Biography

Lukas Podolski is one of the best strikers that currently play in Europe. He will first make his mark with FC Köln and will not take long to make his first team debut. The club, at that time in debt and struggling against relegation will have no other choice than to trust in the youth. Thus, on January 22, 2003 at the age of eighteen years, Podolski will play his first game in the Bundesliga. He will score 10 goals in 19 games but will not manage to keep FC Köln in the first division.

Despite his team relegations and various opportunities, “Poldi” remains faithful to his team. And with 24 goals in 30 games, he will contribute a lot in helping his team winning promotion to the first division. During this time he will also make his debut with the German team led by Rudi Voeller . On June 6, 2004 against Hungary, he became the first international player since 1975 to play for the national team while still in a second division team.

Unfortunately for him, FC Köln will not be able to stay long in the first division despite his 10 goals in 31 matches. Given the poor performance of his club he will not be called by the national coach Jurgen Klinsmann to each of the Mannschaft meeting. He will however be present at Euro 2004 and will also have a good 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup where he will score 3 goals. Podolski has already established himself as a major player in the German national team.

Partnered with Klose in the World Cup, Poldi will be one of the best players of the tournament.  He will indeed score 3 goals in the 2006 World Cup including a brace against Sweden at the round of 16 stage. This will be the only goals of the match.

Podolski will be transferred to Bayern in 2006 for 10 million €. The German will nevertheless have a difficult year. He will score only 4 goals in 22 games and will also be seriously injured. And after the recruitment of Toni by Bayern Munich, he will lose his place in the team and will choose to return to FC Köln in 2009.

Following the 2006 World Cup, Podolski will also participate in the Euro 2008 where he will score both goals in Germany’s first match against Poland which ended 2-0. He will go on and score goals against Croatia and Portugal to help Germany reach the final against Spain.

He will also represent Germany at the 2010 World Cup where he will score in the first match against Australia and also England in the last 16. He will also provide an assist in the 4-0 thrashing of Argentina in the quarter final.