Ebi Smolarek

Player Profile ::

Ebi Smolarek
Date of Birth: 9 January 1981
Country: Poland
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Global Goal Rating: 2094 (As of 31st October 2006)

Smolarek, was born in Lodz, Poland, his father Wlodzimierz, was a Polish international capped 60 times by his country and starred in the 1982 and 1986 World Cup.

It is incredible the parallels that the career of father and son have followed. Ebi, spent most of his formative years in the Netherlands as his father was playing league football for Feyenoord at the time and indeed it was here that he made his professional breakthrough signing in 2000. Here Ebi enjoyed a successful period, scoring 12 goals in 68 matches, a decent record for a young midfielder making his way in the game. In 2004, Ebi, like his father before him headed for Germany, though Wlodzimierz had played for Eintract Frankfurt, Ebi signed for Borussia Dortmund and continued to score goals freely.

Smolarek played a part in Poland's successful qualification campaign for the 2006 World Cup scoring against Austria in a 3-2 win. Indeed Poland played some of their most vibrant football for years during the campaign, giving England a mighty scare in Chorzow before being edged out 2-1. The Poles went into another World Cup with a Smolarek in their squad, just like when Wlodimierz played in 1982 and 1986, indeed there were some observers who thought they could be a surprise package at the finals. However, upon arriving in Germany they abandoned their freespirited approach and adopted a cautious, negative approach which was hugely unsuccessful and the Poles again went out in the group stages.

Poland, have started their European Championship campaign brightly and Smolarek in particular has been in outstanding form. Poland look a decent bet to qualify for the 2008 European Championships and if Smolarek continues his excellent goalscoring form it will surely alert some of England's monied clubs and a possible move to the Premiership could follow. Smolarek senior has done most things in football before his son but if Ebi ever secured a move to England then at last he will be one up on his famous father.