Born and bred in France, where he has lived his whole life, Ludovic Obraniak qualifies to play for Poland through his grandfather, who hails from Poznan. A left-footed attacking midfielder, he helped LOSC Lille Métropole to a league and cup double in 2010/11 before leaving to join FC Girondins de Bordeaux in January 2012.

• Started out with home-town club FC Metz and won promotion to Ligue 1 at the end of his debut campaign in 2002/03. 

• Became increasingly important to Metz over the next three seasons, scoring his first Ligue 1 goal (a penalty) in a 1-1 draw against Lille on 20 February 2005; suffered relegation with the Lorraine club in 2006.

• Returned to the top flight after half a season when he signed for Lille in January 2007; soon afterwards he was pitched into the UEFA Champions League, making his European debut in a round of 16 tie against Manchester United FC.

• Helped Lille improve their Ligue 1 standing every season – tenth, seventh, fifth and fourth – until they scooped the title in 2010/11; chiefly a substitute during that triumphant campaign, he came off the bench to score a spectacular last-minute winner in the final of the Coupe de France against Paris Saint-Germain FC.

• Granted Polish citizenship in June 2009, he made his international debut two months later and marked it by scoring both goals in a 2-0 friendly victory over Greece in Bydgoszcz; became a regular under Franciszek Smuda, registering further goals in friendlies against Ecuador and Ivory Coast.

• Made 17 appearances in 2012, scoring four times to help Bordeaux finish fifth and secure a UEFA Europa League play-off place.