Kamil Jacek Glik (Polish pronunciation: [ˈkamʲil ˈɡlʲik] ;[2] born 3 February 1988) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Ekstraklasa club Cracovia.

Kamil Glik
Glik with Poland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Kamil Jacek Glik[1]
Date of birth (1988-02-03) 3 February 1988 (age 36)[1]
Place of birth Jastrzębie-Zdrój, Poland
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Cracovia
Number 15
Youth career
Jastrzębie Zdrój
2000–2005 Wodzisław Śląski
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005 → Silesia Lubomia (loan)
2006 Horadada
2007–2008 Real Madrid C 18 (0)
2008–2010 Piast Gliwice 54 (2)
2010–2011 Palermo 0 (0)
2011Bari (loan) 16 (0)
2011–2016 Torino 154 (12)
2016–2020 Monaco 128 (11)
2020–2023 Benevento 77 (2)
2023– Cracovia 13 (2)
International career
2008–2010 Poland U21 14 (3)
2010–2022 Poland 103 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:43, 4 December 2022 (UTC)

The previous clubs Glik played for include Piast Gliwice from 2008 to 2010, Palermo from 2010 to 2011, Torino from 2011 to 2016 and Monaco from 2017 to 2020, the latter two of which he was appointed captain of the team. He represented Poland at UEFA Euro 2016, 2018 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.

Early life

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Glik's paternal grandfather, Walter Glück, was Upper Silesian, he was forcibly conscripted into the Wehrmacht.[3] After the war, he stayed in what then became Poland. Glik therefore also holds German citizenship in addition to his Polish citizenship.[4][5] In his German documents, his surname is written out in German version Glück instead of the polonized version Glik.[2] Despite this, Glik has repeatedly said that he does not feel any connection with Germany and considers himself 100% Polish.[6]

Club career

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Early career

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Glik began his career in the youth ranks of MOSiR Jastrzębie Zdrój and WSP Wodzisław Śląski, then moved on loan to LKS Silesia Lubomia. In 2006, he moved from WSP Wodzisław Śląski to Horadada in Spain, where he was noticed by Real Madrid and registered with the club's "C" team. He played there for two seasons, until 2008.

On 6 August 2008, he signed a four-year contract with Polish top division side Piast Gliwice.[7] He made his debut on 30 August 2008, when he came on as a substitute. Subsequently, he became a regular in the team's starting eleven. He played 26 games in his first season with the club, and he scored 2 goals in 28 games in the 2009–10 season.

Palermo

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At the end of the season it was reported that he had begun talks with Italian side U.S. Città di Palermo;[8][9] on 7 July 2010, he signed with Sicilian club, who purchased him outright on a five-year contract. The transfer was finalised by the Lega Serie A after seven days.

He made his debut with the Rosaneri in the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League play-off round against Slovenia's Maribor (won 3–0), played as a starter. It was also his official debut in an international club competition. Following his debut he was almost never included in the first team, and until the winter break, only collected three more appearances in the group stage of the Europa League.

Bari (loan)

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A few days before the official reopening of the transfer market, Palermo granted an exemption and allowed him to train – with a recovery date set for 28 December – with his new team, Bari.[10] He moved to Bari until the end of season, strongly backed by the coach Giampiero Ventura. The contract was filed on 4 January 2011,[11] and after the resumption of the league, 6 January, he was deployed as a starter in the Puglia derby, Lecce Bari (0–1), his debut in the Italian top division.[12] With the Galletti he was a starter, playing 16 games in the league and one in Coppa Italia. In the 35th round, Bari Roma (2–3), he earnt a red card and a subsequent three-match ban which effectively concluded his season. He returned to Palermo, but was not called up for the summer retreat, and was then put on the market.

Torino

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Glik as captain of Torino in 2015

On 12 July 2011, after having already supported Torino's training camp, he transferred to Turin in a co-ownership deal, in Serie B, for €300,000.[13][14]

He made his debut on 13 August in Torino Lumezzane, (1–0)[15] in the second round of Coppa Italia, played as a starter. He scored his first goal in the 34th round, in the match Torino - Reggina, later suspended due to bad weather[16] (the conclusion of the game did not change the result). At the end of the season, he was promoted to Serie A, having played 23 games in the league (with 2 goals) and one in Coppa Italia.

