Polish football club Widzew Łódź parted ways with manager Aleksandar Vuković on Thursday, September 10, following a disappointing start to the new league season.
The Łódź-based club, which entered the campaign with ambitious plans for the top tier of Polish football, currently sits 13th in the Ekstraklasa table. Widzew have collected just seven points from their opening seven league matches, prompting team officials to terminate Vuković's tenure.
According to Polish media reports, former Motor Lublin coach Mateusz Stolarski has emerged as the leading candidate to fill the managerial vacancy. Stolarski parted ways with Motor Lublin in June after guiding the club during the previous campaign.
While Widzew have not officially confirmed Stolarski's appointment, the club announced on social media that the new head coach would be formally presented on Friday, September 11. The unveiling will take place during a press conference scheduled for 14:00, where the incoming manager will appear alongside Widzew sporting director Łukasz Masłowski.
Vuković's six-month spell
Vuković leaves Widzew just six months after taking charge of the first team at the beginning of March. During his short spell at the helm, the former Serbian midfielder managed the team in 19 fixtures across all competitions, recording six victories, seven draws and six defeats.
The manager took over during a turbulent period last season and successfully secured Widzew's survival in the Ekstraklasa. However, the club's board opted for a change following the team's sluggish performance over the first month and a half of the current campaign.
Upcoming clash with Legia Warsaw
The coaching change comes ahead of a crucial fixture for Widzew, who travel to face high-flying Legia Warsaw on Sunday, September 13. The high-profile match is scheduled for a 17:30 kick-off at Legia's stadium on Łazienkowska Street.
Legia Warsaw, traditionally known as "Wojskowi", have made a strong start to the season and occupy second place in the Ekstraklasa standings, trailing only league champions Lech Poznań. Widzew's new managerial team will face an immediate challenge as they attempt to turn around the club's fortunes in the Polish capital.
