Kibu Vicuna, the Spanish coach who has joined the Poland national team's coaching staff, said he wished the phone call from head coach Jan Urban that led to his appointment had never needed to happen. Vicuna replaced Jacek Magiera, the former Legia Warszawa and Śląsk Wrocław coach who had been serving as Poland's assistant coach, who died on 10 April at the age of 49.
The city council of Częstochowa has decided to name a viaduct after Magiera. The future stadium of Raków Częstochowa is planned to be built next to it.
Magiera's death
Vicuna, speaking to TVP Sport ahead of Poland's first squad gathering in September, said he would rather still be working in India and admitted he could not believe Magiera had died.
He said Magiera had been his friend and that his death was a huge shock. He said that period had been especially difficult because his own father had died three weeks earlier, at the age of 88, compared with Magiera's 49, calling it an unimaginable loss he had still not come to terms with. He said that on 10 April, during a training session, he noticed missed calls from Urban on both his Polish and Spanish phone numbers, which told him something had happened. A journalist friend, Tomek Ćwiąkała, had also called him. When he called Urban back, he heard the terrible news.
The call from Jan Urban
Vicuna said he received the offer from Urban in May to join the coaching staff. He said he had stayed in regular contact with Juan Iribarren, the national team's fitness coach, and that Urban called in May to ask whether he could become his assistant, aware that Vicuna still had a year left on his contract with Diamond Harbour FC in India.
Vicuna said it felt like the moment to return home, describing himself as a Polish Spaniard or a Spanish Pole, whichever fits better. He said the move was the best option for him both personally and professionally, even though he had been happy and content working in India, and he called working with the Polish national team a privilege, an honour and a distinction.
Leaving Diamond Harbour FC
Vicuna said his former employer did not create any problems over him joining Urban's staff. The Polish Football Association did not have to pay any compensation, as he settled matters with the club himself. He said he had been honest with the club, telling them he wanted to work with the Poland national team; the club was shocked at first but understanding, and the two sides shook hands. He then called Urban to say the path was open. He repeated that he wished the reason for Urban's call had never happened.
Poland's September fixtures
Poland will play four matches in the UEFA Nations League during a gathering at the turn of September and October. The team will face Bosnia and Herzegovina twice, on 25 September and 5 October, and will also meet Sweden on 28 September and Romania on 2 October.
