Łukasz Żygadło

Łukasz Tomasz Żygadło (born 2 August 1979 in Sulechów) is a Polish volleyball player, a member of Poland men's national volleyball team (247 presents in the national team) and Qatari club Al Arabi, a participant of the Olympic Games London 2012, gold medalist of the 2012 World League, silver medalist of the 2006 World Championship and the 2011 World Cup, bronze medalist of the 2011 World League and the 2011 European Championship, 2000 Polish Champion, 2012 and 2015 Italian Champion, three times 2016, 2017, 2018 Iranian Champion, two times winner of AVC Asian Club Championships. He is medalist of leagues: Polish, Greek, Italian, Iranian and Turkish. He is a multiple winner of the CEV Champions League and FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship with the Italian club Trentino Volley. He is one of the most successful Polish volleyball players. 

[[File:Żygadło, Kosok, Kubiak blok.jpg|thumb|Łukasz Żygadło'', Grzegorz Kosok, Michał Kubiak's block during the Poland - USA match at Spodek in Katowice.]]

Personal life
Łukasz Żygadło was born in Sulechów, Poland. He attended School of Sports Championship in Rzeszów. He graduated Częstochowa University of Technology with a master's degree in Management and Marketing. He is married to Agnieszka. He is an honorary resident of Trentino, Italy. He speaks Polish, Italian, English, Russian. He graduated in 2015 and receive diploma from Associazione Italiana Sommelier. He is a member of AIS in Italy.

Career

Clubs
He started his career in club Orion Sulechów. When he was 15, he moved to AZS Częstochowa. After graduation, he continued his career at the club from Częstochowa. Between 1997-2001, he won gold, silver and bronze medals in the Polish Championship and Polish Cup of 1998. Then he played for Polish clubs Nordea Czarni Radom and Skra Bełchatów. In the 2003/2004 season, he won the Polish Cup with his club, Polska Energia Sosnowiec. In 2004 he moved to Greece, to play for Panathinaikos Athens. With this club, he won the bronze medal of the Greek Championship. In the next season, 2005/2006, he played for Halkbank Ankara and won the bronze medal of the Turkish Championship. He was awarded the title of best setter of the Turkish League in 2006. In next the two seasons, he played for Polish club, ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle and Russian club Dinamo Kaliningrad.

In 2008, Żygadło moved to an Italian club, Itas Diatec Trentino, where he played for four seasons. During his time playing in Italy, he won the gold medal at the CEV Champions League three times with his club (2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2010/2011) and the bronze medal in 2012. He was chosen as the best setter of Champions League 2010. He won three gold medals in the FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship (2009, 2010, 2011). With the club from Trentino, he won three silver (2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2011/2012) and one gold medal of the Italian Championship (2010/2011) and two Italian Cups (2010, 2012).

After four years, Żygadło moved to the Russian League, where he played for Fakel Novy Urengoy for one season, 2012/2013. Then he moved to another Russian club, Zenit Kazan. He signed a 2-year contract and replaced Italian setter Valerio Vermiglio. On October 6, 2013 he was injured during training. He lost season 2013/2014, because of injury. He broke his foot, which is after two surgeries and reconstructions of bone. In the club from Kazan he has been replaced by Serbian setter Nikola Grbić. After two surgeries, bone reconstruction and rehabilitation, Żygadło returned to training in March 2014. After the season 2013/2014 Żygadło left Zenit Kazan. The contract was terminated by mutual agreement of both parties. After two seasons spent in Russia Żygadło accepted an offer from Italian club Trentino Volley. He returned to the club, where he won several titles in 2008-2012. His official return to the club from Trentino was announced on July 10, 2014 and the player stated he was glad about his return to the city and the team. On May 13, 2015 he won title of Italian Champion with Trentino Volley.

In July 2015 he decided to leave the Italian team and signed a contract with newly founded Iranian club Sarmayeh Bank Tehran. On March 14, 2016 Iranian Volleyball Federation decided that Sarmayeh Bank Tehran achieved title of Iranian Champion because their opponent in finale Paykan Tehran was not able to attend in the third and the decisive game of the final series. Żygadło was one of the notable players in Iranian League that season and one of the best in his position.
In 2016-2017 season he went on to win second Iranian Championship with his team. On 6th of July he won for second time Asian Club Championship which were held in Vietnam, received Best Setter Award of the tournament.

