Lukas Podolski

Lore & Background

Podolski began playing football at the age of six in the youth team of FC 07 Bergheim, where he played until he joined 1. FC Köln at the age of ten. He made his top flight debut for Köln on 22 November 2003. He later played for Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Inter Milan (loan), Galatasaray, Vissel Kobe, Antalyaspor, and Górnik Zabrze. He won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double with Bayern in 2008, the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2014, and the Turkish Cup with Galatasaray in 2016. As of 2025, he remains an active player and co-owner of Górnik Zabrze, with no Polish Cup victory in his senior career.

In Their Own Story

The BayArena hums with anticipation as Luki receives the ball on the left flank. He feints past a defender, plants his right foot, and curls the shot into the top corner. The red-and-black sea erupts, chanting his name, celebrating another moment of magic from their favorite son before the inevitable silence of near-misses returns at season's end.

Reader's Guide

Podolski represented Germany at youth level and made his senior debut in 2004. He earned 130 caps (fourth most in German history) and scored 49 goals (third highest in German history). He was part of seven major tournaments, winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup. On 22 March 2017, he retired from international football after scoring the winner as captain in a friendly against England. He scored the fastest goal in Germany national team history (after nine seconds against Ecuador) in May 2013.

Did You Know?

• Podolski scored 10 goals in his first 19 senior appearances for 1. FC Köln, the best tally by an 18-year-old in Bundesliga history until Florian Wirtz overtook the record in 2021.
• He scored the fastest goal in Germany national team history (and the second fastest international goal at the time) after just nine seconds against Ecuador in May 2013.
• Podolski is a co-owner of Górnik Zabrze, but he has not won the Polish Cup with the club—their last Polish Cup victory was in 1965.