Cezary Kulesza, head of the Polish Football Association (PZPN), said in a media interview this week that applications for the job were "pouring in" and did not rule out handing the role to a foreign coach, the state PAP news agency reported.
“For now, we have to select a handful of candidates, maybe four or five, with whom we are going to speak,” Kulesza told the sport.pl website in an interview published on Monday.
Despite media speculation that the job would be given to a Polish coach, Kulesza said: “I cannot guarantee that the new manager will be Polish because we are receiving plenty of inquiries from managers and people acting on their behalf. There are many lesser known names, but also well-known ones.”
Kulesza confirmed media reports that former Italian greats Fabio Cannavaro and Andrea Pirlo were interested in taking charge of the Polish team.
Fabio Cannavaro. Photo: JB Autissier via PAP/Panoramic
Andrea Pirlo. Photo: PAP/EPA/ALESSANDRO DI MARCO
He added that so far, he had "had no contact" with Adam Nawałka, the former Poland manager seen by some media outlets as a leading contender for the role.
Adam Nawałka. Photo: PAP/Maciej Kulczyński
Kulesza did not rule out giving the job to a Polish coach currently working in the domestic league, the PAP news agency reported.
Last week, Kulesza said the new manager would be named on January 19.
In his latest interview, he said the decision could be made “sooner than that” or on January 20, PAP reported.
Vacancy
The vacancy was created after the PZPN last week terminated the contract of Sousa, who had asked to leave his role by mutual consent after being offered a job by a Brazilian club side, according to officials.
He has since taken over at Brazilian giants Flamengo Rio de Janeiro.
Paulo Sousa. Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański
Sousa had guided the Polish team to the upcoming playoffs for next year’s World Cup in Qatar after the Poles finished second in their qualifying group, behind favourites England.
Poland are set to face Russia in the playoffs in Moscow on March 24. If they win, they will play either Sweden or the Czech Republic at home on March 29 for a spot at the finals in Qatar.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP