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Fullname: Patryk Klimala
aka: The Devil (Polish nickname!)
Born: 5 Aug 1998
Birthplace: Swidnica, Poland
Signed:14 Jan 2020
Left: 22 Apr 2021 (to NY Red Bulls est £3.5m)
Position: Centre-Forward
Debut: Partick Thistle 1-2 Celtic, Scottish Cup
Squad No.: 11
Internationals: ? [which international team played for]
International Caps: ? [complete at end of career]
International Goals: ? [complete at end of career]
Biog
Patryck Klimala had arrived at Celtic, with Celtic taking a gamble of £3.5m for the 22-year-old frontman from top-flight Jagiellonia Bialystok in January 2020.
During the period of Patryk Klimala’s arrival, there were various new trendy ways to announce new Celtic players to the fans via Social media or in stadium events. Celtic used the then popular video app TiKToK to announce the arrival of new striker Patryk Klimala, which some found a bit too unorthodox and coming from left-field, but then again was it really any different to using Twitter? Anyhow, despite the trendy entrance, it was to all be a low key and ultimately disappointing time at Celtic for him.
The young Patryk Klimala arrived at Celtic at a club just behind Sevco in the race for the league title but with ten domestic trophies in a row, so a proud record to uphold. The club was struggling with its strikers, with manager Neil Lennon over relying heavily on Edouard for the goals. Reports were positive on Kilmala’s potential, and he was said to have his head screwed on right (after a troublesome start in his football career), despite the Polish nickname of ‘The Devil’ having been bestowed on him through his paternal lines.
He had a quick introduction to Scottish football, getting subbed on in a 2-1 win over Partick Thistle in January 2020 and was hacked down after only his first touch in the game but was then kept on the sidelines for much of the rest the first few months until the coronavirus ended the season prematurely. Celtic won the curtailed league title, with Klimala given only brief appearance time.
His second season should have seen him kick on, but in a covid infected season, it was no easy environment. He had spent the meantime bulking up and hopes were high for the new season, but things were to go disastrously wrong both for him and the club.
Celtic collapsed in the league title challenge, and manager Neil Lennon was under the cosh. Few if any players progressed and developed under Neil Lennon, and that included Klimala. He was to be little used, and ended up with little game time. He was given around 23 appearances, practically always time off the bench. He scored a cracker of a goal v St Johnstone in October 2020 which finally got people talking about him. He’d scored around three goals in the first quarter of the season, which was a fair return, and to his credit he seemed to have knuckled down and learned the language. He was making a fist of things.
However the team was to collapse and become demoralised, and many would argue badly managed & coached. It didn’t help Klimala, whose time at Celtic appeared to be over before it even was given a chance to get going. Regardless, he was an expensive purchase and so expectations were unfairly high, but alongside Ajeti and even Edouard, there was a large disappointment about both the performances and return from all the strikers in season 2020/21.
Klimala struggled to build on his few goals, and likely big changes were needed at Celtic. He needed opportunities, but at a then dysfunctional Celtic, he was being forgotten and left out. You could say that the coaching problems affected him the most from all the players in the squad. He was young, and maybe needed more time & assistance. Sympathisers could put forward that he had a fair record with the Polish U21s, so maybe it was at Celtic where the big problems lay. A new manager was to come in at Celtic, and no guarantees for him.
During this season (2020/21), Celtic had seen a huge deluge of young players bailing out of the club. Stephen Welsh was the exception to the rule. A huge overhaul was needed, so clearly Klimala not wholly alone at fault for his unsuccessful tenure, Celtic had regressed badly since Lennon had taken over and it was a poor environment to try and develop in.
To everyone’s surprise he was taken on by MLS team New York Red Bulls, which was becoming a second home for ex-Celts under ex-Celtic manager Ronnie Deila. He signed on there reputedly for £3.5m, and few were going to bemoan his departure, but there was no major issue with him at all. It was one that didn’t work out, but he never complained and just got on with his game in a frustrating period. He definitely had some talent, but it just wasn’t to be for him at Celtic.
If anything, critics of the Celtic manager could use Klimala as another example of Neil Lennon’s failed second stint as manager at Celtic. An online wit argued that Klimala showed more determination to score his goal against St Johnstone than most of the Celtic team that whole season.
We wished Patryck Klimala the best.
Post-Celtic
After Celtic, he spent a couple of years at New York Red Bulls and achieved a not spectacular scroring return, little different to his time at Celtic, before moving over to Israel with Hapoel Be’er Shiva.
