Arkadiusz Milik

Arkadiusz Krystian Milik ([arˈkadjuʂ ˈmilik] (listen); born 28 February 1994) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Italian club Napoli and the Poland national team.

Arkadiusz Milik

Milik with Napoli in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Arkadiusz Krystian Milik[1]
Date of birth	(1994-02-28) 28 February 1994[1]
Place of birth	Tychy, Poland
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Playing position(s)	Striker
Club information
Current team	Napoli
Number	99
Youth career
0000–2011	Rozwój Katowice
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2011–2013	Górnik Zabrze	38	(11)
2013–2015	Bayer Leverkusen	6	(0)
2013–2014	→ FC Augsburg (loan)	18	(2)
2014–2015	→ Ajax (loan)	21	(11)
2015–2016	Ajax	31	(21)
2016–	Napoli	93	(38)
National team^‡
2011	Poland U17	5	(1)
2011–2012	Poland U19	11	(3)
2012–2014	Poland U21	15	(3)
2012–	Poland	49	(14)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:52, 28 July 2020 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13 October 2019

Milik began his career as a footballer in the Rozwój Katowice youth squad. In 2011, he signed a one-year contract with Górnik Zabrze, and in 2012 he transferred to Bayer Leverkusen and later played on loan for FC Augsburg and Ajax respectively. In 2015–16, he was purchased by Ajax on a four-year deal for a reported €2.8 million fee. While playing for Ajax, Milik became one of the top goalscorers in Eredivisie. On 1 August 2016, he joined Italian club Napoli for €35 million, effectively replacing Gonzalo Higuaín.

At international level, he participated at UEFA Euro 2016 with Poland, where his nation reached the quarter-final stage of the tournament. He also took part at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where his team was eliminated in the group stage.

Early life

Milik's father left when he was very young. Sławomir "Moki" Mogilan, a football coach, recognized Milik's footballing talent and helped develop his abilities, fostering a greater professionalism in his outlook. When he was 16 years old, reports of the talented youngster had reached England and he was invited to trial with Tottenham Hotspur and Reading, but ultimately decided to focus on his football in Poland.[2]

Club career

Rozwój Katowice

Milik began his career as a youth player for Rozwój Katowice and played in the reserve team during the 2009–10 season.[3] On 23 October 2010, the 16-year-old made his III liga debut when he scored two goals in a 4–0 victory over KS Krasiejów.[4] In November, he went on trial at Górnik Zabrze, where he scored one goal in two appearances for the club's Młoda Ekstraklasa team.[5] In winter, he and his teammate Wojciech Król were on trial with Reading, Tottenham Hotspur and Legia Warszawa.[6][7] Milik ended the season with ten appearances and four goals for Rozwój Katowice.[5]

Górnik Zabrze

Despite offers from other clubs, on 1 July 2011 Milik signed a one-year contract with Górnik Zabrze for a fee of 500,000 złotys.[8][9] Milik made his Ekstraklasa debut on 31 July in a 1–1 draw with Śląsk Wrocław;[10] in the 53rd minute, he was substituted by Daniel Gołębiewski.[11]

Bayer Leverkusen

On 17 December 2012, German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen confirmed they had signed Milik on a contract until summer 2018,[12] for a reported transfer fee of €2.6 million.[13] Milik failed to impress at Leverkusen though, making only 6 appearances before being demoted to the Leverkusen reserve team.

FC Augsburg (loan)

On 30 August 2013, FC Augsburg signed Milik on a one-year loan deal.[14] The loan fee was reported to be €150,000, and composed of a base amount that decreased the more games Milik played for Augsburg and increased if Augsburg maintained its Bundesliga status.[15] During his spell in Augsburg, he was capped in 18 matches, but he only scored 2 goals. However, he scored an equalizer in the 88th minute in a 2–2 home draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach, helping Augsburg earn a vital point.[16]

Ajax

On 15 May 2014, it was announced that Milik would spend the 2014–15 season on loan at reigning Dutch champions Ajax, with a purchase option of €2.8 million.[17]

2014–15 season (loan)

On 24 September 2014, Milik played in the first official Amsterdam derby to be contested since 1983 when Ajax took on JOS Watergraafsmeer in the KNVB Cup. Milik earned the man of the match award after scoring six out of the club's nine goals and assisting a further two in the Olympic Stadium.[18] On 1 April 2015, Ajax reached an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen to purchase Milik outright on a four-year deal for a reported €2.8 million fee.[19]

2015–16 season

On 26 June 2015, Ajax announced Milik would replace departing striker Kolbeinn Sigþórsson as the club's number 9 for the 2015–16 season, switching from kit number 19. Milik scored his first goal that season in a UEFA Champions League qualifier against Rapid Wien, making the scoreline 1–2. The game was eventually lost 2–3 and the two-legged tie 4–5 on aggregate to Rapid, relegating Ajax to the UEFA Europa League play-off against Czech side Jablonec.

