The 28-year-old won the top scorer crown last season with 20 goals and was named the league’s best player. He won the Polish Cup with Raków Częstochowa, but in the Ekstraklasa he had to settle for a silver medal. In the summer, the media speculated about his transfer to a foreign league, but the Spaniard decided to extend the contract with the club from Jasna Góra.
Difficult beginnings for Papszun
In the 2022/2023 season, Ivi Lopez did not slow down. In 22 matches, he scored 10 goals and recorded 6 assists, and Marek Papszun’s team confidently and with a large advantage leads the league table. However, the first weeks with a demanding coach were not easy. The Spaniard came to Częstochowa in September 2020 after unsuccessful years in the LaLiga backroom. I remember the beginnings were difficult. I came here to rebuild myself and in the first four or five games I didn’t play at all. It was a big disappointment for me. I said then: “Fuck, I came to Poland and I don’t play either.” Later, however, the card turned around – recalls Ivi Lopez in an interview with “Relevo”.
Happiness found in Poland
In fact, he came off the bench in the first three games. He got his chance from the beginning in his fourth possible match – he scored two goals. “Three years ago I felt dead as a footballer. At the time, I was thinking of ending my career and quitting football. In the end, however, I made the decision to leave. It was great luck. Nobody wanted me then, and now they appreciate me – admits the 28-year-old, who confirms that during more than two years of playing in Poland, he had proposals to leave, including a return to Spain. – There were indeed different possibilities, but when they offer me as much as Raków, I don’t even think about it. They appreciate me here and that’s crucial for me. They treat me great. Many players are afraid to leave Spain and from my perspective I can say it’s worth it.
According to “Transfermarkt”, Ivi Lopez has already played exactly 99 matches for Raków Częstochowa. He scored 45 goals and recorded 27 assists. His current contract runs until the end of June 2026.
Source: Sport
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
