He remained there for five and a half years, when he left to join Wisła Kraków in the middle of the 2000–01 season.

As well as playing for Trabzonspor, Szymkowiak appeared 33 times and scored three goals for the Poland national team.

I feel older than my dad, and in a couple of years time I'd like to walk like a normal person.

"[3] Later, in an interview for Polish newspaper Super Express, he stated that his retirement was mainly attributed to his drug use: he used rofecoxib for his pain problems, which was related to his injuries, but it was found to cause serious blood and bone marrow problems, resulting in lowering his performance and stamina.

His debut as a reporter was an Ekstraklasa game between GKS Bełchatów and Zagłębie Lubin on 5 April 2007.