Civic Platform politician and former Polish national soccer team striker Roman Kosecki has entered the race to become the new president of the Polish Football Association (PZPN).

“I’m going to claim the seat of the president of the Polish Football Association,” Mr Kosecki said at a press conference last week.

The former Legia Warszawa player scored 16 goals for Poland during a successful career that also saw him play for Galatasaray, Osasuna, Atletico Madrid and the Chicago Fire. But commenting on the footballing ability of the man currently in charge of PZPN, Grzegorz Lato, Mr Kosecki was happy to concede that the current PZPN president was by far the better player.

“He [Mr Lato] was my idol as a player, I always wanted to imitate him. It did not work out, because he was a better soccer player. But the image of what he created at the Football Association I do not want to [imitate], I’ll try to improve on it,” he added.

In order to compete in the presidential elections which take place on October 26, Mr Kosecki will need to collect 15 votes from members of the association by September 25, when the final shortlist will be decided.

“I have had many meetings and it is unlikely to be a problem. I have a plan that I will present … if I get the required support,” Mr Kosecki added.