Milik scored his first goal of the 2015–16 Eredivisie season against Willem II after newly appointed captain Davy Klaassen provided him with a cross, which Milik headed-in. Ajax went on to win the game 3–0 after a brace from Anwar El Ghazi. In the first leg of the Europa League play-off qualifier against Jablonec, Milik scored a penalty after Klaassen was fouled in the box; the goal was the winner in a 1–0 match. During the beginning of the season, Milik also scored goals against Willem II, NEC and Excelsior. Nearly a month later, on 31 October, he began a scoring streak again, this time scoring two against Roda JC in a 6–0 rout. Milik also scored league goals against Cambuur on 11 November and Heerenveen on 5 December, the latter in which he also missed a penalty. On 26 November, Milik scored the 1–1 equalizer against Celtic in the Europa League group stage, where Ajax went on to win 2–1 away in Glasgow. On 20 December, Ajax's final match before the winter break, he also scored the opening goal against De Graafschap in an eventual 2–1 home victory at the Amsterdam Arena.

After the winter break, Milik was out of form and got a lot of criticism, having gone scoreless in Ajax's first three Eredivisie matches. He broke his poor run of form by scoring against Roda JC on 31 January 2016 in a 2–2 away draw. On 21 February, against Excelsior, he then scored a brace, while in Ajax's next home game, on 28 February, he scored another two goals against AZ. One week later, on 6 March, Milik scored against Willem II in an eventual 0–4 away win in Tilburg.

Napoli

Milik signed with Napoli on 1 August 2016;[20] his €35 million transfer was officially confirmed by the club the following afternoon.[21] He made his club debut on 27 August, scoring his first two goals for Napoli in a 4–2 home win over Milan in Serie A.[22] He scored braces again against Dynamo Kyiv and Bologna in September,[23] but on 8 October, Milik tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a Polish international fixture against Denmark and was expected to be out for the rest of the season.[24] However, as of 12 February 2017, he resumed playing and was fielded again on 15 February in the Champions League match against Real Madrid.[23]

In September, Milik suffered his second anterior cruciate ligament injury in under 12 months – in his other knee, on this occasion – and was expected to be ruled out for at least four months; in January 2018, he underwent medical tests and was cleared to resume training.[25][26][27][28]

In the 2020 Coppa Italia Final on 17 June, following a 0–0 draw after regulation time, Milik scored the winning spot kick in a 4–2 penalty shoot-out victory against Juventus.[29]

International career

Milik playing for Poland in 2013.

On 13 April 2011, Milik scored a goal for Poland under-17 side in a 4–1 victory over England Schools U18. On 15 July 2011, he was called up to the under-19 team.[30]

On 12 October 2012, Milik made his debut for the Polish senior team against South Africa. On 14 December, he scored his first goal for the national side in the 4–1 friendly victory over Macedonia.

Milik scored nine times for Poland under-21s during qualification for the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, including back-to-back hat-tricks against Malta and Greece in November 2013.[31]

UEFA Euro 2016

On 11 October 2014, Milik scored the opening goal in a 2–0 win over world champions Germany in a 2016 UEFA Euro qualifying match. This was Poland's first win over Germany, who had not lost in 19 competitive games and 33 previous qualifiers.[32] Milik formed a successful strike partnership with Robert Lewandowski during qualification for the European Championships, with additional goals coming in a 2–2 draw with Scotland, a 4–0 win away to Georgia and another 4–0 defeat of the same opposition at the National Stadium in Warsaw.[33]

In Euro 2016, Milik scored for Poland in their opening game, beating Northern Ireland 1–0.[34] He also netted his attempt in his nation's penalty shootout exit to eventual champions Portugal in the quarter-finals.[35]

2018 FIFA World Cup

Milik appeared in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[36] His nation was defeated 2–1 in their opening match against Senegal, and then lost 3–0 in their second group match against Colombia. Poland managed a 1–0 win over Japan in their final group match, but were eliminated in the first round.[37]

