Rafał Strączek

Rafał Strączek
Personal information
Full name Rafał Strączek
Date of birth (1999-02-12) 12 February 1999
Place of birth Jarosław, Poland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 GKS Katowice
Number 13
Youth career
–2012 JKS 1909 Jarosław
2012–2013 UKS SMS Łódź
2014–2015 JKS 1909 Jarosław
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 JKS 1909 Jarosław 25 (0)
2017 → Stal Mielec (loan) 2 (0)
2017–2022 Stal Mielec 57 (0)
2018 → Wólczanka Wólka P. (loan) 11 (0)
2019 → Motor Lublin (loan) 5 (0)
2022–2024 Bordeaux 19 (0)
2024– GKS Katowice 22 (0)
International career
2016 Poland U18 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10:43, 30 May 2026 (UTC)

Rafał Strączek (born 12 February 1999) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Ekstraklasa club GKS Katowice.[2]

Club career

Early career

Strączek began playing football with his hometown club, JKS 1909 Jarosław. He subsequently spent time in the academy of UKS SMS Łódź before returning to JKS.[3]

He was promoted to the JKS senior team in 2015. Over the following two seasons, he made 25 league appearances in the III liga.[4]

Stal Mielec

In February 2017, at the age of 17, Strączek joined Stal Mielec, initially on loan from JKS Jarosław.[3][5] He made two I liga appearances during the remainder of the 2016–17 season before subsequently becoming a permanent Stal player.

During the early part of his time in Mielec, Strączek was loaned to third-tier clubs Wólczanka Wólka Pełkińska and Motor Lublin in order to gain regular playing experience.[6] He made 11 league appearances for Wólczanka during the 2018–19 season and five for Motor in the first half of the following campaign.[4]

Following his return to Stal, Strączek made four appearances during the 2019–20 I liga season as the club won the division and secured promotion to the Ekstraklasa. In July 2020, he signed a new two-year contract with the club.[7]

Strączek made his Ekstraklasa debut on 23 August 2020, starting in a 1–1 away draw against Wisła Płock.[8] He became Stal's regular goalkeeper during the 2020–21 campaign, making 25 league appearances. After conceding three goals in four matches and keeping one clean sheet during May 2021, he was named the Ekstraklasa Young Player of the Month.[9]

On 10 December 2021, Strączek saved two penalties in a 1–0 league victory over Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza. Stal played most of the match with ten men following the dismissal of Krystian Getinger.[10] He became the first goalkeeper to save two penalties in one Ekstraklasa match in the 21st century.[11] He finished the 2021–22 season with 26 league appearances.

Bordeaux

On 2 February 2022, French club Bordeaux announced that Strączek would join them following the expiry of his Stal contract. He signed a four-year agreement which took effect in July 2022.[12]

During his first season in France, Strączek served mainly as a substitute for Gaëtan Poussin. He made three appearances in Ligue 2 and started three matches in the Coupe de France.[13]

Strączek began the 2023–24 season as Bordeaux's first-choice goalkeeper.[14] After a series of inconsistent performances, he was replaced in the starting line-up by Karl-Johan Johnsson in October 2023.[15] Strączek returned to the team for several matches later in the year but spent the second half of the season as the Swedish goalkeeper's deputy. He finished the campaign with 16 league appearances.

Across his two seasons with Bordeaux, Strączek made 24 appearances in all competitions, including 19 in Ligue 2.[16]

GKS Katowice

On 24 July 2024, Strączek returned to Poland and joined newly promoted Ekstraklasa club GKS Katowice on a permanent transfer. His initial contract was valid until 31 May 2025.[17][18]

Strączek served as a substitute to Dawid Kudła during the 2024–25 season. He did not appear in the league but started twice in the Polish Cup. In June 2025, he signed a new contract covering the 2025–26 season.[19]

He subsequently established himself as GKS' first-choice goalkeeper during the 2025–26 campaign. In March 2026, he helped the club reach the semi-finals of the Polish Cup by saving a penalty during a shoot-out victory over Widzew Łódź.[20]

On 17 April 2026, having kept eight clean sheets in his first 19 league appearances of the season, Strączek signed a new three-year contract with GKS, extending his stay until June 2029.[21][22] He ended the league campaign with 22 appearances and also played four Polish Cup matches.[23]

Strączek dislocated his shoulder during the closing stages of GKS' final league match of the season against Pogoń Szczecin. He subsequently underwent surgery and was ruled out for several months.[24][25]

International career

Strączek made one appearance for the Poland under-18 team. On 10 October 2016, he started in a 3–2 friendly victory over Finland in Tampere.[26]

