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 (age 35)
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	Sutherland Sharks	18	(1)
2020	Mt Druitt Town Rangers	2	(0)
International career‡
2005–2008	Croatia U19	8	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 4 December 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals 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 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 match played 8 August 2020^[5][6][7]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Lokomotiva Zagreb	2008–09	Druga HNL	26	8	—		—		—		26	8
	2009–10	Prva HNL	13	2	—		—		—		13	2
	2010–11		23	0	0	0	—		—		23	0
	2011–12		24	2	—		—		—		24	2
	Total		86	12	0	0	—		—		86	12
Western Sydney Wanderers	2012–13	A-League	25	1	—		—		—		25	1
	2013–14		22	1	—		6	1	—		28	2
	2014–15		19	1	1	0	0	0	2	0	22	1
	Total		66	3	1	0	6	1	2	0	75	4
Newcastle Jets	2015–16	A-League	26	2	1	0	—		—		27	2
	2016–17		24	1	0	0	—		—		24	1
	Total		50	3	1	0	—		—		51	3
Astra Giurgiu	2017–18	Liga I	3	0	0	0	1	0	—		4	0
Marconi	2018	NPL NSW	15	2	1	0	—		—		16	2
Sutherland Sharks	2019	NPL NSW	18	1	0	0	—		—		18	1
Mt Druitt Town Rangers	2020	NPL NSW	2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
Career total			240	21	3	0	7	1	2	0	252	22

Honours

Western Sydney Wanderers

• AFC Champions League: 2014