MONTREAL -- Thousands of fans greeted Krzysztof Król in Montreal. Not this year, mind you, but seven years ago.
On June 30, 2007, masses of Polish natives packed the Olympic Stadium, turning it red for Poland to play Brazil in the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Their rousing rendition of the Polish national anthem drowned out the version played over the PA system. And their irresistible chants of “POLSKA! POLSKA!” spurred Poland on to a 1-0 win.
Poland scored in the 23rd minute. Referee Howard Webb sent Król off four minutes later. Then a 20 year old playing for Real Madrid’s reserves, Król could only watch from the depths of the Big O as his compatriots resisted the Alexandre Pato-led Brazilian onslaught. But Król, now 27, still cherishes those memories in what became his new home last Thursday when he signed with the Montreal Impact.
“It may be seven years ago, but I remember some good times here,” Król recalled in an interview with MLSsoccer.com on Tuesday. “So many people came from Toronto, Chicago, New York. Everything was close. For them, it wasn’t a problem to take a plane or even drive from the States to Montreal.”
Król, who last played for Piast Gliwice in his homeland, saw no problem coming to Montreal himself seven years later. Acquainted with the city during that youth tournament, Król later returned a couple of times to visit friends. He’s made 20-some more of those within the Impact locker room, especially Issey Nakajima-Farran who he met at the front desk of his hotel.
Król also reunited with Frank Klopas, who welcomed him on loan at the Chicago Fire in 2010. He played 19 games with the Fire at left back, a position of seemingly eternal need for Montreal.
“He’s an athletic kid, physically strong,” Klopas said of Krol last Friday. “He can get forward and get crosses in the box. I think that it's a position where we needed to add some depth. We've played guys that normally don't play there, and they've done a good job, but it's good to get a naturally left-footed player that’s comfortable playing there and has played there all his life.”
Already happy in his new surroundings, Król has two short-term objectives: show his wife and son around the city for the first time and reach the MLS postseason for the first time in his career.
“I’m going to do everything to be fit and help the team make the playoffs,” Król said. “Because this team has the potential but we need to win every game, be focused, not losing. We have to defend well and score one goal more. I think we can make it.”
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