On 31 October 2012 he scored his first goal in Serie A in the tenth day of the league away to Lazio, opening the scoring with a header following a corner. The match finished 1–1. He played his first derby in the 2012–13 season, collecting two appearances and as many expulsions (the first player in the history of the league to be sent-off in both legs of a derby) and became an idol of the Torino fans.[17][18] On 20 June, Torino acquired his remaining contract from Palermo for a fee of €1.5 million, resolving the co-ownership.[13][19]

For the 2013–14 season, Glik was appointed captain of the team after the departure of Rolando Bianchi.[20] On 9 December 2013, he scored the winning goal, 1–0, against Lazio, in Turin. He ended the season with 34 league appearances – which concluded with Torino's qualification to the UEFA Europa League after Parma failed to obtain a UEFA license – and two goals, plus an appearance in the Coppa Italia. On 25 May 2014, he renewed his contract until 2017.[21]

On 31 July 2014, he made his debut with the Granata in international competition, playing the first leg of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League, won 3–0 against the Swedes Brommapojkarna. On 24 September 2014, during an away fixture against Cagliari, he scored the momentary 1–1 in his hundredth game for Torino; Torino would win the match against the Sardinians 2–1.[22]

On 21 December 2014, at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin, he scored his first brace in Serie A during a 2–1 comeback win over Genoa.[23] On 10 January 2015, he scored the equaliser, 1–1, against Milan and on 1 March, he scored the winning goal, 1–0, against Napoli.[24] On 19 March, he scored his first goal in the Europa League with a header during the round of 16 against Zenit Saint Petersburg. His goal brought Torino to 1–0, but not enough to overcome the 2 goal deficit from the first leg. On 5 April, he scored the second goal in a momentary 2–0 lead over Atalanta (the game would end 2–1). On 20 December 2015, he renewed with the Piedmontese club until 2020.[25]

In total, he played 171 matches and scored 13 goals for Torino.

Monaco

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Glik as a player of Monaco in 2016

On 4 July 2016, Glik was sold to Monaco for a reported fee of €11 million plus €4 million in bonuses,[26][27] signing a four-year contract.[28] In an official statement on the Torino website, the club stated "It has been five wonderful years, intense, full of emotions and mutual satisfaction. President Cairo and the whole Torino FC salute Glik with great affection, wishing him the best that his career can offer."[29]

On 27 September 2016, Glik fired in a half-volley from the edge of the penalty box four minutes into second-half stoppage time to cancel out Javier Hernández's goal, enabling Monaco to snatch a 1–1 home draw in their 2016–17 UEFA Champions League Group E encounter against Bayer Leverkusen with their first and only shot on target of the match.[30]

Glik played a main part in the Monaco side, which won the 2016–17 Ligue 1 title making 36 appearances and scoring 6 goals.[31]

Benevento

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On 11 August 2020, newly promoted Serie A club Benevento announced the signing of Glik from Monaco on a three-year contract.[32]

Cracovia

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On 30 August 2023, Glik signed a two-year contract with Ekstraklasa club Cracovia.[33] Glik was also linked with Polish sides Legia Warsaw and Śląsk Wrocław, who reportedly decided not to pursue Glik's services.[34]

International career

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Glik with Poland in 2012

Glik was called up to the Polish senior squad on 18 December 2009, being the first Piast Gliwice player to do so.[35] He debuted on 20 January 2010 at the King's Cup against Thailand, scoring 43 minutes into his debut which resulted in a 3–1 victory for Poland.[36]

On 17 October 2012, Glik scored the equalizing goal in a 2014 World Cup Qualifying game against England.[37] He played an important role in Poland's Euro 2016 qualifying campaign and Euro 2016 campaign, making made the most clearances out of any other player in the tournament, and scored two penalties in two penalty shoot-outs; one of them in a 5–4 victory against Switzerland, and the other in a 5–3 defeat to eventual champions Portugal.[citation needed]

In June 2018, Glik became part of the Polish squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[38] In May 2021, he was included in the final squad for the postponed UEFA Euro 2020.[39]

On 10 November 2022, Glik was called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[40] On 22 November, he played his 100th match for Poland, which was the first game in the World Cup against Mexico.[41]

Style of play

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Glik is a tall centre back with great physicality, but also good mobility;[42][43] his biggest strength is undoubtedly his aerial ability, both in marking and on set pieces in the opposing area.[43] He is also known for his leadership on the pitch.[44]

Personal life

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Glik has two daughters with his wife Marta, whom he had known since elementary school.[45]

