Standing nearly two meters tall, like Huijsen, Jan Ziolkowski cultivated discipline through martial arts before transitioning to football. Here`s a look at the Polish defender set to join Gasperini`s squad.
Jan Ziolkowski developed his character and discipline through martial arts, a natural path given his father`s role as a master and founder of a training school. The towering defender, born in Warsaw in 2005 and standing nearly two meters tall like his father, is set to arrive in Rome. His signing was orchestrated by sporting director Massara, with the full backing of coach Gasperini. Ziolkowski will become the fifth center-back in Roma`s defensive lineup, joining Mancini, Ndicka, Ghilardi, and Hermoso, forming a truly formidable defense. The final transfer fee to Legia Warsaw, where Ziolkowski spent his formative years, is reported to be six million euros plus bonuses. Despite some early challenges, he received a significant prophecy during his time at Legia: “One day you will play for Real Madrid.” This echoes José Mourinho`s famous prediction about Huijsen, who now indeed plays for Real Madrid.
Martial Arts Background
Despite being born mere meters from Legia Warsaw`s stadium, his favorite club, Jan`s journey began on the tatami, not the football pitch. His early idols were martial arts legends: Jan Błachowicz, the UFC light heavyweight champion, and Mamed Chalidov, a celebrated figure in Poland`s KSW promotion. Martial arts instilled in him crucial qualities for football: balance, stamina, and, most importantly, discipline. “He is a true athlete,” recounts one of his former youth coaches. “He developed harmoniously and possesses the spirit of a leader in his DNA.” However, Ziolkowski also admired Polish football stars like Kamil Glik, former captain of Torino and the national team. Eventually, he traded punches for kicks – specifically, kicking a football.
The Real Madrid Prophecy
At the age of 15, his coach at Polonia Warsaw urged him to commit to football, famously telling him: “You remind me of Bednarek. You`re no less talented than Cubarsí, and one day you`ll play for Real Madrid.” These profound words provided a significant boost for the young 2005-born talent. His burgeoning maturity on the pitch quickly caught the attention of Legia scouts, leading to his dream call-up at just 17. However, his initial period was challenging. While confident in his abilities, the heavy comparisons and high expectations placed on someone not yet an adult proved difficult. “He struggled initially, often finding himself with the second team. He was behind his peers, but we gave him a strong motivational boost,” recalls his Legia youth coach. He then moved to the reserve squad in the Polish third division, focused solely on gaining experience. And the towering blonde defender certainly did. He eventually became a first-team regular, making 22 appearances in the Ekstraklasa last year at 19, scoring one goal and providing two assists. His impressive season also included six appearances in the Conference League and two in this year`s Europa League qualifiers against Banik Ostrava. Additionally, the 2005-born player boasts five appearances and one goal for the Poland Under-20 national team, and is engaged to the beautiful Natalia Kiedrowicz.
The New Huijsen
Ziolkowski`s acquisition is a significant reinforcement for AS Roma`s present and a promising investment for its future. Under Gasperini`s tutelage, Jan has the potential for substantial growth. Roma successfully outbid Lyon and Udinese for his signature. Comparisons to Huijsen, a player missed by both Roma and Juventus, are inevitable. Standing nearly two meters tall but weighing around 80 kilograms, some might consider him “lanky.” However, this lean physique allows him to excel, particularly in aerial duels and set-piece situations, often posing a threat in the opposition`s box. He demonstrates strong ball-playing ability, solid basic technique, and an excellent sense of pace and positioning. Another notable attribute is his game-reading ability. “He already knows where the ball will land in the penalty area,” states Iordanescu, his former coach in Warsaw. One area for improvement, however, is his disciplinary record. In his last 19 appearances in the Polish top flight with Legia, the defender accumulated eight yellow cards.
