Robert Lewandowski has struck 15 goals in six games to become Europe's most feared striker... and deadly Pole credits Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp with rise to the top

  • Robert Lewandowski has scored 22 goals for club and country this season 
  • The Poland international helped his side qualify for Euro 2016 on Sunday 
  • Lewandowski played under Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund for four seasons
  • The striker was brought to the Bundesliga by the new Liverpool manager
  • Sam Allardyce tried to take Lewandowski from Poland to Blackburn
  • But an Icelandic volcanic ash cloud blocked his attempts to fly to England 
  • The 27-year-old is thankful for the role Klopp has played in his success 

Robert Lewandowski considers Jurgen Klopp to be a key figure in his dramatic rise to becoming one of Europe’s most revered strikers — but if it were not for an Icelandic ash cloud the pair may never have crossed paths.

The 27-year-old is in phenomenal form, hitting 22 goals in only 15 appearances this season for Bayern Munich and Poland, shattering records with every swipe of a boot or nod of a head, in much the same way he has done throughout his career.

But it was Sam Allardyce — then in charge of Blackburn — who wanted to be the manager to attempt to turn this prolific marksman in the Polish top flight into an elite-level forward. Five years ago, a £4million deal had been agreed to take Lewandowski from Lech Poznan to Lancashire and he was set to fly to watch their match against Everton, until Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano infamously erupted and cast a huge ash cloud across Europe, not least Allardyce’s mood.

Robert Lewandowski drinks champagne after helping Poland reach Euro 2016 on Sunday night

Robert Lewandowski drinks champagne after helping Poland reach Euro 2016 on Sunday night

The 27-year-old has scored six goals in his last four international appearances for Poland

The 27-year-old has scored six goals in his last four international appearances for Poland

Lewandowski (centre front row) celebrates with his team-mates in the dressing room after beating Ireland

Lewandowski (centre front row) celebrates with his team-mates in the dressing room after beating Ireland

New Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (left) brought Lewandowski to the Bundesliga from Lech Poznan in 2010

New Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (left) brought Lewandowski to the Bundesliga from Lech Poznan in 2010

Sam Alladryce tried to sign Lewandowski when he was Blackburn manager but his efforts were curtailed by a volcanic ash cloud after an eruption in Iceland

Sam Alladryce tried to sign Lewandowski when he was Blackburn manager but his efforts were curtailed by a volcanic ash cloud after an eruption in Iceland

LEWANDOWSKI 2015-16 STATS

BAYERN MUNICH

Bundesliga: 7 apps, 12 goals

Champions League: 2 apps, 3 goals

German Cup: 1 app, 1 goal

POLAND

Euro 2016 qualifiers: 4 apps, 6 goals

The delay allowed Klopp to swoop in and secure potentially the greatest transfer of his entire career and the Liverpool boss readily stresses his importance in Lewandowski’s remarkable rise.

‘The biggest satisfaction you can get is when you take a player from Poland, from a small club and watch him playing today,’ he said. ‘The difference between that player and the player he is today is unbelievable. I’m not self-confident enough to think I have had the only role in his Lewandowski’s development, but of course I did play a big part.’

The feeling, it appears, is mutual. A source close to the player told Sportsmail: ’Jurgen Klopp was very important for Robert’s career and he is very thankful for his trust and co-operation.’

But first to debunk a myth: Lewandowski was not plucked from obscurity like some suggest, Klopp did not deploy scouts to the streets of Poland to come across some kind of rough diamond playing five-a-side matches in a concrete cage. He was at Poland’s top club, Lech Poznan, where he won three cups, scored 41 goals in 82 matches and had 19 assists to his name — contributing to his team scoring in almost three-quarters of their matches. His goals-to-games ratio was even greater at Znicz Pruszków before that where he ploughed through Poland’s third and second tier in his late teens. 

It was at Dortmund that Lewandowski made a name for himself - here he is seen celebrating against Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Champions League in 2013

It was at Dortmund that Lewandowski made a name for himself - here he is seen celebrating against Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Champions League in 2013

Both Klopp and Lewandowski recognise the role each has played in their success in recent years

Both Klopp and Lewandowski recognise the role each has played in their success in recent years

Lewandowski was prolific for Lech Poznan during his two years at the club before earning Dortmund move

Lewandowski was prolific for Lech Poznan during his two years at the club before earning Dortmund move

Lewandowski won the Polish top flight and the Polish Cup before leaving for the Bundesliga

Lewandowski won the Polish top flight and the Polish Cup before leaving for the Bundesliga

He had a stack of offers across Europe’s top leagues — Tony Mowbray twice chased him at West Brom and Celtic until Allardyce thought he had beaten them to it — but opted to join Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund revolution and the pair are intrinsically linked to each other’s success.

Lewandowski continued his unprecedented hit-rate under Klopp’s guidance — he struck 103 goals in 186 games at a return of more than a goal every other match — and the pair won back-to-back Bundesliga titles, the German Cup and Supercup. 

At Bayern he added another Bundesliga title and has an astonishing 41 strikes in 60 appearances, even better than his figures with Klopp. In the past eight years, he has finished top scorer of the league he has played in four times and he is topping Germany’s scoring charts once again.

Lewandowski has scored a staggering 22 goals in just 15 appearances for club and country this season

Lewandowski has scored a staggering 22 goals in just 15 appearances for club and country this season

Klopp embraces Lewandowski during the pair's time together at Borussia Dortmund

Klopp embraces Lewandowski during the pair's time together at Borussia Dortmund

Lewandowski's goals helped Borussia Dortmund win two Bundesliga titles and a German Cup

Lewandowski's goals helped Borussia Dortmund win two Bundesliga titles and a German Cup

Even through rocky times, Klopp has maintained his relationship with his protege. When links to Bayern Munich began, the Pole grew frustrated and accused Dortmund bosses of blocking his path. 'I was disappointed because people within the club said one thing to my face and then later it was different to what was agreed,’ he told Rzeczpospolita in 2013.

Klopp could have lost his temper, many other managers would’ve been angered that their star player was speaking so publicly about wanting to leave, but he diffused the situation instead. 'For me what he does is a thousand times more important than what he says because what he does needs no interpretation,’ he said.

It is such acts which have meant that Lewandowski still thinks of Klopp so highly and appreciates the role the German played in his career. He was quick to praise his former boss when Klopp was unveiled at Anfield, for his particular ability to identify gifted players, like himself, and braveness to utilise them. 

The Poland international celebrates with Mario Gotze, who now play together at Bayern Munich

The Poland international celebrates with Mario Gotze, who now play together at Bayern Munich

Lewandowski scored twice against his former club as Bayern beat Dortmund 5-1 earlier this month

Lewandowski scored twice against his former club as Bayern beat Dortmund 5-1 earlier this month

Lewandowski celebrates after guiding Poland through to the Euro 2016 finals with a win over Ireland

Lewandowski celebrates after guiding Poland through to the Euro 2016 finals with a win over Ireland

‘He can spot talent, and he will use talent no matter the age,’ Lewandowski said. ‘He doesn’t just look to buy players, but always he has one eye on the academy players, who are good enough for him to use in his plans.

‘You take a player like Mario Gotze; he was taken out of the academy as a teenager by Jurgen, and given a chance because he saw the talent in him. A few years later he is one of the best players in the world, and scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final. That is not the only example, Jurgen likes to promote from the academy and play local players.’

But Lewandowski is a name everyone knows now and if the pair wish to be reunited again, Liverpool will have to break their own transfer record to get him. Lewandowski still has four years remaining on his Bayern contract and is valued at well in excess of £40million. 

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