Kacper Kozłowski - Polish International at 17

Kacper Kozłowski - Poland’s Future Number 10

Kacper Kozłowski is making quite a name for himself in his native Poland, with football fast becoming the most popular sport in Poland.

The youngest player in Pogon Szczecin's history at 15, he became a full Poland international at 17.

Where was Kacper Kozłowski born?

Kozłowski was born in Koszalin on 16th October 2003. He joined Pogon Szczecin in the summer of 2018 and made his senior debut later that season.

What position does Kacper Kozłowski play?

A conventional number 10, Kozłowski plays as one of a pair of attacking midfielders for his club Pogon in an offensively-minded 4-1-4-1 formation. Much of his time in the Polish youth set-up was spent playing as a more reserved central midfielder. Whichever position he is deployed in, he lets his presence be known.

What are Kacper Kozłowski's attributes?

Kozłowski has everything you could look for in a playmaker. Exceptional close control, the perfect weight of pass and an ability to find space in the box, it's of no wonder he has been fast-tracked into the Polish senior fold at such a young age. 

His first goal in the Polish top-tier, the Ekstraklasa, came recently from a glancing header following an untracked run into the box. He will hope to add more goals to his game as he continues his development, but his technique and vision are undeniable.

Kacper Kozłowski - Polish Wonderkid

When did Kacper Kozłowski get his chance?

After making his debut for Poland's u17 squad at 14, Kozłowski was handed his club debut on 19th May 2019, aged 15. His last-minute cameo on the final day of the season made him the youngest player in Pogon's history, as well as the third youngest in league history.

He began the 2019/20 season on the fringes of the first-team, clocking up another 3 top-flight appearances before being involved in a serious car accident in January 2020. Having made a full recovery, he began the 2020/21 playing for Pogon's reserves. Impressive displays saw him return to the first-team and he has guaranteed his place since.

What impact has Kacper Kozłowski had?

After a decade of mid-table mediocrity, Pogon found themselves in a title race for most of this season, with Kozłowski a key contributor. 7 dropped points in their last 3 games has ended their title hopes for this season but they have still secured their place in European competition for the 2021/22 season, their first qualification since 2005.

Like others in this series, Kozłowski is being handled with care by his club. He is yet to complete a full 90 minutes for his club despite starting 13 games. Given the serious injury early in his career, this seems to be the sensible route to take.

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When did Kacper Kozłowski make his international debut?

Kozłowski made his senior international debut on 28th March 2021, playing the final 17 minutes of a 3-0 win in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra. National team manager Paulo Sousa is well placed to judge talent having played in some of the great teams of the 90s, and is clearly a keen admirer of Kozłowski's ability. 

With Euro 2020 fast approaching, he will hope to stay in Sousa's plans and add to his ever-growing résumé with a strong showing.

How much is Kacper Kozłowski worth?

Kozłowski's current deal expires in 2022, making his true value in the current market difficult to gauge. It's fair to say Pogon aren't among Europe's richest clubs and would accept any offer that matches their valuation.

According to transfermarkt.com, his value currently stands at £1.35million. Quite a leap from his £45k valuation in January. As his reputation grows, we can expect this figure to keep trending upward.

Which clubs have been linked with Kacper Kozłowski?

Any 17 year old with a senior cap to his name will not find themselves short of suitors, and Kozłowski is no exception. RB Salzburg, St Etienne and Torino have been linked in recent weeks. 

The Pole needs first team exposure to continue his development and another few seasons playing regularly in the Ekstraklasa may not be the worst thing for him. If his development continues at such a rapid rate, Pogon will have an impossible task hanging on to him long-term.

Which player does Kacper Kozłowski compare to?

Comparisons with Polish icon Zbigniew Boniek may be premature, but with his technical prowess and ability to affect a game, the Polish FA and their president Boniek have every right to be excited about Kozłowski's future.