Career statistics

As of match played 23 May 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
JKS 1909 Jarosław 2015–16[27] III liga, gr. H 100———100
2016–17[28] III liga, gr. IV 15010——160
Total25010——260
Stal Mielec (loan) 2016–17[28] I liga 20———20
Stal Mielec 2017–18[29] I liga 2000——20
2019–20[30] I liga 40———40
2020–21[31] Ekstraklasa 25010——260
2021–22[32] Ekstraklasa 26000——260
Total59010——600
Wólczanka Wólka P. (loan) 2018–19[33] III liga, gr. IV 110———110
Motor Lublin (loan) 2019–20[30] III liga, gr. IV 5000——50
Bordeaux 2022–23 Ligue 2 3030——60
2023–24 Ligue 2 16020——180
Total19050——240
GKS Katowice 2024–25[34] Ekstraklasa 0020——20
2025–26[35] Ekstraklasa 22040——260
Total 22060——280
Career total 141013000001540

Honours

JKS 1909 Jarosław

Stal Mielec

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Rafał Strączek". FC Girondins de Bordeaux. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  2. ↑ "Z Bordeaux do Katowic! Rafał Strączek zawodnikiem GKS-u" (in Polish). GKS Katowice. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  3. 1 2 "17-letni Rafał Strączek oficjalnie bramkarzem Stali Mielec". nowiny24.pl (in Polish). 2 February 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Rafał Strączek". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "Rafał Strączek! Witamy!" (in Polish). Stal Mielec. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Rafał Strączek, były golkiper m.in. JKS-u Jarosław i Stali Mielec, związał się kontraktem z trzecioligowym Motorem Lublin". nowiny24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "Stal Mielec przedłużyła kontrakt z młodym bramkarzem". meczyki.pl (in Polish). 27 July 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Wisła Płock 1–1 Stal Mielec". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 23 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "PKO BP Ekstraklasa. Młody golkiper PGE Stali Mielec Rafał Strączek został wybrany Młodzieżowcem Maja". nowiny24.pl (in Polish). 31 May 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Rafał Strączek obronił dwa rzuty karne. Stal Mielec – Termalica Nieciecza 1:0". sport.fakt.pl (in Polish). 10 December 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Historyczny wyczyn Rafała Strączka" (in Polish). Stal Mielec. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Transferts : le gardien polonais Rafal Straczek va rejoindre Bordeaux en juillet". lequipe.fr (in French). 2 February 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Joyeux anniversaire Rafał Strączek!" (in French). FC Girondins de Bordeaux. 12 February 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  14. ↑ Michalak, Przemysław (1 September 2023). "Strączek: Na początku w Bordeaux odstawałem pod każdym względem". weszlo.com (in Polish). Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Karl-Johan Johnsson (Bordeaux): «Il fallait peut-être enlever un peu de pression à Rafal Straczek»". lequipe.fr (in French). 4 November 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Rafal Straczek transféré au GKS Katowice" (in French). FC Girondins de Bordeaux. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Z Bordeaux do Katowic! Rafał Strączek zawodnikiem GKS-u" (in Polish). GKS Katowice. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Oficjalnie: Rafał Strączek odszedł z Girondins Bordeaux i wrócił do Ekstraklasy". transfery.info (in Polish). 24 July 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  19. ↑ Brandt, Karol (20 June 2025). "Rafał Strączek z nową umową. Nagroda za profesjonalizm". transfery.info (in Polish). Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  20. ↑ Barszczak, Maciej (3 March 2026). "Rafał Strączek po wyeliminowaniu Widzewa z PP: za to mi płacą". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "Rafał Strączek na dłużej w GKS-ie!" (in Polish). GKS Katowice. 17 April 2026. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  22. ↑ "Strączek wybrał klub. Już podpisał kontrakt". Meczyki.pl (in Polish). 17 April 2026. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  23. ↑ "Rafał Strączek – player profile" (in Polish). GKS Katowice. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  24. ↑ "Przerwa Rafała Strączka" (in Polish). GKS Katowice. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  25. ↑ "Rafał Strączek przeszedł zabieg". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  26. ↑ "U-18: Finlandia 2–3 Polska". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 10 October 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  27. ↑ "Sezon 2015/16". 90minut. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  28. 1 2 "Sezon 2016/17". 90minut. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  29. ↑ "Sezon 2017/18". 90minut. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  30. 1 2 "Sezon 2019/20". 90minut. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  31. ↑ "Sezon 2020/21". 90minut. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  32. ↑ "Sezon 2021/22". 90minut. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  33. ↑ "Sezon 2018/19". 90minut. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  34. ↑ "Sezon 2024/25". 90minut. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  35. ↑ "Sezon 2025/26". 90minut. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  36. ↑ "Puchar Polski 2015/2016, grupa: Podkarpacki ZPN". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  37. ↑ "Mecz: JKS 1909 Jarosław vs Stal Rzeszów". laczynaspilka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  38. ↑ "Puchar Polski 2015/2016, grupa: Podkarpacki ZPN". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  39. ↑ "Mecz: JKS 1909 Jarosław vs Wólczanka Wólka Pełkińska". laczynaspilka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  40. ↑ "Fortuna I liga: Stal Mielec najlepsza. Olimpia Grudziądz spadła". sportowefakty.wp.pl (in Polish). 25 July 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  41. ↑ "Młodzieżowiec Maja PKO Banku Polskiego 2021: Rafał Strączek" (in Polish). Ekstraklasa. 31 May 2021. Archived from the original on 31 May 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
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