National team
He debuted in the Polish national team in 2000, when he was appointed to the matches of the World League, European and World Championships. On December 3, 2006, he won with the national team the silver medal of World Championship 2006 in Japan. On July 5, 2010, he gave up his career in the national team, because of the lack of training and lack of competition for his position in the composition.

On March 31, 2011, he returned to the national team after receiving an appointment from coach Andrea Anastasi. In 2011, he won three medals with the Polish national team: silver at World Cup and two bronzes at World League and European Championship. He is a gold medalist of World League 2012 in Sofia, Bulgaria.Poland wins historical gold at the 2012 World League - fivb.org - 08-07-2012 Despite his injury and lack of play in the 2013/2014 season, Polish coach Antiga appointed Żygadło to the national team in summer 2014.

Sporting achievements

CEV Champions League

  2008/2009 - with Itas Diates Trentino
  2009/2010 - with Itas Diates Trentino
  2010/2011 - with Itas Diates Trentino
  2011/2012 - with Itas Diates Trentino

CEV Cup
  2014/2015 - with Trentino Volley

FIVB Club World Championship
  2009 - with Itas Diates Trentino
  2010 - with Itas Diates Trentino
  2011 - with Itas Diates Trentino

AVC Asian Club Championship
  2016 - with Sarmayeh Bank Tehran
  2017 - with Sarmayeh Bank Tehran

National championship
 1997/1998  Polish Cup, with AZS Częstochowa
 1999/2000  Polish Championship, with AZS Częstochowa
 2000/2001  Polish Championship, with AZS Częstochowa
 2001/2002  Polish Championship, with AZS Częstochowa
 2003/2004  Polish Cup, with Polska Energia Sosnowiec
 2004/2005  Greek Championship, with Panathinaikos Athens 
 2005/2006  Turkish Championship, with Halkbank Ankara
 2008/2009  Italian Championship, with Itas Diates Trentino
 2009/2010  Italian Cup Serie A, with Itas Diates Trentino
 2009/2010  Italian Championship, with Itas Diates Trentino
 2010/2011  Italian Championship, with Itas Diates Trentino
 2011/2012  Italian Cup Serie A, with Itas Diates Trentino
 2011/2012  Italian Championship, with Itas Diates Trentino
 2014/2015  Italian Championship, with Trentino Volley
 2015/2016  Iranian Championship, with Sarmayeh Bank Tehran
 2016/2017  Iranian Championship, with Sarmayeh Bank Tehran
 2017/2018  Iranian Championship, with Sarmayeh Bank Tehran

National team
 1995  CEV U19 European Championship
 1997  CEV U19 European Championship
 2006  FIVB World Championship
 2011  FIVB World League
 2011  CEV European Championship
 2011  FIVB World Cup
 2012  FIVB World League

Individually
 2004 Polish Cup – Best Setter
 2006 Turkish League – Best Setter
 2010 CEV Champions League – Best Setter
 2012 Memorial of Hubert Jerzy Wagner – Best Setter
 2017 Asian Club Championship – Best Setter

State awards
 2006  Gold Cross of Merit
 2009''' Honorary citizenship of Trento

References

External links
 Official website
 FIVB Profile

Category:1979 births
Category:Living people
Category:People from Sulechów
Category:Sportspeople from Lubusz Voivodeship
Category:Polish men's volleyball players
Category:Olympic volleyball players of Poland
Category:Volleyball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Category:Polish Champions of men's volleyball
Category:Italian Champions of men's volleyball
Category:Czarni Radom players
Category:AZS Częstochowa players
Category:Skra Bełchatów players
Category:ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle players
Category:Panathinaikos V.C. players
Category:Recipients of the Gold Cross of Merit (Poland)
Category:Polish expatriates in Italy
Category:Expatriate volleyball players in Italy
Category:Polish expatriates in Russia
Category:Expatriate volleyball players in Russia
Category:Polish expatriates in Turkey
Category:Expatriate volleyball players in Turkey
Category:Polish expatriates in Greece
Category:Expatriate volleyball players in Greece
Category:Polish expatriates in Iran
Category:Expatriate volleyball players in Iran