Steven Polack

{{Short description|English footballer (born 1961)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Use British English|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Steven Polack | image = Steven Polack 1.jpg | image_size = | caption = | fullname = Steven George Polack | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|01|10|df=y}} | birth_place = Birmingham, England | height = | position = Defender, midfielder | currentclub = | years1 = 1984–1994 | clubs1 = RoPS | caps1 = 265 | goals1 = 31 | years2 = 1995–1998 | clubs2 = Inter Turku | caps2 = 76 | goals2 = 1 | totalcaps = | totalgoals = | manageryears1 = 1998–1999 | managerclubs1 = Inter Turku (assistant) | manageryears2 = 1999–2000 | managerclubs2 = Inter Turku | manageryears3 = 2000<ref name=foot1>[http://ghanasoccernet.com/steve-polack-arrives-for-berekum-chelsea-coaching-job Steve Polack arrives for Berekum Chelsea coaching job]‚ ghanasoccernet.com, 18 August 2011</ref> | managerclubs3 = FC Espoo (youth) | manageryears4 = 2001–2002 | managerclubs4 = FC Boda | manageryears5 = 2003 | managerclubs5 = FC KooTeePee | manageryears6 = 2004 | managerclubs6 = FC Viikingit | manageryears7 = 2005 | managerclubs7 = AC Oulu | manageryears8 = 2006 | managerclubs8 = KPV | manageryears9 = 2006<ref name=foot1/> | managerclubs9 = FC Raahe | manageryears10 = 2007<ref name=foot1/> | managerclubs10 = PK Keski-Uusimaa | manageryears11 = 2007–2009 | managerclubs11 = King Faisal Babes | manageryears12 = 2009–2010 | managerclubs12 = Berekum Chelsea | manageryears13 = 2011 | managerclubs13 = Berekum Chelsea | manageryears14 = 2013–2015{{r|urheilu-1}} | managerclubs14 = KTP (assistant) | manageryears15 = 2017 | managerclubs15 = Berekum Chelsea | manageryears16 = 2017–2018 | managerclubs16 = Asante Kotoko | manageryears17 = 2019– | managerclubs17 = Gor Mahia F.C. }}

'''Steven George Polack'''<ref name="GSN">{{cite web |url=https://tv.ghanasoccernet.com/interview-steve-pollack-qa |title=Interview: Steve Pollack Q&A |date=13 October 2011 |website=Ghanasoccernet.com |access-date=9 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109013820/https://tv.ghanasoccernet.com/interview-steve-pollack-qa |archive-date=9 January 2019}}</ref> (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.<ref>[https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/trevor-sinclair-comes-out-of-retirement-to-sign-for-squires-gate-1-9029194 BREAKING: Kotoko sack coach Steven Polack after Confed Cup exit], blackpoolgazette.co.uk, 23 February 2018</ref> 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.<ref name="GSN" /> He also holds Finnish citizenship.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/football/-i-m-at-gor-mahia-to-stay-assures-polack-211228 |title='I'm at Gor Mahia to stay!' assures Polack |last=Odongo |first=Cecil |date=8 October 2019 |website=Daily Nation |access-date=9 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/sports/football/2020-06-18-polack-opens-up-on-halls-role-in-his-coaching-career-as-he-wins-fidelity-award/ |title=Polack opens up on Hall's role in his coaching career as he wins Fidelity Award |last=Kisenge |first=Meshack |date=18 June 2020 |website=The Star |access-date=9 September 2024}}</ref>

== Career == 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.<ref name="urheilu-1">{{cite web |url=http://www.urheilumuseo.fi/portals/47/veikkausliiga/pelaajat/polack.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114255/http://www.urheilumuseo.fi/portals/47/veikkausliiga/pelaajat/polack.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2016 |title=Veikkausliiga legends |accessdate=29 May 2013 |language=Finnish}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/steve-polack-arrives-for-berekum-chelsea-coaching-job/ |title= Steve Polack arrives for Berekum Chelsea coaching job |publisher= Ghana Soccernet|date=18 August 2011 |accessdate=29 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.modernghana.com/sports/358562/2/berekum-chelsea-confirm-coach-polack-exit.html |title=Berekum Chelsea confirm coach Polack exit |publisher=Modern Ghana |date=31 October 2011 |accessdate=29 May 2013}}</ref>

== Honours == ===As a player=== '''RoPS''' *Finnish Cup: 1986 *2 Bronze Medals *Player of the year (5 times)

===As a manager=== '''Berekum Chelsea''' *GHALCA Glo G8 Cup: 2011

'''Asante Kotoko''' *MTN Ghanaian FA Cup: 2017–18 *President's Cup: 2017–18

'''Gor Mahia''' *Kenyan Super Cup: 2019 *Kenyan Premier League: 2019–20

'''Individual''' *MTN Coach of the Year: 2017 Ghana *Coach of the Month Kenya: October 2019, November 2019, February 2020

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Polack, Steven}} Category:1961 births Category:Footballers from Birmingham, West Midlands Category:English men's footballers Category:English expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Finland Category:English football managers Category:Finnish football managers Category:Veikkausliiga players Category:Rovaniemen Palloseura players Category:FC Inter Turku players Category:FC Inter Turku managers Category:Expatriate football managers in Ghana Category:Living people Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Asante Kotoko S.C. managers Category:English people of West Indian descent Category:Finnish people of Caribbean descent Category:Finnish people of English descent Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Finland Category:Naturalized citizens of Finland Category:King Faisal F.C. managers Category:Ghana Premier League managers Category:AC Oulu managers Category:FC Inter Turku non-playing staff