Style of play

Usually deployed as an out-and-out striker, Milik is a versatile and well-rounded left-footed forward who is also capable of playing off another forward as a second striker or as a winger, due to his ability to both score and create goals. He possesses pace and good movement off the ball, as well as a powerful and accurate shot, which make him an excellent finisher and goalscorer; he is also physically strong, agile, and a good header of the ball, which allows him to excel in the air.[38][39][40][41][42][43][44] His playing style has been compared to that of his compatriot Robert Lewandowski in the Polish sports media.[45] Regarded as a promising young striker in his youth, in 2012, Don Balón named him one of the 101 most promising young players in the world born after 1991.[46]

Personal life

In 2013, Milik began dating professional Polish model Jessica Ziółek. Milik features on the cover of the Polish version of FIFA 16 alongside global cover star Lionel Messi.[47]

Milik is a devoted fan of Manchester United. Milik says he "dreams of playing for Manchester United", but insists he's "far from it".[48]

Milik's childhood football hero is Cristiano Ronaldo; in an interview during Euro 2016, he said he followed Ronaldo closely and had been inspired by the Portuguese striker.[49]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 8 August 2020[50]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Górnik Zabrze	2011–12	Ekstraklasa	24	4	1	0	–		25	4
	2012–13		14	7	1	1	–		15	8
	Total		38	11	2	1	–		40	12
Bayer Leverkusen	2012–13	Bundesliga	6	0	0	0	2	0	8	0
FC Augsburg (loan)	2013–14		18	2	2	0	–		20	2
Ajax (loan)	2014–15	Eredivisie	21	11	3	8	9	4	33	23
Ajax	2015–16		31	21	2	0	9	3	42	24
	Total		52	32	5	8	18	7	75	47
Napoli	2016–17	Serie A	17	5	2	0	4	3	23	8
	2017–18		15	5	0	0	2	1	17	6
	2018–19		35	17	2	1	10	2	47	20
	2019–20		26	11	4	0	5	3	35	14
	Total		93	38	8	1	21	9	122	48
Career total			207	83	17	10	41	16	265	109

International

As of match played 13 October 2019

Poland
Year	Apps	Goals
2012	4	1
2013	2	0
2014	8	5
2015	8	4
2016	11	1
2017	3	1
2018	9	1
2019	4	1
Total	49	14

International goals

As of match played 13 October 2019. Poland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Milik goal.[51]

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	14 December 2012	Mardan Sports Complex, Aksu, Turkey	4	Macedonia	1–0	4–1	Friendly
2	6 June 2014	Stadion Energa Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland	9	Lithuania	1–1	2–1
3	11 October 2014	National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland	11	Germany	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2016 qualification
4	14 October 2014		12	Scotland	2–2	2–2
5	14 November 2014	Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia	13	Georgia	4–0	4–0
6	18 November 2014	Stadion Miejski, Wrocław, Poland	14	Switzerland	2–1	2–2	Friendly
7	13 June 2015	National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland	16	Georgia	1–0	4–0	UEFA Euro 2016 qualification
8	7 September 2015		19	Gibraltar	5–0	8–1
9					7–0
10	17 November 2015	Stadion Miejski, Wrocław, Poland	22	Czech Republic	1–0	3–1	Friendly
11	12 June 2016	Stade de Nice, Nice, France	27	Northern Ireland	1–0	1–0	UEFA Euro 2016
12	4 September 2017	National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland	36	Kazakhstan	1–0	3–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
13	20 November 2018	Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, Guimarães, Portugal	45	Portugal	1–1	1–1	2018–19 UEFA Nations League A
14	13 October 2019	National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland	49	North Macedonia	2–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Honours

Napoli

• Coppa Italia: 2019–20[29]

