Poland calling for Lijewski

VELUX EHF Champions League winner Marcin Lijewski is leaving HSV Hamburg to join Polish side Orlen Wisła Płock.

The 35-year-old right back has signed a one-year contract until 2014.

Former Polish international Lijewski started his professional career at Ostrovia Ostrów Wielkopolski in his hometown and represented the club until 1996. He then moved to Wybrzeże Gdańsk, where spent five seasons.

His next club was Wisła Płock, where he won his third Polish Championship.

After his contract ended in 2002, he left Poland and joined SG Flensburg-Handewitt on a six-year deal. During his time he reached the EHF Champions League's final with the German team in 2004 and 2007, before moving to HSV Hamburg in 2008.

"My decision was determined by several factors. Despite the reconstruction of the squad in Orlen Wisła, it is still a team with a huge chance to win the Polish Championship in the upcoming season.

“Another positive influence is Manolo Cadenas, who is an important person in the handball world.

“After I end my playing career I want be a coach, so I will have the chance to observe his work," Plock's new player Marcin Lijewski, who returns to Poland after 11 years playing in Bundesliga, said at his press conference.

Lijewski was part of the Polish team that won silver at the 2007 World Championship in Germany and bronze two years later at the 2009 World Championship in Croatia, being named in the All Star team on both occasions.

He scored 64 goals in last season’s VELUX EHF Champions League, including three in the final win against Barcelona.

Orlen Wisla Plock will face Montpellier over two legs in the newly formatted wild card tournament for a place in the Group Phase.