Arka Gdynia Academy Director Departs
Arka Gdynia has parted ways with academy director Dariusz Pasieka; the club will reorganise youth coaching and training plans.
Arka Gdynia parts ways with academy director Dariusz Pasieka
Arka Gdynia announced that Dariusz Pasieka has left his role as director of the club’s football academy. His last working day was the end of February. Moreover, the departure comes about four months before a contract that, according to club documents, entered into force on 1 July 2024. However, the club says the decision follows changing needs in youth development and planned structural changes.
For now the director post will remain vacant. Instead, duties will be shared between Paweł Bednarczyk, the club manager, and Robert Wilczyński, the coordinator for youth and the board’s plenipotentiary for child safety. Meanwhile, the club has named Radosław Roeske as plenipotentiary for cooperation with local academies after last year’s partnership agreements with Pomeranian clubs.
Pasieka had described his remit when he took the job as: “Create an operating philosophy, rules of cooperation and expand the academy with talented players from the region. The measure of success will be the number of players who reach the first team.” Specifically, he also set out to “continuously raise the skills and broaden the knowledge of coaches working at Arka and to develop talented young players in the club.” As a result, those aims now will need re-evaluation as the club builds a new model.
The club says these changes are not only a review of Pasieka’s performance. Rather, they reflect shifting priorities in how Arka wants to train young players and how it will structure its academy going forward. Therefore the club will only select a new academy director once the new model is agreed.
Photo/video: Check Arka’s official channels for images and footage of the club’s training site on Olimpijska Street and academy activities.
Background and what expats should know about Arka and youth football in Gdynia
Arka is one of the best-known clubs in the Tricity area. The club plays a central role in local sport culture in Gdynia. Moreover, Arka’s colours — yellow and blue — are visible across the city on matchdays. For expats, understanding local clubs helps connect with communities and meet people who share a passion for football.
Pasieka is an experienced figure in Polish coaching education. He worked for years at the Polish Football Association (PZPN). From 2013 he served as deputy to Stefan Majewski in the School of Coaches. Then he led coach education and licensing and became director of the School of Coaches in 2018. Previously he also coached Arka’s first team between August 2009 and March 2011. In that spell Arka played in the Ekstraklasa, and in 48 matches under his management the team recorded 11 wins, 14 draws and 23 losses. However, the side ultimately faced relegation in the period following his tenure.
Currently Arka SA formally runs only two youth teams: U-19 and U-17. The U-19s were relegated from the Central Junior League last season, even though in 2022 Arka’s juniors finished as national runners-up. Meanwhile, players under 15 train with SI Arka Gdynia, an independent association that sends graduates to the club’s U-15 level each year. As a result, the club relies on a mix of internal and external pathways for talent.
Looking ahead, the club is discussing how to use land leased from the city to build a training centre. If the club finalises the concept and secures funding by the end of the year, construction could begin next year. Moreover, the club says it may pick a new academy director from people already working with Arka and could send that person to the PZPN course for academy directors.
Practical note for expats: Local matches are social events. However, ticket availability and safety rules change season to season. Specifically, use the club’s official website and social media for ticket sales and matchday details. Also, the city’s SKM trains and local buses connect Gdynia centre with Olimpijska Street and the stadium areas. Therefore plan travel in advance on busy matchdays.
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