References

1. "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of players: Poland" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2019.
2. "Piłkarze Rozwoju Katowice na testach w Tottenhamie" [Rozwój Katowice players on trial at Tottenham] (in Polish). warszawa.naszemiasto.pl.
3. "Arkadiusz Milik" (in Polish). 90minut. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
4. "Rozwój Katowice 4 - 0 KS Krasiejów" (in Polish). 90minut. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
5. "Arkadiusz Milik: Sezon 2010/11" (in Polish). 90minut. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
6. "Dwaj piłkarze Rozwoju na testach w Reading" (in Polish). 90minut. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
7. "Młoda Legia testuje Króla i Milika" (in Polish). Legionisci.com. 8 February 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
8. "Wojciech Król i Arkadiusz Milik w Górniku" (in Polish). 90minut. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
9. "Skarb Kibica Ekstraklasa 2011/2012 Jesień". Przegląd Sportowy (in Polish): 48. 29 July 2011. ISSN 0137-933X.
10. "Arkadiusz Milik: Sezon 2011/12" (in Polish). 90minut. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
11. "Śląsk Wrocław 1 - 1 Górnik Zabrze" (in Polish). 90minut. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
12. "Poland forward Milik makes Leverkusen move". UEFA.com. 17 December 2012.
13. "Milik geht zu Ajax Amsterdam" (in German). RevierSport. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
14. "FCA leiht Arkadiusz Milik aus" (in German). FC Augsburg. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
15. "Milik: Erst wird er billiger - dann teurer?" (in German). kicker. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
16. "Was Kruse kann, kann Hahn auch" (in German). kicker. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
17. "Milik on loan at Ajax Amsterdam". Bayer Leverkusen. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
18. "Ajax door 6 treffers Milik fluitend langs JOS" (in Dutch). De Gelderlander. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
19. "Ajax contracteert Arek Milik". AFC Ajax. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
20. Ben Gladwell (1 August 2016). "Napoli confirm Arkadiusz Milik signing from Ajax to replace Gonzalo Higuain". ESPN FC. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
21. "Official: Napoli announce Milik". Football Italia. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
22. "Milik: 'Dream Napoli debut'". Football Italia. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
23. "Arkadiusz Milik's Match History".
24. "Napoli confirm striker Arkadiusz Milik has ruptured his knee ligaments".
25. "Napoli's Arkadiusz Milik and Faouzi Ghoulam to Undergo Medical Tests on Monday". www.si.com. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
26. "Ghoulam and Milik prepare comeback". Football Italia. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
27. "Official: Ghoulam, Milik back for Napoli". Football Italia. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
28. "Napoli recover Milik, Ghoulam". Football Italia. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
29. "Coppa: Napoli beat Juventus on penalties". Football Italia. 17 June 2020.
30. "U-19: Powołania na konsultację szkoleniową i dwumecz z Norwegią" (in Polish). 90minut. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
31. "Poland 3-1 Greece". UEFA. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
32. Lamont, Alasdair (11 October 2014). "Poland 2–0 Germany". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
33. "Drei Tore von Lewandowski bei Polens 4:0". Neue Zürcher Zeitung. 13 June 2015.
34. "Arkadiusz Milik earns Poland Euro 2016 win vs limited Northern Ireland". standard.co.uk. 12 June 2016.
35. "Poland 1–1 Portugal". BBC Sport. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
36. "Poland World Cup squad guide: Full fixtures, group, ones to watch, odds". independent.co.uk. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
37. "Poland". fifa.com. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
38. "Milik per il dopo Higuain: pro e contro dell'attaccante polacco" (in Italian). www.spazionapoli.it. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
39. "Napoli, il dopo Higuain è Arkadiusz Milik: ma è davvero più forte di Gabbiadini?" (in Italian). Eurosport.com. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
40. "Profilo - Arkadiusz Milik, l'erede di Lewandowski corteggiato da Inter e Lazio" (in Italian). Goal.com. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
41. "Rapido e tecnico o forte fisicamente? Alla ricerca del partner per il duttile Milik: ci sono già tre ipotesi" (in Italian). www.tuttonapoli.net. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
42. "Euro 2016, Milik l'attaccante polacco che piace a Inter, Lazio e Roma" (in Italian). www.corriere.it. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
43. Martin Harasimowicz (7 November 2014). "Meet the Ajax hotshot learning from Bergkamp and loving life with Lewandowski". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
44. Alec Cordolcini (29 July 2016). "Napoli, ecco Milik: sigarette e furtarelli, poi il suo sinistro gli ha cambiato la vita" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
45. "Euro 2016, Polonia: chi è Milik, il nuovo che avanza" (in Italian). Sky Sport. 13 June 2016. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
46. "101 prospetti per il futuro. Ecco la lista di Don Balon" (in Italian). tuttomercatoweb.com. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
47. "Jessica Ziolek". 13 November 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
48. "Arkadiusz Milik: I dream of playing for Manchester United, but I'm far from it". 29 December 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
49. "Milik on his 'idol' Ronaldo" (in Polish). UEFA. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
50. Arkadiusz Milik at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
51. Arkadiusz Milik at Soccerway

External links

• Arkadiusz Milik at Voetbal International (in Dutch)
• Arkadiusz Milik at 90minut.pl (in Polish)
• Arkadiusz Milik at Soccerway