- The shocking tackle took place during a match in the Spodek Super Cup
- The forward was booked and later gave victim of tackle his match-worn shirt
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Former Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski produced a horror tackle during an five-a-side match in Poland.
The 39-year-old is now into the final chapter of his career after a trophy-laden two decades featuring at a host of top clubs including the Premier League, winning the Bundesliga, FA Cup , and 2014 World Cup with Germany ten years ago.
The competitiveness in the veteran clearly hasn’t disappeared and he displayed that during an appearance in the Spodek Super Cup, an eight-team, five-a-side indoor competition.
In the third-place play-off match of the competitions , Podolski launched a reckless one-legged tackle which caught his opponent’s knee.
Unhappy with his effort, he threw the ball in the direction of the victim while furiously screaming a few words before being booked.
In the end, Podolski’s side Gornik Zabrze claimed a 4-1 victory but he looked to have regretted his actions.
Lukas Podolski produced a horror tackle during an five-a-side match in Poland
Kuba Siedleckim, of third division side Wisloka Debica, was left in agony after the tackle
He spoke with Kuba Siedleckim, of third division side Wisloka Debica, and handed him his match-worn shirt.
Podolski afterwards posted on social media: “There were emotions on the pitch, but after the match there is agreement. Sorry for the hard foul. All the best in the season.”
In October, Podolski, despite playing for Wisloka Debica, had a ‘farewell’ match for former club Cologne.
After scoring for both Team Poldi and a Cologne XI on the farewell evening, the forward then took the microphone to deliver a goodbye speech which saw the player pledge his lifelong allegiance to the side.
‘It’s over on the pitch now, but we’ll definitely see each other again off the pitch – whether in the stands or on the road,’ Podolski said.
After scoring for both Team Poldi and a Cologne XI on the farewell evening, the forward then took the microphone to deliver a goodbye speech which saw the player pledge his lifelong allegiance to the side.
‘It’s over on the pitch now, but we’ll definitely see each other again off the pitch – whether in the stands or on the road,’ an emotional Podolski said.
‘Once a Cologne fan, always a Cologne fan.
‘It really touches me that so many fans would like to come to enjoy this special evening with me,’ he told the 50,000-strong crowd. ‘It is an honour for me to wear the Billygoat on my chest once more in front of a full house.
‘It’s a final declaration of love for this special city, the club with its fantastic fans, my team-mates for so many years and other people who have accompanied my path.’
Taking part in the testimonial were a raft of famous faces including former Germany No 1 Manuel Neuer, Mats Hummels, Per Mertesacker, Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick, and former national team manager Joachim Low.
