

Podolski managed to score 12 goals in the 2005–06 season, but eventually, Köln were relegated again. Somewhat unusually, Podolski remained part of the Germany squad, even though he did not play in the national top-tier league.Īfter Köln were promoted, the pressure was on Podolski to keep the club in the Bundesliga practically singlehandedly. With 24 goals, Podolski advanced to become the league's best scorer. Though his call up to the German Euro 2004 squad brought along interest from several top clubs, Podolski stayed at Köln to help the club gain promotion in the 2004–05 season. This was the best tally by an 18-year-old in the history of the Bundesliga until Florian Wirtz overtook the record in 2021. Even though Köln failed to avoid a drop to the 2nd division, Podolski had shown what he could do, scoring 10 goals in his first 19 senior appearances. First team boss Marcel Koller, working on a shoestring budget, invited Podolski to train with the senior players and he made his top flight debut shortly afterwards on 22 November 2003. At this time the club found itself in dire straits battling to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga. In 2003, at the age of 18, Podolski was still part of the club's youth side. It was there that Podolski's talents were first noticed.

Podolski began playing football at the age of six in the youth team of FC 07 Bergheim, where he played until he joined 1.


FC Köln Podolski playing for Köln in 2006
#Lukas podolski fifa 09 professional#
Lukas Josef Podolski (German pronunciation: born Łukasz Józef Podolski, pronounced:, on 4 June 1985) is a German professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ekstraklasa club Górnik Zabrze. *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:10, (UTC) For the cyclist, see Łukasz Podolski (cyclist). German footballer"Łukasz Podolski" redirects here.
