Steven Polack

Steven Polack
Personal information
Full name Steven George Polack
Date of birth (1961-01-10) 10 January 1961 (age 65)
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Positions
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1994 RoPS 265 (31)
1995–1998 Inter Turku 76 (1)
Managerial career
1998–1999 Inter Turku (assistant)
1999–2000 Inter Turku
2000 FC Espoo (youth)
2001–2002 FC Boda
2003 FC KooTeePee
2004 FC Viikingit
2005 AC Oulu
2006 KPV
2006 FC Raahe
2007 PK Keski-Uusimaa
2007–2009 King Faisal Babes
2009–2010 Berekum Chelsea
2011 Berekum Chelsea
2013–2015 KTP (assistant)
2017 Berekum Chelsea
2017–2018 Asante Kotoko
2019– Gor Mahia F.C.
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Steven George Polack (born 10 January 1961) is an English football manager and former player who has been head coach of clubs in Finland, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. As a player, he spent most of his career as a defender and midfielder in Finland.

Early and personal life

Polack was born in Birmingham, England to an English mother and a father from the West Indies. He also holds Finnish citizenship.

Career

Polack grew up in Birmingham and attended Kingshurst Comprehensive School from 1972 to 1977. During his school years, he played as a striking partner upfront alongside his lifelong friend and future Aston Villa forward Gary Shaw, who would later go on to win the English First Division Championship and the European Cup. Polack was later converted into a defender upon moving to Finland in 1984, where he enjoyed a highly successful playing career that included winning the Finnish Cup and competing in European club competitions with RoPS Rovaniemi. Following his retirement from playing, he successfully transitioned into a prominent football manager, coaching several clubs in Finland and going on to win major domestic cup trophies in Africa as well as a premier league title with Kenyan giants Gor Mahia.

Polack played 13 seasons and 301 games for RoPS Rovaniemi and FC Inter in the Finnish premier division Veikkausliiga from 1984 to 1994 and 1996–1997. He is one of the most notable players of RoPS.

After his playing career Polack has been coaching several clubs in Finland as well as King Faisal and Berekum Chelsea and SC Kotoko in Ghana, Gor Mahia in Kenya and Marumo Gallants in South Africa.

Honours

As a player

RoPS

As a manager

Berekum Chelsea

Asante Kotoko

Gor Mahia

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 Steve Polack arrives for Berekum Chelsea coaching job‚ ghanasoccernet.com, 18 August 2011
  2. 1 2 "Veikkausliiga legends" (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Interview: Steve Pollack Q&A". Ghanasoccernet.com. 13 October 2011. Archived from the original on 9 January 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  4. ↑ BREAKING: Kotoko sack coach Steven Polack after Confed Cup exit, blackpoolgazette.co.uk, 23 February 2018
  5. ↑ Odongo, Cecil (8 October 2019). "'I'm at Gor Mahia to stay!' assures Polack". Daily Nation. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  6. ↑ Kisenge, Meshack (18 June 2020). "Polack opens up on Hall's role in his coaching career as he wins Fidelity Award". The Star. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  7. ↑ "Steve Polack arrives for Berekum Chelsea coaching job". Ghana Soccernet. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "Berekum Chelsea confirm coach Polack exit". Modern Ghana. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2013.