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Fullname: Maik Nawrocki
aka: –
Born: 7 February 2001
Birthplace: Bremen, Germany
Signed: 26 July 2023 (£4.5m from Legia Warsaw)
Left: –
Position: Centre-half, defender
Debut: Celtic 4-2 Ross County, SP, 5 Aug 2023
Squad No.: 17
Internationals: […]
International Caps: [TBC at end of career]
International Goals: [TBC at end of career]
Biog
Nawrocki arrived at Celtic as another young prospect, helping to fill in for the centre-half role vacancies. Prior to Celtic he had been a propsect at his hometown team of Werder Breman, and then moved to become a regular at Legia Warsaw.
He was thrown into the deep end at Celtic when in only his second match he had to manage the central defence as Starfelt had just moved on and CCV went off injured during the match, and he was a rock as Celtic won 4-1 v Aberdeen away. So he was already respected by the general support.
However, after only two games, he was out long-term with an injury. Yet once back from injury, he was sidelined. Partly this was due to the surprise form of the previously dismissed Liam Scales, but there were concerns that off-field there were issues between Rodgers against the scouting staff and certain players. As Celtic both seemed to progress and falter, it didn’t help when a frustrated Rodgers publicly stated his frustrations at the efforts of certain players:
“Nawrocki & Lagerbielke need to show why they should be in squads in training, Tilio similar situation – all fit- ‘Competition can be the best coach’”
Rodgers (Dec 2023)
It became a repeatedly asked question simply of where Nawrocki was when he should have been in the squad? In total he only played 13 times in the entire season for Celtic, despite having been a marquis signing.
From his appearances, as a defender he clearly wasn’t in the same bracket as Carter-Vickers, but Celtic needed more proficient defenders. The defence was clearly not up to task much of the season whenever Carter-Vickers was out. A competent central defender like Nawrocki was required. He could fairly argue that Celtic only lost in a single game he had played in that season, albeit that the only major opposition he played against was TheRangers at home in a 2-1 league win in Dec 2023.
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Quotes
“I feel very very good. I think I will fit in here.”
Nawrocki (July 2023)
“Celtic are a famous club throughout the world and, of course, they’re very well-known in Poland, having had a number of Polish players in recent years, so I know just how big this club is and how incredible the supporters are.”
Maik Nawrocki (July 2023)
[….]
Playing Career
[Table to indicate clubs played for, including dates, transfers and fees where known [e.g. soccerbase table]]
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2023-24 | |||||
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| Goals | |||||
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| Goals |
Honours with Celtic
(Honours are marked below in which the player has played in at least one of the matches in the campaign.)
Scottish League
- […]
Scottish Cup
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Scottish League Cup
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Articles
Nawrocki wants silverware with Celtic after ‘fairytale’ Legia swansong
Published
40 minutes ago
Maik Nawrocki has declared himself ready to embrace the pressure at Celtic after delivering two trophies in a “fairytale” ending to his Legia Warsaw career.
The German-born Under-21 international clinched Polish Cup glory with the winning penalty in a shootout victory Rakow Czestochowa in May.
And he repeated the feat with this last kick for Legia earlier this month as they beat the same opposition on penalties to win the Polish Super Cup.
Nawrocki, who has signed a five-year deal to join Celtic, said: “I came from Legia, the biggest club in Poland, so I had pressure there.
“But it’s not pressure for me, it’s more like excitement to be at the biggest club in the country and have the pressure to win.
“It’s similar here, maybe bigger here because of the Champions League.
“Everybody wants to win titles. Legia was like a fairytale, the last kick of the ball was to win the Super Cup. So I am looking forward to getting some silverware here.”
The 22-year-old, speaking on his first visit to Celtic Park, was “shocked” by the magnitude of the 60,000-seater stadium but can’t wait to experience it full after Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos praise the “insane” atmosphere last season.
“It’s amazing,” said Nawrocki. “I saw the famous quote from Toni Kroos when he said it’s the loudest place he has been.
“The nights here at Celtic Park in the Champions League will be amazing, some big games, but also the league as well.
“Two or three weeks ago my agent called me and said Celtic were interested. From then I wanted to come here too. Everybody knows Celtic, they have the Champions League and everything.”
Maik Nawrocki opens up on Celtic move: stadium shock, Toni Kroos quote, why he’s the quiet man
By his own admission, Maik Nawrocki doesn’t say much. But the Polish internationalist showed an impressive adroitness for ticking all the right boxes as he was officially presented at Celtic Park on Wednesday following the defender’s switch from Legia Warsaw on a five-year contract.
By Alison McConnell
Published 26th Jul 2023, 22:30 BST
Updated 26th Jul 2023, 22:45 BST
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/maik-nawrocki-opens-up-on-celtic-move-stadium-shock-toni-kroos-quote-why-hes-the-quiet-man-4233423
“We have the best team in the league so we can win every trophy again,” said the German-born 22-year-old. If football is the universal language in a multicultural dressing room, the desire to stay top dog is the kind of talk that will endear Celtic’s latest recruit to fans and team-mates alike.
A shy kid who used football to express himself growing up, Nawrocki met his polar opposite in Artur Boruc, the Celtic goalkeeper, whom he shared a dressing room with briefly in Legia. The veteran stopper has lost none of his colour with age.
“He was a different character,” said Nawrocki with a smile. “Artur was a legend in Poland and here at Celtic. I played one year with him. He wasn’t only a good footballer but an amazing character. I was very happy and sometimes he’d tell stories about himself. He spoke a lot about Celtic but he was 20 years older than me so we didn’t speak a lot but we always had a good relationship on the pitch.
“I was a quiet person off the pitch but on the pitch I wanted to show everything and not speak off it. I came to Legia, I was alone so I think I grew as a man too. Legia was the perfect step to prepare me for a club like this. It’s a good team with a mix of young players and experienced players. I can grow here. I’m here to make my big step and help the club to achieve their goals.”
The intensity of Celtic is not likely to phase Nawrocki given what he has left in Poland. Similarly, the physicality of the Scottish league is not something he expects to come as a culture shock. “The Polish league is also more fighting than playing so I’m kind of used to it!” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting to know the league because I don’t know it so well. In Poland, away games are also very loud because of the fans. Even against Legia there are sometimes 20 – 25,000 people so I’m used to it. When you go on the pitch you don’t see this you just play your game. Every second game they have to stop the play for five minutes because of pyrotechnics and things.”
He and Brendan Rodgers share a recent history with Nawrocki scoring the only goal against Leicester in the Europa League group stages when the teams met in Poland. “I think for Legia it was one of the biggest games in their history, we won 1-0 at the full stadium,” he recalled. “It was the loudest I’ve ever been in. We remember that night very well. He [Brendan] is well known in Great Britain. I talked with him a lot yesterday and he talked very well with me.”
For now, though, there is only the optimism of what lies ahead. “When I got the call Celtic wanted me there was no second option. Honestly,” he said. “I was shocked at how big the stadium is. There’s a famous quote from Toni Kroos when he said it was the loudest place he’d ever played. I remember this.”