Ebi Smolarek facts for kids
Smolarek with Polonia Warsaw in 2011
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Euzebiusz Smolarek | ||
| Date of birth | 9 January 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Łódź, Poland | ||
| Height | 1.78m | ||
| Playing position | Striker, winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| VV Spirit | |||
| 1993–2000 | Feyenoord | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2000–2005 | Feyenoord | 68 | (12) |
| 2005–2007 | Borussia Dortmund | 81 | (25) |
| 2007–2009 | Racing Santander | 34 | (4) |
| 2008–2009 | → Bolton Wanderers (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Kavala | 15 | (3) |
| 2010–2011 | Polonia Warsaw | 23 | (7) |
| 2011–2012 | Al-Khor | 10 | (3) |
| 2012 | ADO Den Haag | 12 | (2) |
| 2012–2013 | Jagiellonia Białystok | 20 | (4) |
| Total | 275 | (60) | |
| National team | |||
| 2002–2010 | Poland | 47 | (19) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2014 | Feyenoord (youth) | ||
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Euzebiusz "Ebi" Smolarek (born on January 9, 1981) is a Polish former professional footballer. He used to play as a striker (a forward player who scores goals) or a winger (a player who plays on the sides of the field).
Ebi played for many different clubs in countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Spain, England, Greece, and Qatar. He also played 47 times for the Poland national football team, scoring 19 goals. This makes him one of the top goal scorers in Poland's history! He was part of the Polish teams that played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008. Ebi was even named the Polish Footballer of the Year three times in a row, in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
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Ebi's Club Career
Ebi Smolarek was born in Łódź, Poland. He grew up in the Netherlands because his father, Włodzimierz Smolarek, was also a famous footballer who played there. His dad later became a coach.
Ebi joined the youth team of Feyenoord, a big club in the Netherlands. He worked his way up and eventually played for their main team.
In 2007, Ebi moved to Spain and signed with Racing de Santander.
In 2008, Racing loaned Ebi to Bolton Wanderers in England for a season. He played his first game for Bolton in September 2008. On January 3, 2009, Ebi scored his first and only goal for Bolton in an FA Cup match against Sunderland. After that season, Bolton decided not to sign him permanently.
Later, Ebi signed with Kavala in Greece in 2009. He then moved back to Poland and signed with Polonia Warsaw in 2010. In 2011, he left Polonia Warsaw. Ebi also played for another Polish team called Jagiellonia Białystok.
Ebi's International Career with Poland
Ebi Smolarek started playing for the Poland national football team in 2002. He was chosen to play in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but he didn't score any goals in that tournament.
He became a top scorer during the qualifying games for UEFA Euro 2008. He scored nine goals, which was more than even famous players like Cristiano Ronaldo in his group! Ebi scored three goals in one game against Kazakhstan in Warsaw. He played in all of Poland's matches at Euro 2008.
Ebi did something very special when he scored against Portugal. He was the first Polish player in 20 years to score against them! His own father was the last one to do it. Ebi scored both goals in a 2-1 win during a Euro 2008 qualifying match.
On April 1, 2009, Ebi scored four goals in a game against San Marino. This made him the top goal scorer for his group in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification.
Ebi's Personal Life
Ebi Smolarek's father, Włodzimierz Smolarek, was also a famous Polish international footballer. Ebi was named after a legendary Portuguese footballer named Eusébio. Ebi has a son named Mees, who was born in 2010, with his Dutch fiancée, Thirza van Giessen.
Ebi's Achievements
Feyenoord
- UEFA Cup: 2001–02 (This was a big European football competition, like a championship for clubs.)
Individual Awards
- Polish Footballer of the Year: 2005, 2006, 2007 (He was voted the best football player in Poland for three years in a row!)
Images for kids
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Smolarek challenging for the ball against Eddie Lewis of the United States in a March 2006 friendly.
