Mateusz Bąk, Lechia Gdańsk goalkeeper who rose from A-klasa to Ekstraklasa, dies at 43

A club figure passes

Mateusz Bąk, the goalkeeper who became the face of Lechia Gdańsk's climb from the sixth tier to the top flight, died on 3 August 2026 at age 43. The club confirmed his death on Monday evening, offering condolences. Bąk was the only player to complete the entire journey from A-klasa in 2001 to the Ekstraklasa in 2008, a seven-year ascent that defined his career.

“Mateusz, you will forever remain part of the White-Green family. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family and loved ones.”

The long climb

Born in Pruszcz Gdański on 24 February 1983, Bąk started at local side Jantar before joining Lechia's youth ranks in the 1990s. His senior debut came on 12 August 2001 in a regional cup tie against Błękitni Sobowidz, when the club was rebuilding from the bottom of the league pyramid. Over the next seven seasons, he was the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper as Lechia rose through the divisions. In the Ekstraklasa, he debuted in the sixth matchday of the 2008/09 season against GKS Bełchatów and kept his place until the winter break. After losing the starting role, he moved to Portugal's Maritimo in 2010, then had spells at Wisła Płock, Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała, and Bulgaria's Etyr Wielkie Tyrnowo.

Return and captaincy

Bąk made good on a promise to return to Lechia in 2013. Over the next two seasons, he played 48 Ekstraklasa matches, helping the club finish fourth and fifth. He often wore the captain's armband and was regularly saluted by the ultras. By 2015/16 he was third-choice, but he still featured in a friendly against Juventus at PGE Arena. His final appearance came on 28 May 2017, when he replaced Dušan Kuciak in the 84th minute of a 4-0 win over Pogoń Szczecin, receiving a standing ovation. In total, he made 245 appearances for Lechia, scoring once, and kept 29 clean sheets in over 80 top-flight matches.

Life after football

After retiring, Bąk worked as a goalkeeper coach in Lechia's academy until 2022. In 2020, fans voted him the best goalkeeper in the club's 75-year history. He later joined the car dealership "My New Car", which described him as a co-owner and brother. In a radio interview a year and a half before his death, he said he had distanced himself from football, undergone a spiritual transformation, and lived by the philosophy of "here and now."

Family and club mourn

His family released a statement via the "Pruszczanie" Facebook page, calling him a beloved son, husband, brother, father, and friend.

“He left a void that nothing can fill, but also memories that no one can take away from us. See you, Mati. Take care, Young one.”

No cause of death was given. The club and fans across Poland have shared tributes to a player who embodied loyalty and perseverance.