Kacper Łopata

Kacper Mieczysław Łopata (Polish pronunciation: [ˈkat͡spɛr mʲɛˈt͡ʂɨswaf wɔˈpata]; born 27 August 2001) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Woking. Besides England, he has played in Poland.[2]

Kacper Łopata
Personal information
Full name Kacper Mieczysław Łopata[1]
Date of birth (2001-08-27) 27 August 2001
Place of birth Kraków, Poland
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Club information
Current team
 Woking
Youth career
  St Vallier City AFC 
  Southampton
Bristol City
2016–2017 Yeovil Town
2018 Bristol City
2018–2019 Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Brighton & Hove Albion 0 (0)
2019–2020 → Whitehawk (loan) 15 (3)
2020 → Zagłębie Sosnowiec (loan) 7 (0)
2020–2022 Sheffield United 0 (0)
2021–2022 → Southend United (loan) 17 (0)
2022–2023 Southend United 22 (1)
2023– Woking 0 (0)
International career‡
2019 Poland U18 1 (0)
2019 Poland U19 2 (0)
2021–2022 Poland U20 6 (0)
2022 Poland U21 1 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 07:42, 4 March 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:34, 2 June 2022 (UTC)

Club career

Brighton Hove & Albion

In November 2018, Łopata joined Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion from Bristol City.[3] In August 2019, he joined Whitehawk on loan.[4] He went on to make 19 appearances in all competitions for the Isthmian League South East Division side.[5] In January 2020, Łopata joined Polish I liga side Zagłębie Sosnowiec on loan until the end of the season.[6] On 29 February 2020, he made his professional debut in a 2–0 win over Miedź Legnica.[7] He was released by Brighton at the end of the 2019–20 season[8]

Sheffield United

On 25 August 2020, Łopata joined Sheffield United.[9] On 10 August 2021, he made his debut for Sheffield United, playing the full match in a 1–0 win over Carlisle United in the EFL Cup.[10] On 28 October 2021, he was loaned to National League side Southend United, initially until January 2022, along with fellow Sheffield player Zak Brunt.[11][12] Faced with injuries, Sheffield recalled Łopata on 12 March 2022.[13]

Southend United

Having spent half-a-year on loan with the club in the previous season, on 2 September 2022 Łopata joined Southend United on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year deal with an option for another year.[14] In March 2023, he terminated his contract with the club, apparently unhappy at how players had been treated over unpaid wages,[15] a decision supported by the FA's Contract Disputes Tribunal.[16]

Woking

On 27 March 2023 it was announced that Łopata had joined Woking on a contract until the end of the 2022/23 season.[17]

International career

Łopata has represented Poland at under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels.[18]

Personal life

Łopata moved to Bristol with his mother aged 9.[19]

Career statistics
As of 12 March 2022[20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Zagłębie Sosnowiec (loan) 2019–20 I liga 7000——70
Sheffield United 2021–22 EFL Championship 0000200020
Southend United (loan) 2021–22 National League 170100000180
Career total 240102000270

    References
    1. "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 released lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
    2. Kacper Łopata - siła tkwi w samorozwoju 1liga.org
    3. "Kacper Lopata". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
    4. "Albion loanees are enjoying mixed fortunes". theargus.co.uk. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
    5. "Whitehawk – Appearances – Kacper Lopata". footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
    6. "Albion prospect Kacper Lopata heads to Poland on loan with Zaglebie Sosnowiec". theargus.co.uk. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
    7. "MIEDŹ LEGNICA VS. ZAGŁĘBIE SOSNOWIEC 0 - 2". uk.soccerway.com. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
    8. "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 released lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
    9. "Oficjalnie: Kacper Łopata w Sheffield United". pilkarskiswiat.com (in Polish). 25 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
    10. "Sheffield United 1-0 Carlisle United". BBC. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
    11. Kacper Łopata wypożyczony do Southend United (in Polish), 90minut.pl, 28 October 2021
    12. "Two sign on loan from Sheffield United". Southend United F.C. 28 October 2021.
    13. "Lopata recalled by Sheffield United". Southend United F.C. 12 March 2022.
    14. "KACPER ŁOPATA COMPLETES PERMANENT TRANSFER!". Southend United. 2 September 2022.
    15. Phillips, Chris (5 March 2023). "Southend United's off field issues are tarnishing". Echo. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
    16. "Statement: Kacper Locata". Southend United FC. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
    17. "KACPER ŁOPATA SIGNS". SWoking. 27 March 2023.
    18. Kacper Łopata at WorldFootball.net
    19. "Exclusive: How Bristol City lost out on signing promising local centre-back to Brighton". bristolpost.co.uk. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
    20. Kacper Łopata at Soccerway
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