In total, Szwarga made 29 third division appearances, scoring once, and 147 fourth division outings, during which he managed 10 league goals, before retiring after multiple short stints with lower division clubs.[3]
Managerial career
Assistant at GKS Katowice
Szwarga began his coaching career in June 2018, when he was recommended by Jakub Dziółka to join Jacek Paszulewicz's staff at GKS Katowice.[4] As a match analyst and assistant coach, he was also responsible for conducting training sessions for the senior team. During his three years in Katowice, he also worked under managers Dariusz Dudek and Rafał Górak.[2]
Having qualified for UEFA Europa Leaguegroup stage, Raków faced off against Italian side Atalanta, Portuguese club Sporting and Austrian club Sturm Graz, winning once against the latter, drawing at home to Sporting and losing the remaining games, finishing their first ever European group outing in last place.[12]
Raków under Szwarga failed to imitate the level of success in domestic competitions enjoyed in previous campaigns. Their run in the Polish Cup ended after crashing out of the competition in the quarter-finals against Piast Gliwice, Raków was also unable to hold a top-three position in the table for more than two weeks, despite poor form from potential title rivals.[13] On 9 April 2024, amid calls to replace Szwarga, Raków's owner Michał Świerczewski publicly expressed his and the club's support for the manager.[14] Less than a month later, on 7 May, the club announced Szwarga would step down at the end of the 2023–24 season.[15] On 14 June, Raków confirmed he would return to the role of assistant under the returning Marek Papszun.[16]
Arka Gdynia
On 6 October 2024, it was revealed Szwarga was to leave the Silesian side at the conclusion of the summer/autumn round.[17] Hours later, I liga club Arka Gdynia announced he would take over as manager following his exit from Raków, replacing interim head coach Tomasz Grzegorczyk.[18] Szwarga began his tenure on 12 December 2024.[19]