[…]
Quotes
“It makes sense for us, it’s a good opportunity for him and it’s good for the club. We certainly wish Patryk all the best with that one if it gets finalised. Patryk is a terrific boy, he’s worked ever so hard. Even while he’s been here, there have been lots of development around his know-how in games. He’s very much a guy who likes playing on the counter-attack, he has good speed to run in behind. When you have the quality we have, he’s found it difficult to get game time. This opportunity has come up and it’s probably a good fit for him.”
John Kennedy Apr 2021
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2019/20 | 2 | 2 | – | – | 4 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 |
| 2020/21 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 24 |
| Goals | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 49 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 54 |
| Goals | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
Honours with Celtic
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Articles
Celtic delighted to sign Polish striker, Patryk Klimala
By: Tony Connelly on 14 Jan, 2020 13:45CELTIC are delighted to announce the signing of highly-rated young Polish striker Patryk Klimala on a four-and-a-half year contract. The Scottish champions won the race to sign the 21-year-old from Polish top flight side, Jagiellonia Białystok, where he has scored seven goals in 17 league appearances so far this season. The deal, which was revealed exclusively on the official Celtic Tik Tok, was finalised today (Tuesday) at Celtic Park, and the Polish Under-21 internationalist will immediately begin training with his new team-mates at Lennoxtown from tomo
Who is Celtic’s new £3.5m striker Patryk Klimala – ‘Devil’ nickname | Next Lewandowski | Blistering pace | Off-field antics
Joel Sked
Email
Published: 15:19
Updated: 15:23 Monday 13 January 2020
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/who-is-celtic-s-new-3-5m-striker-patryk-klimala-devil-nickname-next-lewandowski-blistering-pace-off-field-antics-1-5074180
The lowdown on Polish striker Patryk Klimala who is set to complete his move to Celtic from Jagiellonia Bialystok
British football doesn’t quite do nicknames like elsewhere in Europe or South America. It is often a case of adding a ‘y’ or ‘o’ to the end of the surname. Imagination and originality is not easy to find. Sometimes there are, however, notable ones such as ‘Dissa’ for ex-Hearts player Neil Pointon.
However, Celtic are welcoming the ‘Devil’ to Parkhead.
Klimala revealed that the moniker has been passed down from his grandfather via his father to him and admits “there are still demons in me”.
No need to worry Celtic fans, as the striker explains: “This element of the devil exists, but now it has a positive change in me.”
Big move
In 2014, aged just 15 he made the move from local side Lechia Dzierżoniów in Lower Silesia to Polish giants Legia Warsaw.
The transfer involved a huge change, as he switched his home town of Świdnica near the Czech border to the Polish capital more than 400km away. It was a move which wouldn’t work out.
Off-field antics
The popular clip of Grandpa Simpson walking into an establishment, taking off his hat, putting it on the cloak stand, walking in a circle, picking up the hat and walking back out again epitomises Klimala’s time at Legia.
In fact, as he says, there is even a saying from the region he grew up in for such a situation: ‘Hello and hat’.
He would find himself back with Dzierżoniów by 2016 after he had his contract terminated with Legia Warsaw.
It followed a night out at a club with team-mates with claims that the striker, then a teenager, was drunk – something which he denies.
The player has admitted to going out regularly but felt the decision to end his deal was harsh
He said: “We met a person from Legia who told the club that I was drunk – which I wasn’t – in the disco. And he didn’t mention the fact there were 12 other players there.
“The club’s decision was quick, they informed me that I should leave. Together with my dad, it was decided that my contract should be terminated.”
Settled
Klimala popping up in Glasgow’s clubs and bars is not something Celtic fans should have to worry about. Advice from his father, plus meeting his fiancée Milena changed his life, he admits.
The club are getting a striker focused on his career and doing everything he can to be a success.
Confidence
One thing the 21-year-old hasn’t struggled with is confidence. Earlier in his career he had a certain bravado which had to be tempered by his club Jagiellonia Bialystok.
Following comments in the media about his standing in the country, regarding himself as a top-flight player, despite a loan with second tier Wigry Suwalki, he had to come out and retract what he had said.
However, this is a player who rates himself, and such self-confidence, bordering on arrogance, will be beneficial to playing at a club like Celtic where you need to puff your chest out and be brave.
It fits into what he has been saying this month about not wanting to a be a back-up player.
“First of all, I don’t want to be the fourth choice, only the first,” he said. “I want to develop, so I will also choose a league that will give me that. If someone wants me and it is a good option, I will go and fight for my own.”
