Wieczysta Kraków appoints Željko Kopić as coach after Kazimierz Moskal dismissal

Managerial change at Wieczysta

Ekstraklasa newcomer Wieczysta Kraków officially announced the appointment of Željko Kopić as head coach on 26 August 2026. The 48-year-old Croatian manager signed a contract that runs through the end of the 2026/2027 season, with terms including an option for an additional year. Kopić arrives to take charge of a squad currently sitting second from bottom in the Polish top division with three points from four fixtures. The managerial vacancy opened after club owner Wojciech Kwiecień dismissed Kazimierz Moskal on 22 August 2026. Moskal, who had managed the team since late November 2025 and guided them to promotion, departed alongside his assistant Marcin Broniszewski, who had served on the staff since January 2026. The club officially confirmed the appointment in a statement.

Żeljko Kopić is the new coach of Wieczysta Kraków. The 48-year-old Croatian coach has become the new coach of the first team of Wieczysta Kraków. An experienced coach who holds a UEFA Pro licence, in his career to date he has led teams in Croatia, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania.

Search for a foreign manager

Wieczysta examined several domestic and international candidates before finalizing an agreement with Kopić. Owner Wojciech Kwiecień prioritised hiring a foreign manager after dismissing Moskal following the Cracovia loss. The club made contact with Czesław Michniewicz and Goncalo Feio, though both coaches declined the opportunity. Financial considerations eliminated Lukas Kwasniok, who earns 100,000 euros per month in Cologne, while Robert Kolendowicz was not included in the final round of discussions. Other names considered during the selection process included Maciej Skorża, John Carver, Mateusz Stolarski, and Valérien Ismaël, who previously managed Watford, Beşiktaş, and Blackburn Rovers. Journalist Mateusz Borek outlined the club's search process.

Calls were made to Czesław Michniewicz, who declined. Goncalo Feio declined, and Robert Kolendowicz was reportedly not in the decisive running. From what I understand, the owner wanted a foreign coach.

Kopić's managerial background

Kopić brings extensive coaching experience across Central and Eastern European leagues. The Croatian tactician holds a UEFA Pro licence and has previously managed NK Lučko, Cibalia, NK Zagreb, and Slaven Belupo in Croatia, alongside spells with Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb. His international coaching career includes managing Pafos FC in Cyprus and Botev Plovdiv in Bulgaria. Most recently, Kopić spent more than two years in Romania managing FC Dinamo 1948 in Bucharest. Over 113 matches in charge of the Romanian club, he recorded 44 victories, 38 draws, and 31 defeats before concluding his tenure on 5 June 2026.

Immediate derby debut and league situation

Kopić represents the fifth coaching appointment for Wieczysta within a ten-month span, following Przemysław Cecherz, Gino Lettieri, Rafał Jędrszczyk, and Moskal. Before Moskal's dismissal, Wieczysta opened their league campaign with 1:2 defeats against Radomiak Radom and Lech Poznań, recorded a 4:3 victory over Piast Gliwice, and lost 2:3 against Cracovia on 21 August 2026. Kopić arrived in Poland on 24 August 2026, with reports indicating his contract includes an automatic extension clause conditional upon retaining top-flight status. Kopić will conduct his first training session with the team on 27 August 2026. His first match on the bench will take place on 29 August 2026 in the Kraków derby against Wisła Kraków.