Nõmme Kalju have announced the departure of goalkeeping coach Piotr Ostrowski, who will continue his career at French Ligue 1 side AS Monaco. The 24-year-old Pole will work as the goalkeeping coach of Monaco’s Under-21 team while also serving as assistant to first-team goalkeeping coach Jyri Nieminen.
Ostrowski joined Kalju ahead of the 2024 season from Poland’s fourth tier and quickly established himself as one of the club’s brightest young coaches. During his time in with Kalju he won the Estonian Cup and lifted the Estonian Super Cup.
Although his contract with Kalju still had 18 months remaining, the two clubs reached an agreement over a transfer, marking another milestone in Kalju’s long-term development strategy. The Estonian club believes the move demonstrates that it is now not only producing players capable of reaching Europe’s top leagues but also coaches.
Kalju president Kuno Tehva described the move as a historic moment for both the club and Estonian football. “I am extremely proud of Piotr and the entire Nõmme Kalju organisation. This transfer once again proves that trusting young talent has been one of the foundations of our success,” Tehva said.
“For years we have spoken about creating pathways for players. Today we can proudly say we are doing the same for coaches. A young coach moving directly from Nõmme Kalju to AS Monaco is a historic moment for our club and for Estonian football.”
Tehva admitted losing an important member of the coaching staff ahead of Kalju’s UEFA Conference League tie against Linfield was far from ideal but expressed confidence the club would once again adapt, pointing to previous departures of key figures such as Promise David and Guilherme Smith.
He also thanked Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro, whom he described as a former classmate at Stockholm Business School and Harvard, for the trust shown in both Ostrowski and the Kalju project.
Ostrowski said the decision to leave was emotional after a transformative spell in Estonia. “Leaving Nõmme Kalju is not easy for me. I want to thank Kuno Tehva and Nikita Andrejev for the trust and opportunity that completely changed my career,” he said.
“I arrived from Poland’s fourth division just before my 23rd birthday and could never have imagined the journey ahead. Qualifying for the UEFA Conference League and winning both the Estonian Cup and the Estonian Super Cup are experiences that will stay with me forever.”
The Polish coach also paid tribute to Kalju’s goalkeepers and the wider club. “I want to thank our goalkeepers. You are not only excellent players but exceptional people. Together we built a culture based on high standards, honesty, mutual respect and constant development. I also thank the entire Nõmme Kalju organisation for its trust and support. I leave with enormous gratitude and excitement for my next challenge at AS Monaco.”
Kalju say the appointment further underlines the club’s ambition to establish itself as one of Northern Europe’s leading football development organisations, capable of helping not only players but also coaches and football professionals progress to the highest level.
The club added that its new goalkeeping coach will be announced next week.
