Lukas Podolski: ‘It's hard to let go of this sport’

We caught up with Lukas Podolski on his way to training. The 40-year-old 2014 World Cup winner is not yet part of the coaching team or backroom staff – he is an outfield player. Podolski has been playing for his hometown club Górnik Zabrze in Poland since 2021. It's a matter close to the left-footer’s heart. Off the pitch, Podolski already owns ice cream parlours, kebab shops, a fashion label and a football hall, and he also organises large festivals. But his great love remains football. The popular player has already played for FC Bayern (106 competitive games), Arsenal, Köln, Galatasaray and Inter Milan, among others. Ahead of Bayern's clash with the Gunners, we spoke to Podolski about London, Arsène Wenger, Mikel Arteta, Lennart Karl and something he has in common with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Interview with Lukas Podolski

Lukas, of the 368 players who took part in Euro 2004, only two of them are still playing. Lukas Podolski and who could the other one be?
Podolski: “Cristiano Ronaldo. I read that somewhere, and of course I'm proud of it. If you want to be around for over 20 years, you have to be mentally strong and you have to love football. Football is emotion, football is enthusiasm. It's hard to let go of this sport.”

Your contract with Górnik Zabrze expires in the summer. Are you seriously considering ending your career, or will you extend it again?
“I'm planning on this being my last season, but I always leave myself a door open. Let's see what happens.”

You’re currently top of the Polish league table with Zabrze. The champions will enter the Champions League qualifiers. Does that mean you will continue if you win the title?
“Then I can play against Bayern again, which would be great [laughs]. I'll wait and see where we end up. And then we'll decide on my future relatively spontaneously. I owe a lot to Zabrze; I grew up five minutes away from the stadium. I try to help the club off the pitch with my experience and my network. I also get to look behind the scenes at Zabrze. For example, I brought a German head scout to the club. We want to build something here; we have a lot of potential. I'm also in the process of securing shares in the club. Maybe I'll stay here in a different role in the coming years.”

How do you look back on your time at Bayern today, and who are you still in touch with?
“Of course, it's getting harder and harder to stay in touch with everyone over the distance. I was at an Arsenal Champions League game last season and spoke to Mikel Arteta. When I'm in Munich visiting Dr Müller-Wohlfahrt, I always drive to Säbener Straße. Otherwise, we meet at events. I last saw Bastian Schweinsteiger at a commercial shoot, for example. We definitely stay in touch.”

You yourself played for Bayern in your early 20s. How does a young player – such as Lennart Karl – make his mark in a star-studded team?
“Lennart Karl has talent, the necessary quality and plays without worries. Bayern are currently doing a great job by relying on young players, like Karl and Tom Bischof. In my opinion, the work at the FC Bayern Campus is still not getting enough public attention. They are doing a great job there; the Campus is paying off.”

There are pictures on Instagram of you with Arsenal legend Arsène Wenger, but also some in a Bayern shirt. Who will you be rooting for on Wednesday evening?
“Of course, I'll be rooting for both teams. But I had a great time at Bayern, which, looking back, is often portrayed too negatively by the media. I spent three years in Munich and felt very comfortable both on and off the pitch. For example, I'll never forget my debut in the Champions League. I was able to learn from people such as Uli Hoeneß, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Ottmar Hitzfeld, Jupp Heynckes and Felix Magath. It was an important stage in my career and, above all, an instructive one. I’ve retained this assertiveness and mental strength to this day. I’m proud to have played for Germany's biggest club and to have been part of the Bayern family.”

What do you like most about Bayern's performances under Vincent Kompany?
“I always watch Bayern's matches and keep my fingers crossed for them. There's something in the air that suggests this could be a successful season. What they're doing at the moment is good. They play very dominantly and are a real team. Everyone fights and runs for each other, and the atmosphere seems to be good. That's the only way to be successful.”

After returning from Bayern, you played for Köln again until summer 2012. You then played for Arsenal for two and a half years. In 82 competitive matches, you scored 31 goals and made 15 assists. What kind of club is it?
“It was always my dream to play in the Premier League. When Arsène Wenger called me, I was playing for Köln. I said straight away: ‘I have to do this’. Arsenal are an absolute top team and the club is run like a family. Moving to the Emirates Stadium gave them a big boost. Bayern are of course in a different league when it comes to titles. Arsenal still need those titles to reach the same level – domestically and internationally. Everyone still remembers the era in the early 2000s with [Thierry] Henry, [Dennis] Bergkamp and [Patrick] Vieira, and they want to get back to that.”

How good are Arsenal really this season?
“I hope they win the Premier League. They have the potential. They’re currently very dominant and extremely strong defensively. That was also the case in their 4-1 home win against Tottenham at the weekend, which I saw. They are a cohesive team and are also dangerous in attack. Whether it's [Leandro] Trossard, [Eberechi] Eze or Bukayo Saka – and Viktor Gyökeres, Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard are still injured. But now the season is really picking up speed. They want to get into the top eight in the Champions League, and then the knockout stages begin. We'll see if they can handle the pressure. They may lack experience.”

Throughout your time at Arsenal, you played alongside current coach Mikel Arteta. Was it already apparent back then that he had what it takes to be a top coach?
“He’s always placed a lot of emphasis on tactics and discipline. Over the past few years, he’s managed to improve the team time and time again. As a teammate, he was our captain, a leader and already Arsène Wenger's right-hand man. It was clear early on that he would stay in football. Mikel was good friends with Pep Guardiola, who brought him into the coaching team at Manchester City. He can shape an era at Arsenal. We were good friends in the dressing room and laughed a lot together.”

Do you have a favourite place in London that you would recommend to visitors?
“I think fans will find plenty of pubs in London where they can have fun, eat fish and chips and drink beer [laughs]. London is a global metropolis, so there's something for everyone.”

How will Wednesday's match finish?
“Obviously I'm hoping for a draw, as I like both teams. That could well happen, as both are in top form.”

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