The German world champion who, after winning football hearts, is now also conquering the kebab world

Lukas Podolski once crowned himself world football champion in Brazil. As a boy of 1. FC Köln laid Prinz Poldi the basis for a great career, in which he eventually played one hundred and thirty times for the German national team. Now the lefty is mainly making waves outside the lines. But playing football? The 38-year-old Podolski still does that. Football zone delves into his story.

Overflowing containers with iceberg lettuce, red onions cut into rounds and diced tomatoes and cucumbers decorate the modern interior. A tray specially reserved for this purpose provides space for the loose lemons. Next to it are buckets full of garlic sauce and chili sauce.

Four vertically rotating roasting spits deliver enough döner kebab to provide customers with a delicious snack all day long. If you see such an average kebab shop in Cologne, it is not inconceivable that you will see a world champion with a special kebab knife. Because Lukas Podolski is the proud co-owner of forty (!) kebab shops in Germany. This Saturday, Mangal Döner x LP10 will open another business. This time in Bochum.

Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski celebrate winning the World Cup with Germany.

Not döner, but a world cup

How different the battlefield looked for Podolski ten years ago. Then the born Pole did not have a döner sandwich in his hands, but a World Cup. As a bencher, he had just watched substitute Mario Götze write history in minute 114. The former super talent shattered the dreams of Lionel Messi's Argentina and brought Germany its fourth world title.

At the time, Podolski played his matches in an Arsenal shirt. The career of the 130-time international is one to be praised. As a two and a half year old child, a little Podolski leaves Poland and settles in Germany.

There, the future world champion enters the youth academy of 1. FC Köln. He progressed through the youth teams until he was transferred to the main squad in the 2003/04 season. It turns out not to be a mistake on the part of trainer Friedhelm Funkel. In his debut season, an eighteen-year-old Podolski scored ten goals in nineteen Bundesliga games.

The following season Podolski does it again. This time on the second level. With 24 goals and 9 assists, the top scorer – still a teenager – blasts the entire 2. Bundesliga to pieces and FC Köln to promotion again. He will continue his good trend next season. This earned him a transfer to Bayern Munich in 2006.

Podolski would never fully settle in Bavaria, but he would win a national title. A return to the old Cologne nest follows three seasons after his move to Munich. There he excelled as usual, after which he spread his wings in 2012 and exchanged Germany for England.

The man with a rocket for a left leg has had excellent years at Arsenal. He wins the FA Cup with the Gunners and has scored 31 goals and 18 assists in 82 games. After three years the club rents him to Inter. The competition is too fierce in North London. That loan turned out not to be an unqualified success. Podolski himself would later say that he regretted that (temporary) switch.

The Lukas Podolski Foundation

He continued his career at Galatasaray, Vissel Kobe and Antalyaspor, but in those years Podolski mainly stood out off the field. The attacker started his own charity a little earlier in his career. The Lukas Podolski Stiftung offers sports and educational projects to help realize the dreams of underprivileged children and young people.

Although he pursues and achieves noble goals with his charity, the now 38-year-old Podolski remains a football player par excellence. It became clear once again when he received a red card during a friendly indoor football tournament – at his own charity, of all things. He charged at the referee. He felt intimidated and drew the red print. Once on the sidelines, Poldi threw the contents of a water bottle at the officials.

Ice Cream United

Podolski has been preparing for life after football for some time. In 2017, just after the attacker announced that he had played his last international match, he entered the business world. He starts his first company. An ice cream business, whose brand name is not entirely coincidentally related to his double life as a football player.

Ice Cream United opens its doors in Cologne. They serve the Crema di Colonia , the former Inter player is inspired by Italian gelato. Even the German's marketing model is inspired by the Southern European ice cream success.

In the La Gazetta del Gelato the Cologne resident advertises his Ice Cream United. The choices are diverse. The menu reveals that in addition to the standard chocolate ice cream, a 'Poldi sandwich' can also be enjoyed. The ingredients: a home-baked and cut brioche bun, between which a large scoop of ice cream is pressed.

The marketing ploy of Podolski's ice cream company Ice Cream United.

Entrepreneur Podolski is also active in other industries. In keeping with football tradition, Podolski uses his initials and jersey number LP10, not to be confused with LM10, to found a company: Strassenkicker. Although he sells clothing, goals with penalty cloth and table football tables can also be ordered.

Doner restaurant dream

But none of those business ideas can match Podolski's most lucrative brainwave. Together with Metin Dag, Podolski decided to enter the kebab market in 2018. The idea dates back to his time at Fenerbahçe. “Everyone loves döner,” explains a smiling Podolski on the Bayern Munich club website about the idea of ​​making his döner restaurant dream come true. “My time in Turkey inspired me to start this project.”

When Podolski opened the first Mangal x LP10 branch in Cologne in 2018, about a thousand fans stood in endless lines for a döner sandwich and an autograph from Prince Poldi to score. Some fans reportedly waited in line for up to five hours. It turned out to be a prelude to greater success.

“I also loved kebabs as a child,” Podolski says on the company website. “Now we want to make the best kebab in Germany. And beyond.” He is working hard on the latter. The first business premises outside Germany will soon be there. In Zabrze, Poland, you can also taste Podolski's döner.

There is a possibility that you can also eat a sandwich prepared by Podolski there. As the owner, Poldi is not averse to putting on the apron himself and tying the latex gloves around his hands. “If you want to be successful in any field, you have to present yourself. Maintaining a business is time-consuming, but when I'm not busy answering emails and phone calls, I help out in the kitchen myself.”

Money like water

In 2022, the ever-growing company will be crowned the best döner seller in Germany. With forty businesses open, it should come as no surprise that Podolski's company is doing well financially. Many sources talk about one business empire worth more than two hundred million euros. In an interview with La Gazetta dello Sport the German shows himself to be honest. “Do I earn more than at the peak of my football career? Well, if we look at the figures, you can conclude that, yes.”

But has time to count his money der Weltmeister not. Because Podolski still plays football. In Poland, at his boys' club. In the summer of 2021, he will ignore lucrative offers to sign a one-year contract with Górnik Zabrze. This fulfills a long-cherished wish. The German international wanted to play football in his native country one day.

Górnik Zabrze, the club where Arek Milik once made his breakthrough, offers him the opportunity. Podolski becomes the first player of Gornicy (The Miners) once honored in the stadium. He fulfills the one-year contract, an option for a second year will be exercised quickly.

But if it is up to Podolski, he will be stuck with it for at least another year. “Gianluigi Buffon retired at the age of 45, then I will continue playing until I am 46.” Football is his great love. At least he no longer has to do it for the money.

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