Piotr Oliver Celeban (born 25 June 1985) is a Polish former professional footballer who currently serves as a fitness coach of Śląsk Wrocław II and the Poland national under-17 team. Although primarily a central defender, when needed he operated as a right-back. He is known for his powerful heading and goal scoring ability. Besides Poland, he has played in Romania.

Club career

Celeban made his first appearance in Ekstraklasa in May 2005 against Górnik Łęczna.

Vaslui

2012–13 season

On 20 June 2012, Vaslui announced that they had reached an agreement to sign Celeban on a free transfer from Śląsk Wrocław. He signed a four-year contract and was handed the number 5 shirt. On 4 July, he made his debut for Vaslui in a 9–1 win in a preseason friendly over Bischoffen. He made his Liga I debut for Vaslui on 22 July in a 2–2 draw with Rapid București. Despite playing as a right back in Vaslui's opening against Rapid, Celeban established himself in the central defence alongside Cape Verde international Fernando Varela. Celeban scored his first goal for Vaslui on 27 August in a 3–1 win against Steaua București. On 1 September, Celeban scored a late header against Viitorul Constanța, assisted by a cross from Dacian Varga. Celeban made it 2–2 which also was the final score. On 3 November, he scored a brace, bringing his tally to 4 goals in 10 league games, as Vaslui defeated Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț 4–3. On 1 April 2013, he scored another brace in a 3–2 win against Viitorul Constanța, which ended Vaslui's run of five games without a win. Celeban continued to impress and scored with a header his seventh league goal of the season against Dinamo București. He managed to finish as Vaslui's top goalscorer with 7 goals, alongside team captain Lucian Sânmărtean. He was also Liga I's top scorer defender and Liga I's top header scorer with 5 goals, alongside Takayuki Seto and Bojan Golubović. Celeban was selected for the ProSport Team of the Year alongside teammate Zhivko Milanov.

2013–14 season

Celeban scored Vaslui's first goal of the season on 5 August against CFR Cluj with a 4th-minute header from Adrian Sălăgeanu's corner. The final score was established in the 33rd minute as 4–0. On 19 August, Celeban scored against Săgeata Năvodari at Municipal, with a 26th-minute header giving Vaslui a 1–0 win.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Pogoń Szczecin2004–05Ekstraklasa1000———10
2005–06Ekstraklasa6130—10—101
2006–07Ekstraklasa2632140——324
Total334514010—436
Śląsk Wrocław (loan)2005–06II liga162————162
Korona Kielce2007–08Ekstraklasa1300050——180
Śląsk Wrocław2008–09Ekstraklasa30210112——424
2009–10Ekstraklasa25210———262
2010–11Ekstraklasa30420———324
2011–12Ekstraklasa29630—50—376
Total114147011250—13716
Vaslui2012–13Liga I29700—20—317
2013–14Liga I26422———286
Total551122—20—5913
Śląsk Wrocław2014–15Ekstraklasa37230———402
2015–16Ekstraklasa36241—40—443
2016–17Ekstraklasa37320———393
2017–18Ekstraklasa37510———385
2018–19Ekstraklasa30310———313
2019–20Ekstraklasa7010———80
2020–21Ekstraklasa14211———153
Total19817132—40—21519
Śląsk Wrocław II2019–20III liga, gr. III4000———40
2020–21III liga, gr. III6000———60
2021–22II liga20110———211
Total30110———311
Careet total469492851521200052456

International career

Celeban debuted for the Poland national team in an 1–0 friendly win over Serbia on December 14, 2008.

Honours

Śląsk Wrocław

Śląsk Wrocław II

Individual

  • Ekstraklasa Player of the Month: October 2011, July 2018
  • Vaslui Player of the Season: 2012–13
  • Ekstraklasa Hall of Fame: 2023

Family

Celeban's brother Adam is also a professional football player who plays for Pogoń Szczecin.

External links

  • at 90minut.pl (in Polish)
  • at National-Football-Teams.com
  • at Soccerway