In January 2012, Pawel Brozek found himself at the center of an Old Firm transfer battle, as Celtic and Rangers vied for his signature.
Ultimately, the Polish striker chose to join Celtic, linking up with his compatriot Lukasz Zaluska at Parkhead. Despite the hype surrounding his arrival, Brozek’s loan spell in Glasgow turned out to be a major disappointment.
A prolific scorer with Wisła Kraków, the 28-year-old was seeking to revive his career after a tough stint with Trabzonspor. Celtic manager Neil Lennon secured his services for the title run-in, but Brozek’s hopes of earning a place in Poland’s Euro 2012 squad quickly faded. Struggling for game time, he was relegated to third-choice striker behind Gary Hooper and Anthony Stokes. His situation worsened when, in his only start away to Motherwell, he was substituted for teenager Tony Watt, who stole the show with a debut double. Brozek made just three appearances for Celtic before leaving ahead of the season’s end.
Instead of acknowledging his struggles, Brozek pointed fingers at Lennon, accusing him of breaking promises. “I joined Celtic to play, but things didn’t go as planned,” he said. “Neil Lennon promised me something, but the reality was different. I barely got a chance to prove myself.”
Despite his lackluster form, Poland manager Frantisek Smuda included Brozek in the squad for Euro 2012, citing his past achievements. “Brozek has been one of our most talented strikers for years, and with preparation, he can show his class,” Smuda insisted. However, Brozek only managed brief substitute appearances, overshadowed by Borussia Dortmund star Robert Lewandowski.
Following an unsuccessful stint with Spanish side Recreativo de Huelva, Brozek returned to Wisła Kraków, where he rediscovered his scoring touch, netting 65 goals across seven seasons before retiring in 2020. While his time at Celtic is best forgotten, Brozek managed to revive his career back in his homeland.
