Lost the fight with cigarettes, turned into a smoking villain goalkeeper anti-smoking evangelist?Please do not copy the smoking of penance in the media interview

Apr 25, 2025

Lost the fight with cigarettes, turned into a smoking villain goalkeeper anti-smoking evangelist?Please do not copy the smoking of penance in the media interview
Soccer Football - Champions League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Borussia Dortmund v FC Barcelona - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - April 15, 2025 FC Barcelona's Wojciech Szczesny celebrates after the match REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen <저작권자(c) Yonhap News, 무단 전재-재배포, AI 학습 및 활용 금지>



Lost the fight with cigarettes, turned into a smoking villain goalkeeper anti-smoking evangelist?Please do not copy the smoking of penance in the media interview
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Sevilla v FC Barcelona - Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville, Spain - February 9, 2025 FC Barcelona's Wojciech Szczesny in action REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo
"Never smoke."

Wojciech Szczesny (Barcelona), famous as a smoker goalkeeper, is expected to transform into a 'non-smoking evangelist'.

He regretted his smoking habit and publicly appealed to junior players not to follow him.




The 35-year-old is a veteran goalkeeper who moved to Barcelona in 2024 after playing Arsenal (2008-2017), AS Roma (2015-2017 on loan), and Juventus (2017-2024). He announced his retirement from Juventus after the 2023-2024 season.

However, Barcelona sent a love call when captain and sign guardian Marc-Andre ter Stegena left for the central prize, and he is withdrawing his silver tee and showing off his old age.

Lost the fight with cigarettes, turned into a smoking villain goalkeeper anti-smoking evangelist?Please do not copy the smoking of penance in the media interview
Barcelona's Polish goalkeeper #25 Wojciech Szczesny attends a press conference on the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg football match BVB Borussia Dortmund v FC Barcelona at the Signal Iduna stadium in Dortmund on April 14, 2025. (Photo by Ina FASBENDER / AFP)
He is a rare smoker in world football and has often come under fire. In June 2021, he was caught smoking while participating as a member of the Polish national team during the 'Euro 2020' competition. A few hours before the match against Spain in the group stage, media cameras captured him holding a cigarette in front of the team's bus before moving to the stadium. At that time, Poland was on the verge of elimination with one draw and one loss in the group stage, so fans criticized it.




During Arsenal's time, he was fined for smoking in the locker room, and when he won his first El Clasico 4-0 victory after moving to Barcelona, he was rumored to have smoked e-cigarettes in the locker room.

For this reason, some fans shouted mock slogans such as 'Szczesny fumador (Goldo Szczesny)' if Szczesny plays during the game.

He then expressed remorse for his smoking habits. In an interview with 'ESPN'There are many things about setting a perfect example for a young man or teammate in football. But there are some good things not to copy", he confessed his thoughts.




Lost the fight with cigarettes, turned into a smoking villain goalkeeper anti-smoking evangelist?Please do not copy the smoking of penance in the media interview
Barcelona's Polish goalkeeper #25 Wojciech Szczesny (C) goes for the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between FC Barcelona and Atalanta BC at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on January 29, 2025. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
"I can't be an example, but I'm trying to be the best version of myself, and I'm trying to show my teammate or the young man watching me an appropriate sample"But I don't want you to copy me about smoking. Don't ever do that. I lost the fight (with smoking)."

He went on to say, `When I was very young, I developed a very negative habit of myself. I just lost in front of smoking. So I want to tell people who watch this to never do what I did" he appealed.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.