In demand
Celtic were not the only side to be linked with Klimala. The Scottish champions’ Europa League opponents-in-waiting FC Copenhagen were interested, as were Genoa. The Serie A side are familiar with finding gems in the Polish market, having recruited Krzysztof Piatek from Cracovia.
Piatek is from the same region as Klimala and is now playing with AC Milan after a €35 million move.
Lewandowski comparisons
“I think most people expect him to be the striker who replaces [Robert] Lewandowski in the national team.”
Talk about tempering expectations. Former Celtic striker Maciej Zurawski went the other way and will likely have the Parkhead fans salivating at the prospect of having someone of such potential in their ranks.
While Zurawski made it known Klimala isn’t the “finished article”, there is real hope he will reach a high level.
“That [replacing Lewandowski] won’t happen just now, because Lewandowski is still one of the best players in the world. It will be very hard for him to start for Poland at the moment.
“But there is no reason why he won’t in the future if he keeps improving at the rate he is just now.”
Style of play
Now, the thing which matters most, what kind of striker will Celtic be getting?
Firstly, as noted above, Klimala has plenty of potential. He gained first-team experience in the Polish second tier two seasons ago, hitting 13 goals in 23 starts. After a bit-part role last term with Jagiellonia, he has led the line this campaign, starting 12 of 20 league games, scoring seven times in the Ekstraklasa.
Klimala is an out-and-out striker, that’s for sure. He plays on the shoulder of the last defender, constantly looking to make runs in behind to make use of his blistering pace. When a pass isn’t released, he’ll check and arc his run to get back onside to then offer another option.
This lightning pace can be seen in a goal he scored in a 3-2 win over Cracovia back in October. The opposition had pushed right up the park, meaning there were acres of space to run into. A pass from deep saw Klimala open up his legs getting to the through ball before the advancing goalkeeper while staying ahead from the defender putting pressure on.
Such space will be likely hard to come by when playing for Celtic against deep and compact defences domestically.
He is certainly not adverse to coming short to link with the midfield, in fact it is something which he is more than willing to do. When the ball is played into him he either looks to play it first time or at least as quickly as possible. It is also an area which will likely develop with more experience and coaching, as to when to hold the ball in and bring the team up the park and when to try and play a flick or first time pass.
Klimala will unlikely force Odsonne Edouard out of the striking position in the short term. There is still a rawness to his play. He has that striker’s selfishness in the final third, putting his head down, rather than getting it up.
But there is a certainly plenty potential. Otherwise, why would Celtic be doing such a deal.
Stats:
• Goals per 90 minutes – 0.55
• xG (expected goal) per 90 – 0.49
• Assists per 90 – 0.24
• Shots per goal – 5.7
• Shot accuracy – 57.5 per cent (second highest)
• Offside per 90 – 1.49 (highest)
• Touches in the box per 90 – 5.43 (third highest)
• Key pass per 90 (creates a really good opportunity for a team-mate – 0.79 (top 10)
‘I’m not planning any drinking sessions in Scotland!’ – new Celtic striker Patryk Klimala jokes he has put the young life behind him
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/i-m-not-planning-any-drinking-sessions-in-scotland-new-celtic-striker-patryk-klimala-jokes-he-has-put-the-young-life-behind-him-1-5075618
Stephen Halliday
Published: 22:30 Wednesday 15 January 2020
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Stephen Halliday
Published: 22:30 Wednesday 15 January 2020
Patryk Klimala may have earned the foreboding nickname of “The Devil” during his rise to prominence in Polish football but Celtic’s new striker insists he will adopt an angelic lifestyle in his new home.
The 21-year-old’s early career struggles saw him fail to make the grade at Legia Warsaw when his application was questioned amid concerns over some of his off-field habits.
Klimala’s determined and focused response to that setback has now been rewarded with a £3.4 million move to the Scottish champions from Jagiellonia Bialystok and a four-and-a-half year contract.
As he becomes the latest Pole to ply his trade at Celtic Park, Klimala certainly has no intention of earning the kind of playboy reputation which was attached to another pacy striker who wore the green and white hoops, Jacki Dziekanowski, whose initial popularity among the fans wasn’t backed up by success on the pitch.
“The young life is behind me,” smiled Klimala, an engaging and courteous figure as he conducted his first media duties in Glasgow through a translator.
“For the last five years, I have been with my fiancee Milena. We have a dog called Lambo and we are planning a family. So I’m not planning any drinking sessions here!”
Klimala admits he has little recollection of Celtic’s previous Polish players, including the more recent duo of Artur Boruc and Maciej Zurawski, but hopes to tap into their experiences.
