Mateo Poljak

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.

Mateo Poljak
Poljak with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2013
Personal information
Full name Mateo Hrvatsko Poljak[1]
Date of birth (1989-09-10) 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 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

Croatia

After 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 NK Lokomotiva, however, before his contract was terminated in the summer of 2012.

Western Sydney Wanderers

On 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

In 2015, Poljak was not retained by the Wanderers and joined Newcastle United Jets FC.

Personal life

Poljak is married to Katarina, and has a daughter, Mia.[4]

Career statistics
As of 1 November 2014
Club performance League Cup Continental Total
ClubSeasonLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Croatia League Croatian Cup Europe Total
Lokomotiva 2008–09[5] Druga HNL 268––––268
2009–10[6] Prva HNL 132––––132
2010–11[6] 23000––230
2011–12[6] 242––––242
Total 861200008612
Australia League1 FFA Cup Asia2 Total
Western Sydney Wanderers 2012–13[7] A-League 251––––251
2013–14[7] 221––61282
2014–15[7] 20100030
Total 4921061563
Career total 13514106114215

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
Western Sydney Wanderers

References
  1. "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.
  2. "Wanderers sign Croatian duo - Football Australia 2011". Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  3. "Poljak Pledges Future With Wanderers". Football Federation Australia. 5 September 2013. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013.
  4. Gardiner, James. "A-League: Poljak future uncertain after hold up with Australian citizenship". The Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  5. "Mateo Poljak career statistics". Nogometni Magazin.
  6. Mateo Poljak at Soccerway
  7. "Mateo Poljak (Western Sydney Wanderers)". Ultimate A-League.
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