In 2013, Italian rapper Willie Peyote, a Torino fan, released a song named "Glik" as a homage to him.[46]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 25 May 2024[47][48]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Piast Gliwice 2008–09 Ekstraklasa 26 0 1 0 27 0
2009–10 Ekstraklasa 28 2 1 0 29 2
Total 54 2 2 0 56 2
Palermo 2010–11 Serie A 0 0 0 0 4[a] 0 4 0
Bari (loan) 2010–11 Serie A 16 0 1 0 17 0
Torino 2011–12 Serie B 23 2 1 0 24 2
2012–13 Serie A 32 1 1 0 33 1
2013–14 Serie A 34 2 1 0 35 2
2014–15 Serie A 32 7 1 0 11[a] 1 44 8
2015–16 Serie A 33 0 2 0 35 0
Total 154 12 6 0 11 1 171 13
Monaco 2016–17 Ligue 1 36 6 4 1 13[b] 1 53 8
2017–18 Ligue 1 36 3 5 0 6[b] 1 1[c] 0 48 4
2018–19 Ligue 1 33 1 3 0 5[b] 0 1[c] 0 42 1
2019–20 Ligue 1 23 1 1 0 24 1
Total 128 11 13 1 24 2 2 0 167 14
Benevento 2020–21 Serie A 36 2 1 0 37 2
2021–22 Serie B 23 0 2 0 3[d] 0 28 0
2022–23 Serie B 18 0 1 1 19 1
Total 77 2 4 1 3 0 84 3
Cracovia 2023–24 Ekstraklasa 13 2 1 0 14 2
Career total 442 29 27 2 39 3 5 0 513 34
  1. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ a b Appearance in Trophée des Champions
  4. ^ Appearances in Serie B promotion play-offs

International

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As of match played 4 December 2022[49]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Poland 2010 7 1
2011 4 0
2012 4 1
2013 7 0
2014 7 1
2015 8 0
2016 13 0
2017 6 1
2018 8 0
2019 9 1
2020 6 1
2021 11 0
2022 13 0
Total 103 6
Scores and results list Poland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Glik goal.
List of international goals scored by Kamil Glik[49]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 20 January 2010 80th Birthday Stadium, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand   Thailand 1–0 3–1 2010 King's Cup
2 17 October 2012 Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland   England 1–1 1–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 14 November 2014 Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia   Georgia 1–0 4–0 UEFA Euro 2016 qualification
4 4 September 2017 Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland   Kazakhstan 2–0 3–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 24 March 2019 Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland   Latvia 2–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
6 7 September 2020 Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina   Bosnia and Herzegovina 1–1 2–1 2020–21 UEFA Nations League A