“I don’t really remember them but I can watch them on the internet and I know they were good players,” he said.
“I’m planning to try to get in touch with them if I can, to help me acclimatise, learn more about Celtic and Scotland.
“Polish players generally travel well and since I arrived here this week, everybody has been so nice to me and I can feel that support.
“Hopefully in another two or three months when I do interviews, I will be able to answer the questions on my own without an interpreter.
“I only started learning English maybe two or three months ago. I understand maybe 80-90 percent of what is being said but in terms of communication, hopefully I will overcome it soon.”
Klimala was also linked with Serie A side Genoa and Celtic’s forthcoming Europa League opponents Copenhagen in recent weeks but is in no doubt he has made the right move.
“I feel it is a big achievement for me to come to Scotland and sign for Celtic,” he said. “I have always dreamed of playing for a big club. Celtic is a huge club with a lot of history.
“I had a few offers from other clubs but I never even thought of moving elsewhere as soon as I learned Celtic were interested. I made my mind up straight away to come here. I’m very happy about it.
“There were big clubs from Italy and other countries interested in me, but I don’t want to mention their names. I feel my style of football is more suited to Celtic. So this is the best choice for me to make.
“I would describe myself as a strong and fast player, I feel I am best suited to Celtic and Scottish football. I think I will do well here.
“In terms of the pressure here, I know the fans at Celtic support the club and that is not going to overwhelm me. I’m going to do my best to get the fans’ support in every game.”
Klimala hopes to force his way into Neil Lennon’s first team plans as soon as possible but does not see himself solely as a rival to current first choice striker Odsonne Edouard.
“I’m prepared for a fight but I don’t see Edouard in any shape of form as my enemy,” he added. “Obviously I’m going to fight to get into the team. If I’m going to play alongside him, I’ll support him. If I’m going to be on the bench, I’ll still do my best for the team when I get the chance to play. Whatever is best for the team, I will adjust.
“I’m not sure how long it’s going to take. I feel I’m ready for it. I’m prepared for gradual progress to the main team. I’m ready to fight for a spot in the team.”
It remains to be seen whether Klimala can make an immediate impact on Celtic’s quest for a record-equalling ninth consecutive Scottish league title but he is aware of the scenario in which he now finds himself.
“Before I came here, I knew all about the run to this point in the club’s history,” he said.
“There are obviously going to be a lot of challenges. But, after training for two days with the squad, without being over confident, I can see there is a chance to achieve this. But it’s going to take a lot of hard work.”
Polish forward hopes his performances will be enough to earn place in Sunday’s Premiership opener against Hamilton
By Stephen Halliday
Wednesday, 29th July 2020, 7:30 am
Celtic’s Patryk Klimala celebrates scoring his side’s third goal against Hibs in the pre-season friendly at Celtic Park. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.
Celtic’s Patryk Klimala celebrates scoring his side’s third goal against Hibs in the pre-season friendly at Celtic Park. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/patryk-klimala-shows-his-ruthless-streak-bid-celtic-striker-role-2926800
Patryk Klimala admits he felt just a little sheepish about stealing a goal from Leigh Griffiths as Celtic continued their pre-season preparations with victory over Hibs on Monday.
But the Polish under-21 international will have no reservations about trying to move ahead of Griffiths in the pecking order of front men at the Scottish champions as they get ready to start their quest for a record-breaking tenth consecutive league title.
Celtic: Get the latest team news, match previews and reports
Klimala is hardly unique among strikers in grabbing any opportunity which presents itself to add to his goal tally, so is certainly under no obligation to apologise for the needless touch right on the goal line which helped Griffiths’ already netbound dink over Hibs goalkeeper Kevin Dabrowski on its way.
But in the circumstances of Griffiths’ latest return to action after his unsatisfactory post-lockdown physical condition had caused him to be left out of the first-team squad by angry Celtic manager Neil Lennon, it was a moment of ruthless opportunism by Klimala which hinted at the strength of his desire to take full advantage of the Scotland international’s situation.
Klimala scored again when he headed home after a Griffiths corner in Celtic’s 3-1 win and he is hopeful he has done enough to stake a claim for inclusion in Sunday’s Premiership opener against Hamilton Accies at Parkhead.
“The first goal I scored against Hibs was really a Leigh Griffiths goal,” said Klimala. “I only touched the ball before it crossed the line. But the second one that I scored was mine. I worked hard on the pitch to get the goal and I was happy with it.
“I enjoyed playing alongside Leigh. I am working hard and I am feeling in good shape. The last decisions of who plays in the [competitive] games will be down to the manager, that’s it.”
