Mateo Hrvatsko Poljak (Croatian pronunciation: [matěo poʎaːk]; born 10 September 1989) is a Croatian footballer who last played as a defensive midfielder for Mt Druitt Town Rangers.
 Poljak with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mateo Hrvatsko Poljak[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 10 September 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2008 | Dinamo Zagreb | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2009 | Lokomotiva Zagreb | 26 | (8) |
| 2010–2012 | Dinamo Zagreb | 0 | (0) |
| 2010–2012 | → Lokomotiva Zagreb (loan) | 60 | (4) |
| 2012–2015 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 66 | (3) |
| 2015–2017 | Newcastle Jets | 50 | (3) |
| 2017 | Astra Giurgiu | 3 | (0) |
| 2018 | Marconi | 15 | (2) |
| 2019–2019 | Sutherland Sharks | 18 | (1) |
| 2020 | Mt Druitt Town Rangers | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2005–2008 | Croatia U19 | 8 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 December 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 September 2009 | |||
Club career
editCroatia
editAfter going through the youth ranks of Dinamo Zagreb, Poljak was moved to their feeder team Lokomotiva Zagreb, then playing in the Druga HNL. After a season there he signed a 7-year contract with the club, which was taken over by Dinamo at the beginning of 2010. He spent the next two and a half seasons on loan at Lokomotiva, however, before his contract was terminated in the summer of 2012.
Western Sydney Wanderers
editOn 13 August 2012 it was announced that Poljak had signed with the newly formed A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers.[2] He signed an initial two-year contract, set to expire in July 2014. In his first season with Western Sydney, he made 25 appearances, a mainstay of the side's midfield, scoring one goal and helping the Wanderers win the A-League premiership in the club's first season. On 5 September 2013, Poljak signed a two-year extension with the club, the new contract ending mid 2016.[3]
Poljak again in his second season with Western Sydney was a constant starter throughout with his side finishing the league in second position. He was also a part of the side that won the 2014 AFC Champions League, later going on to compete in the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup.
Newcastle Jets
editIn 2015, Poljak was not retained by the Wanderers and joined Newcastle United Jets FC.
Personal life
editPoljak is married to Katarina, and has a daughter, Mia.[4]
Career statistics
edit- As of 1 November 2014
| Club performance | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Season | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Croatia | League | Croatian Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
| Lokomotiva Zagreb | 2008–09[5] | Druga HNL | 26 | 8 | – | – | – | – | 26 | 8 |
| 2009–10[6] | Prva HNL | 13 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 13 | 2 | |
| 2010–11[6] | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 23 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12[6] | 24 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 24 | 2 | ||
| Total | 86 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 86 | 12 | ||
| Australia | League1 | FFA Cup | Asia2 | Total | ||||||
| Western Sydney Wanderers | 2012–13[7] | A-League | 25 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 25 | 1 |
| 2013–14[7] | 22 | 1 | – | – | 6 | 1 | 28 | 2 | ||
| 2014–15[7] | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Total | 49 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 56 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 135 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 142 | 15 | ||
1 – includes A-League final series statistics
2 – AFC Champions League statistics are included in season ending during group stages (i.e. ACL 2014 and A-League season 2013–2014 etc.)
Honours
edit- Western Sydney Wanderers
References
edit- ^ "FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 15 December 2014. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 July 2015.
- ^ "Wanderers sign Croatian duo - Football Australia 2011". Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ "Poljak Pledges Future With Wanderers". Football Federation Australia. 5 September 2013. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013.
- ^ Gardiner, James (26 April 2017). "A-League: Poljak future uncertain after hold up with Australian citizenship". The Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
- ^ "Mateo Poljak career statistics". Nogometni Magazin.
- ^ a b c Mateo Poljak at Soccerway
- ^ a b c "Mateo Poljak (Western Sydney Wanderers)". Ultimate A-League.
External links
edit- Western Sydney Wanderers profile
- Mateo Poljak at the Croatian Football Federation
- Mateo Poljak at Soccerway