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Ebi Smolarek: Borussia Dortmund’s derby hero

By Brian Szlenk Straub

Chorzow, POLAND: Euzebiusz Smolarek of Poland celebrates after scoring the second goal during their Euro 2008 qualifying football match against Portugal in Chorzow 11 October 2006. AFP PHOTO / JANEK SKARZYNSKI (Photo credit should read JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Chorzow, POLAND: Euzebiusz Smolarek of Poland celebrates after scoring the second goal during their Euro 2008 qualifying football match against Portugal in Chorzow 11 October 2006. AFP PHOTO / JANEK SKARZYNSKI (Photo credit should read JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images) /
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PLOCK, POLAND: Bobby Convey (C) from USA fights for ball with Euzebiusz Smolarek(R) and Miroslaw Szymkowiak from Poland during the friendly match 31 March 2004 in Plock. AFP PHOTO JANEK SKARZYNSKI (Photo credit should read JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
PLOCK, POLAND: Bobby Convey (C) from USA fights for ball with Euzebiusz Smolarek(R) and Miroslaw Szymkowiak from Poland during the friendly match 31 March 2004 in Plock. AFP PHOTO JANEK SKARZYNSKI (Photo credit should read JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images) /

Early life and career

Euzebiusz “Ebi” Smolarek was born in Łódź, Poland, and spent the first 6 years of his life in the city. It was at this time that his father, Włodzimierz Smolarek would recieve the opportunity to first play in the Bundesliga, and then make the move to Rotterdam to play for Feyenoord in the Dutch Eredivisie. Rotterdam would be where the family would settle, and where Ebi would spend most of his young life. It was there, under the tutelage of his father, that Smolarek began his footballing journey. He made his senior debut for Feyenoord as a 19 years old in the 1999-2000 season, and played for them until 2005, scoring 14 goals and providing 4 assists.

Smolarek’s time at the Rotterdam based club would not be as smooth as he would have hoped. Despite winning the UEFA Cup in 2002, Smolarek found it very hard to keep his place in the team under both Arno Pijpers and Ruud Gullit. Smolarek even mentioned in an interview that Pijpers told him he had no place in his side and that he should quit football.

Despite the adversity he faced during his time a Feyenoord, Smolarek did his best to persevere. After 5 years in the Dutch Eredivisie, Smolarek made the move to Germany and Borussia Dortmund, where Smolarek would lead a short, but definitive stint for both the club, as well as his career.