close by Katowice. ‘Do you wish to speak extra about soccer? Let’s meet after coaching tomorrow. It’s essential to go and go to a mine.’
He factors us within the path of Sztolnia Krolowa Luiza, a number of kilometres of underground tunnels which are open to the general public. We submerge into two nighttimes.
Again on the membership, after his morning expertise session, Podolski challenges us to a recreation of darts within the crew room. ‘Let’s kill the English guys!’ he jokes, confidently taking purpose with the primary throw. ‘Ally Pally… the Germans made that occasion well-known as a result of we put them on tv each time!’
It’s a tight recreation. ‘Penalties… we all know who’s profitable in the long run!’ Podolski is off track together with his closing throw and shakes his head in defeat, poking enjoyable at England’s painful historical past in shootouts. ‘We’re in Poland! If we had been in Germany, it could be totally different! Bravo England, lastly!’
Upstairs on the stadium, in Podolski’s personal field, there are pictures from each membership he performed for, bar his quick mortgage transfer from Arsenal to Inter Milan.
With a web value of £180million, Podolski admitted he plans to pump cash into Gornik Zabrze
He displays on his days in north London, describing Arsene Wenger as a father determine. He namechecks Mesut Ozil as an in depth pal and nonetheless retains tabs on the crew’s progress.
‘I watch Arsenal and Koln video games,’ says Podolski, who has a red-and-white Mustang within the color of his previous golf equipment. ‘I just like the mentality of Mikel Arteta.
‘They’ve made an enormous step ahead, however in the mean time they’re taking part in with Kai Havertz up entrance. They introduced in Declan Rice but when they actually wish to compete subsequent yr they want a No 9, a goal striker who scores targets.’
So who would he wish to see carrying his previous No 9 jersey?
‘Harry Kane was the one who wished to alter, however together with his historical past of Tottenham, after all it’s not potential to maneuver to Arsenal. That’s the reason he moved to Bayern Munich. It was a great transfer for Bayern Munich and him.
‘He was the one choice in the marketplace. Bayern paid rather a lot for him, however he is scoring targets like he did earlier than. It is good to see a participant from the Premier League coming to the Bundesliga. You progress to the Premier league as of late as a result of cash is concerned. The one membership in Germany that may pay a great wage and a switch price is Bayern. For the remainder, it is not potential. Solely Bayern can do one thing like that with Kane. There isn’t any likelihood for the remainder.
Podolski mirrored on his days at Arsenal and namechecked former team-mate Mesut Ozil
‘Kane is scoring targets however I see the story already when Bayern Munich are third within the Bundesliga and out of the Champions League. Perhaps we’ve got one other good story like Tottenham – transfer to Bayern and do not win something!’
Podolski chats at size about his love of boxing and even touches on rugby, having hung out with Dan Carter in Japan. We ultimately attain the topic of this summer time’s Euros. He has excessive hopes.
‘Germany are the very best hosts. 2006 was the very best World Cup I’ve ever seen. Everybody was welcome, good climate, full stadiums. This won’t be an issue. The issue possibly is the crew as a result of Germany should not performing. Let’s hope by the Euros they get to the shape to win one thing.’
And his tip for travelling followers? ‘Strive a kebab should you’re in Cologne. Kebab is king! In Berlin you may have currywurst. If you end up in Munich you may have some soiled Bavarian meals. You cleared the entire plate yesterday, you did not even go away the sauce!’
With my conscience break up between a weight loss program and German kebab homes, Podolski departs to arrange for the match. They lose 3-1, however the ultras by no means cease singing. It’s hostile and intimidating, but equally infectious. Because the mines have closed, their membership has remained a constant place of belonging.
In the course of the second half, the ultras unveil a banner that covers all the stand, calling for a brand new president to be elected on the city’s election. It looks like a political rally, with the terraces the folks’s platform. The native authorities personal the soccer membership, however followers need new house owners, with Podolski on the prime of their listing.
Gornik Zabrze’s ultras are eager for Podolski to grow to be the brand new president of their membership
He’s, in spite of everything, one in all their very own.
‘I feel politics mustn’t go inside soccer,’ Podolski says within the tunnel, with sweat nonetheless dripping down his forehead. ‘In the meanwhile we do not have a sporting director or president who takes care of soccer, which is tough. It is at all times an issue when the town is the proprietor they usually attempt to convey folks in who do not have data of soccer.
‘However hey, once you lose video games you are at all times upset, however you retain going. The followers at all times give us vitality. The membership is a part of the center right here. Folks stay for it.’
Nursing a sore calf from the defeat and carrying a Maradona t-shirt, Podolski disappears into the evening.
‘Kebab is at all times good after a defeat!’ he jokes. ‘Kebabs within the stadium, that is the following step!’