Honours

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Monaco

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b c "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of players: Poland" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Burzliwe dzieje niemieckich przodków Polaków" (in Polish).
  3. ^ "Sport w WP SportoweFakty - wiadomości sportowe, relacje na żywo, wyniki". Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  4. ^ az (3 June 2015). "Baggert der FC Bayern am Turiner Abwehrspieler Kamil Glik?". Abendzeitung (in German). Abendzeitung München Verlags-GmbH. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  5. ^ Abendzeitung München Verlags-GmbH (31 August 2015). "Transfer-Ticker: Real-Manager spricht Machtwort um Ramos" (in German).
  6. ^ "Kamil Glik - bohater ze szkółki Realu, który nie wybrał Niemców" (in Polish). 18 October 2012.
  7. ^ "Nowy piłkarz Piasta Gliwice z... Realu Madryt". sport.pl (in Polish). 6 August 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2010.[dead link]
  8. ^ "Glik considers Palermo move". SkySports.com. 4 July 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  9. ^ "Sabatini: "Kjaer parte" Palermo, arriva Glik". Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 4 July 2010. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  10. ^ "Kamil Glik zawodnikiem AS Bari" (in Polish). 90minut.pl. 28 December 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  11. ^ "Calcio Mercato Squadre - legaseriea.it". Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  12. ^ "Debiut Kamila Glika w AS Bari" (in Polish). 90minut. 6 January 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  13. ^ a b US Città di Palermo SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2013, PDF purchased from Italian CCIAA
  14. ^ "Darmian e Glik ceduti al Torino" [Darmian and Glik to Torino] (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ "Torino vs. Lumezzane - 13 August 2011". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 13 August 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  16. ^ "Torino vs. Reggina - 25 April 2012". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  17. ^ "Follia Glik: il Toro resta in 10, E la Juve dilaga nel derby" [Glik madness: the Bull remains in 10 and Juve is rampant in the derby]. gazzetta.it (in Italian). RCS Media Group. 1 December 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  18. ^ "Juventus 3 - 0 Torino Cronaca 01/12/12 Serie A". Goal. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  19. ^ "Darmian e Glik al Toro" (in Italian). Torino FC. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  20. ^ "I lettori non hanno dubbi: Peres migliore in campo contro la Sampdoria" [Readers have no doubts: Peres better on the pitch against Sampdoria]. toro.it (in Italian). Toro. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Torino, Glik rinnova sino al 2017: "Un giorno bellissimo per me"" [Turin, Glik renews until 2017: "A beautiful day for me"]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 25 March 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  22. ^ "Cagliari vs. Torino - 24 September 2014". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Torino vs. Genoa - 21 December 2014". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 21 December 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  24. ^ "Torino earn point against 10-man AC Milan". ESPN FC. 10 January 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  25. ^ "UFFICIALE: Torino, blindato il capitano: Glik fino al 2020" [OFFICIAL: Turin, captain armored: Glik until 2020]. tuttomercatoweb.com (in Italian). Tutto Mercato. 20 December 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  26. ^ "Calciomercato Torino, Glik vola a Monaco" [Turin transfer market, Glik flies to Monaco]. toronews.net (in Italian). RCS Media Group. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  27. ^ "Grazie Glik, sono stati cinque anni bellissimi" [Thanks Glik, it has been a great five years]. torinofc.it (in Italian). Torino FC. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  28. ^ "Kamil Glik pour 4 saisons" (in French). AS Monaco FC. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  29. ^ "Grazie Glik, sono stati cinque anni bellissimi" [Thanks Glik, it has been a great five years]. torinofc.it (in Italian). Torino FC. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  30. ^ "Glik grabs draw for Monaco against Leverkusen". UEFA.com. 27 September 2016.
  31. ^ "Kamil Glik". ligue1.com. Archived from the original on 22 May 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  32. ^ "Glik in giallorosso. Perfezionato l'accordo con l'AS Monaco" (in Italian). Benevento Calcio. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  33. ^ "Kamil Glik nowym piłkarzem Pasów!" (in Polish). Cracovia. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  34. ^ "Kamil Glik blisko klubu Ekstraklasy! Hitowy transfer. "Na pewno sobie poradzi"". przegladsportowy.onet.pl (in Polish). 28 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  35. ^ "Mercato: La Scheda di Kamil Glik | Palermo Calcio". Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  36. ^ "Tajlandia – Polska, 2010. Debiut i gol Kamila Glika (Skrót Meczu)" [Thailand vs. Poland, 2010. Kamil Glik's debut and goal (Match Summary)]. TVP Sport (in Polish). 20 January 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  37. ^ "Glik ferma l'Inghilterra, a Varsavia finisce 1-1" (in Italian). Gazzetta.it. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  38. ^ "Skład reprezentacji Polski na mistrzostwa świata 2018" [The composition of the Polish national team for the 2018 World Cup]. Polish Football Association (in Polish). 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  39. ^ "Paulo Sousa ogłosił powołania na UEFA EURO 2020" [Paulo Sousa announced appointments for UEFA Euro 2020]. Polish Football Association (in Polish). 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  40. ^ "Czesław Michniewicz ogłosił kadrę na mundial w Katarze" [Czesław Michniewicz has announced the team for the World Cup in Qatar] (in Polish). Polish Football Association. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  41. ^ "Kamil Glik earns 100th cap for Poland". SuperSport. 22 November 2022.
  42. ^ "Palermo, il difensore polacco Kamil Glik" [Palermo, the Polish defender Kamil Glik]. tuttopalermo.net (in Italian). TMW Network. 27 June 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  43. ^ a b "Mercato: La Scheda di Kamil Glik | Palermo Calcio | Mediagol.it". Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  44. ^ "Toro-Milan i voti granata: Glik leader" [Toro-Milan granata player ratings: Glik a leader] (in Italian). La Stampa. 15 September 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  45. ^ "Marta Glik: "Powołanie Kamila do reprezentacji Polski na Euro 2012 oznacza dla niego ciężką pracę, a dla mnie to ogromna radość"".
  46. ^ "Willie Peyote: "Glik un esempio di vita"" (in Italian). ToroNews.net. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  47. ^ "K. Glik". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  48. ^ "Kamil Glik". ESPN FC. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  49. ^ a b Kamil Glik at National-Football-Teams.com
  50. ^ "Monaco end PSG dominance to win Ligue 1 title". 17 May 2017.
  51. ^ "Trophées UNFP : Le Palmarès Complet de l'Édition 2017". Retrieved 15 May 2017.
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