Polish midfielder Rybus Maciej is known to Russian football fans for his performances for Lokomotiv. He has been playing in the Moscow club since 2017. Before moving to Russia, the Pole received excellent playing practice in other teams.
Where did he perform before? How did you go to success? Well, it’s worth telling about it now in a little more detail.
Club career
Rybus Maciej was born in 1989 on August 19 in the city of Lovich. From an early age he began to play football: he studied this sport at FC Pelican. When he turned 16, he moved to Shamotuly, where he played in the youth league for a whole season. Due to this, scouts of FC “Legia” noticed him. The young man was offered a contract, and he agreed.
From 2007 to 2012, Rybus Maciej played in the Legia, played 102 matches in the national championship, scored 13 goals. Together with this team, he won the Country Cup (2010/11) and the Super Bowl (2008).
In 2012, the Pole signed a contract with FC Terek. For 4 years in the Premier League, he held 101 meetings, scored 19 goals. It would be more if he didn’t get an injury in September 2012, due to which he flew out of action for 2 months.
In the 2016/17 season, the midfielder played in Lyon (19 matches in the national league). But the following year he returned to Russia and signed a contract with Lokomotiv. At the moment, he has 20 games in the Premier League and 1 goal.
Play style
Rybus Maciej is a pretty productive footballer. Its strengths include excellent long-range shots, a clear pass of the ball, as well as the ability to hold it and perform interceptions. Rybus often hits from afar, makes many short passes, and also moves to the center.
Life in Grozny
Football player Rybus Maciej spent 4 years in Grozny. He says that he has only good memories of this city. And when he first arrived, he was very surprised - how everything is beautiful and not a hint of the recent war. There was no fear, no problems.
Of course, many asked the Pole about communication with Ramzan Kadyrov. He assures that they rarely contacted. But Magomed Daudov went into the locker room after almost every game. Although one day they both even came to training, played a little with the players.
One of the most vivid memories was presented after a match with Dynamo Mercedes. Rybus says he was in shock. After the match, someone called from the management in the locker room, asked to congratulate the whole team on the victory, and also happy birthday, they promised a gift. Then a week passed. The guys returned to Grozny, to the hotel. And she has a new Mercedes, without license plates even. The Pole certainly did not expect such a gift.
Moving to Moscow
Now Rybus Maciej in Lokomotiv. He says he agreed to the proposal, as there was not enough playing time in Lyon.
Hearing from the agent that he was interested in the Russian club, he agreed pretty quickly. The desire to return and play again in the Premier League flared up instantly. Although representatives of Besiktas, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and even Hull City were still interested.
Before the debut, Matsey was asked questions about how he would play against Terek, because he spent 4.5 years in it. The Pole replied that the club would remain in his heart forever, but when he decided to return to Russia, no one from Grozny called him. However, he stated that he would worry about Terek (already renamed Akhmat).
About Russian language
Many are surprised at how Maciej is fluent in our language. He himself is perplexed in response - but what is this? He says that Russian is similar to Polish, and this greatly facilitated his task when he was just starting to master it.
At first, of course, he did not know a word. He talked only with two other Poles from Terek who helped him, translated a lot. Six months later, he himself spoke. He himself doesn’t even remember how it happened, as his life was very monotonous, and he did not receive external language practice.
About friendship with Lewandowski
Robert is one of the most famous Polish football players. Rybus Maciej is his teammate and a good buddy. He says that Lewandowski is the cosmos in the literal sense of the word.
With Robert, they have one unusual memory: they flew to the Euro 2016 training camp together in a helicopter. Because the base was in the mountains of Austria, and it takes 10 hours to get there by car. The whole team at that time was already training hard. The guys were given a weekend because they stayed in clubs.
As a result, the coach suggested flying in a helicopter. Lewandowski and Rybus flew out of Warsaw, captured Pishchek, and within an hour and a half were in place. Everyone met them: players, fans, journalists and coaches.
By the way, Maciej also said that Robert hardly trains in the national team. He says he flies from Bavaria, rests for several days, and begins to train two days before the game. And in matches, he scores several goals. Rybus Maciej says that Robert is a very calm person in life, but he is a huge professional on the field. He claims that he never met such people.
Personal life
In the spring of 2018, the Polish midfielder got married. And his love story is truly amazing.
The wife of Rybus Matsey is an incredibly beautiful Ossetian Lana Baimatova. He met her in a restaurant where the girl worked as a manager.
Relations developed rapidly. In January, Rybus tweeted the first joint photo, and a month later, pictures came from hot Spain, where the lovers spent their holidays. Then they even went to the Barcelona match.
After a short period of time, another picture appeared, very eloquent: on it, in his courageous palm, the Pole holds the thin hand of his beloved with a brilliantly expensive ring.
With the wedding, Rybus Maciej and Lana Baimatova did not hesitate. They signed on March 17th. The celebration was held in accordance with Ossetian traditions.