Profile

Still only 29, Marek Saganowski has crammed a lot into his eventful career and also survived a road accident that nearly crippled him. Although he won his first cap in May 1996, it took him over eleven years to win his 20th. He spent the 2007/08 season in the English second tier with Southampton FC.

Began with local club ŁKS Łódź, winning international recognition as a 17-year-old by scoring eleven Ekstraklasa goals in first full season.

Had unproductive loan spells at Feyenoord and Hamburger SV but made competitive debut for Poland in FIFA World Cup qualifier v England at Wembley.

Then, in April 1998 when on the brink of spearheading ŁKS to Polish title, he suffered serious leg injuries in motorbike crash.

Returned 12 months later with ŁKS but international career did not resume for another five-and-a-half years.

Low-key period ended with move to Legia Warszawa, where he scored 41 goals in 67 league games, prompting move abroad, to Portugal, where he struck 12 goals for Vitória SC despite season of struggle that ended in relegation.

Also scored freely for Southampton in spring of 2007 (after spell in France with ES Troyes Aube Champagne) earning international recall for UEFA EURO 2008 qualifiers.

Did you know?

Saganowski's older brother, Bogusław, is one Poland's leading beach soccer players.