Wellington Phoenix have signed midfielder Michal Kopczyński 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 “light-up” 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 club’s title-winning campaign.
Kopczyński 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,” the Pole said.
"He’s 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."
It’s 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 Rudan’s revolution.
The Phoenix boss sees his new recruit as a deep-lying midfielder and is delighted to have secured Kopczyński’s services.
"Michal has all the attributes for what I require in a holding midfielder and those key skills to excel in the A-League,” Rudan said.
"He’s 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.
"Michal’s got all the skills to light up this league."
