Profile Text
Podolski in 2008, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Łukasz Józef Podolski
Place of Birth: Gliwice, Poland
Date of Birth: 4 June, 1985
Ethnicity: Polish, possibly German
Lukas Podolski is a Polish-born German professional footballer. A striker and left winger, he plays for Ekstraklasa club Górnik Zabrze. He was previously with 1. FC Köln II, 1. FC Köln, Bayern Munich, Bayern Munich II, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Galatasaray, Vissel Kobe, and Antalyaspor, and the Germany national team.
Lukas was born in Gliwice, Poland, the son of Krystyna, who was on the Poland national handball team, and Waldemar Podolski, a footballer, who was a forward, and played for Poland and Germany. His family moved to West Germany in 1987, and were given Aussiedler status, because his grandparents were German citizens until WWII. Lukas was raised in Bergheim, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Pulheim, both near Cologne. He was eligible to play for Germany and Poland, and chose to play for Germany.
Lukas is married to Monika Puchalska, with whom he has three children. He lives in Poland.
Sources: http://www.player-profiles.co.uk http://www.independent.co.uk http://abcnews.go.com