Signed from Jagiellonia Białystok in January, Klimala was a peripheral figure at Celtic in the final months of the curtailed 2019-20 season. He made only three substitute appearances in the league, his solitary start coming in a Scottish Cup tie at Clyde.
Early impressions suggested he appeared to lack the physicality necessary for Scottish football but he has returned after lockdown having bulked up considerably as he prepares for the rigours of the challenges ahead.
In the absence of Griffiths, Klimala scored his first goal in Celtic colours in their 1-1 draw against Nice two weeks ago and has now followed up with the double against Hibs.
“I worked really hard during the break from football,” he added. “I had two sessions a day plus I also did an English lesson for two hours.
“I was tired when we started back the pre-season, but now I feel in good shape. My focus was not on going back [to Poland] during the quarantine. I wanted to remain here and do hard work because I didn’t have a pre-season during the winter break.
“I didn’t feel that good, but everything has now come back to normal for me. It was important for me to have a routine.”
While Klimala and Griffiths scrap it out for the status of second striker at Celtic, Odsonne Edouard remains the main man for Lennon as the new season dawns. Klimala is determined to benefit from working alongside the French striker.
“I have learned a lot of things from Odsonne during this pre-season,” added Klimala. “I think it was really good for me and now I can try to use some of these things on the pitch.
“Sometimes we talk about it, but really I just watch how he plays on the pitch. Sometimes, yes, I can just watch him and learn some things, but we are different players.
“Odsonne plays the game differently from me, but there are many things that I like that he does and I can learn from him.”
After two closed-door friendlies at Celtic Park, that environment will face Lennon’s players in a competitive fixture for the first time against Hamilton on Sunday. Klimala hopes supporters will return sooner rather than later but says Celtic must overcome any obstacle which comes their way in such a momentous season.
“Hopefully in the next games, we will be able to play with fans,” he added. “I have never experienced the situation and playing in a stadium without fans, but it is what it is. That’s it. Football is about being professional and we have to be focused and have a good mentality on what we have to do all of the time. It doesn’t matter whether we have fans or we do not have fans when it comes to this. Of course it would be better to play the games with the supporters, but if we have to play without them during the games, we will do this.
“I understand how big the season is for the club, but I don’t really think about it because it can bring pressure and we don’t need to have that because we already know how big this club is and how many great players are with us in the changing room. It doesn’t matter what time it is for Celtic. There’s always pressure to win, that is normal.”
Celtic: Patryk Klimala has bulked up in bid to muscle his way into first team
Striker spent lockdown break working in the gym
By Angus Wright
Wednesday, 15th July 2020, 10:05 pm
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-patryk-klimala-has-bulked-bid-muscle-his-way-first-team-2914875
Celtic striker Patryk Klimala hopes to reap the benefits of bulking up during lockdown.
The Scottish champions return to action on Thursday evening with a match against Nice in the Veolia Trophy pre-season tournament in France.
Klimala struggled to break into the Celtic team last season following his January move from Jagiellonia Bialystok in his Polish homeland. He started once and appeared three times as a substitute before the season was brought to a premature end. Now the 21-year-old is hoping he can compete better physically after time spent in the gym.
Klimala knew he had to toughen up after tough battles with his team-mates in training.
“Firstly, I have to say I feel good. I actually feel better than I did before lockdown,” Klimala told Celtic TV. “I worked hard during quarantine and so hopefully I am ready. Now, we’re in Lyon and we have our first friendly game. We’ll see how it goes.
“It was a simple decision for me to go to the gym during lockdown. When I was on the pitch with, say, Chris Jullien, for example, it was really hard. I didn’t have any chance – that’s why I wanted to bulk up and I think that it’s better for me. I feel better and hopefully the guys think the same.”
The striker knows he will have a hard job to dislodge Odsonne Edouard as Celtic’s No 1 striker but is confident he can be an effective performer in the new season.
“I feel comfortable now. I know what Odsonne did last season, but I will work hard and hopefully I’m given a chance to show some more,” Klimala said. “I spoke to [assistant manager] John Kennedy and I know what I have to do, why I’m here, and we will see.
“We are Celtic. We have to, and can, win every game. It’s only a friendly tomorrow, but we have to prove to ourselves and the manager who is the best moving forward into the new season.
“I can tell you, I understand all of the guys, but learning English can be difficult. It’s a difficult situation, but I want to learn English because I respect my team-mates, the manager, the fans. I can speak with everyone now, and I’m still learning every day. I feel good with the language now, but hopefully I can keep getting better.”