Paweł Żuk (footballer, born 2001)

Paweł Żuk (born 29 January 2001) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a right-back or a right midfielder for Northern Premier League Division One West club Stalybridge Celtic.

Paweł Żuk
Personal information
Full name Paweł Żuk
Date of birth (2001-01-29) 29 January 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Gdańsk, Poland
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Right-back, right midfielder
Team information
Current team
Stalybridge Celtic
Youth career
0000–2015 Oldham Athletic
2015–2019 Everton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Lechia Gdańsk 2 (0)
2019–2020 Lechia Gdańsk II 16 (1)
2020 Wisła Płock 3 (0)
2022 Ruch Chorzów 16 (0)
2022–2023 Barrow 1 (0)
2022Glossop North End (loan) 3 (0)
2023Lancaster City (loan) 14 (0)
2023 FC United of Manchester 5 (0)
2023– Stalybridge Celtic 0 (0)
International career
2015–2016 Poland U15 2 (0)
2017–2018 Poland U17 11 (3)
2019 Poland U18 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:13, 14 November 2023

Early life edit

Żuk was born in Gdańsk, before moving to England with his family at the age of four.[1]

Club career edit

Early years edit

He started his early footballing years with Oldham Athletic before moving to Everton at the age of 14 for £400k.[2] When he was 15 he received the award for the best footballer in the academy for the under-15's.[3] In the 2018–19 season Żuk made 32 appearances and scored 2 goals for the under-18's team.[4]

Lechia Gdańsk edit

In 2019, Żuk moved back to the city of his birth to play for Lechia Gdańsk, signing a three-year contract and being given the number 30 shirt.[5][6] He made his Lechia Gdańsk II debut in the Tricity Derby, with Arka Gdynia winning the game 2–0.[7] In September 2019, Żuk played all 90 minutes as Lechia II beat Stolem Gniewino 11–0.[8] Żuk made his first senior appearance on 7 February 2020 coming on as a substitute against Śląsk Wrocław in a 2–2 draw.[9] In total Żuk made only 2 appearances for Lechia during his first professional season, with the club deciding the player was surplus to requirements at that time and would be allowed to leave during the summer.

Wisła Płock edit

On 21 July 2020, he signed a two-year contract with Wisła Płock for a nominal fee.[10] After starting Wisła's first three games of the season, Żuk found himself dropped to the substitutes bench, before being dropped from the matchday squad altogether. After only 5 months and 4 games with Wisła, he left the club by mutual consent on 11 December 2020.[11]

Radomiak Radom & Ashton United edit

After 10 months without a club, and more than a year since his last game, Żuk was announced to have joined newly promoted Ekstraklasa team Radomiak Radom on trial, with the possibility of the player joining the reserve squad if the trial were to be successful.[12] After not impressing during his trial, Żuk left Radomiak without being offered a contract.[13] By January 2022 Żuk had returned to England and had started to train with English non-league club Ashton United. While the move saw Żuk training with the first team, there was no contract signed with the club and Żuk did not feature in any matchday squads, with the move most likely having been an agreement between the club and player so that Żuk could focus on his fitness while searching for another club.

Ruch Chorzów edit

On 26 January 2022, after spending two weeks on trial with Polish II liga side Ruch Chorzów, he signed a half-year contract with a one-year extension option with the club.[14] At the end of the season, Żuk's contract was not extended, and he departed the club.

Barrow edit

On 22 August 2022, Żuk returned to England, signing a one-year contract with League Two club Barrow.[15]

On 4 November 2022, Źuk joined Northern Premier League Division One West club Glossop North End on an initial one-month loan deal.[16] On 10 February 2023, he joined Lancaster City on a one-month loan deal.[17] He was released by Barrow at the end of his one-year deal, being invited back for pre-season however.[18]

Non-League edit

In July 2023, Zuk signed for Northern Premier League club FC United of Manchester.[19] He joined Stalybridge Celtic in November 2023.[20]

International career edit

Żuk made his international debut for Poland U15 against the Republic of Ireland in a 2–1 away win.[21] He made one more appearance for the under-15's, playing twice for the age group in total. Żuk also played for Poland U17, playing 11 times in total and scoring thrice. His first two goals came in the 8–0 win over San Marino.[22] Żuk made his Poland U18 debut in an international friendly tournament held in La Manga, Spain. He played in all three of Poland's games as they finished 3rd in their group.[23]

Career statistics edit

As of match played 4 November 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Lechia Gdańsk 2019–20[24] Ekstraklasa 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Lechia Gdańsk II 2019–20[25] IV liga Pomerania 16 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 1
Wisła Płock 2020–21 Ekstraklasa 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Ruch Chorzów 2021–22 II liga 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0
Barrow 2022–23 League Two 1 0 0 0 0 0 2[a] 0 3 0
Glossop North End (loan) 2022–23[26] Northern Premier League Division One West 3 0 0 0 0 0 1[b] 0 4 0
Lancaster City F.C. (loan) 2022–23[27] Northern Premier League Premier Division 14 0 0 0 0 0 14 0
FC United of Manchester 2023–24[28] Northern Premier League Premier Division 5 0 1 0 1[c] 0 7 0
Career total 60 1 2 0 0 0 4 0 66 1
  1. ^ Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in the Manchester Senior Cup
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

References edit

  1. ^ "LECHIA BIERZE POLAKA Z EVERTONU. PAWEŁ ŻUK WRACA DO DOMU". przegladsportowy.pl.
  2. ^ "Paweł Żuk – realizując marzenia". zzapolowy.com.
  3. ^ "Transfery: Paweł Żuk w Lechii Gdańsk!". lechia.net.
  4. ^ "Pawel Zuk". football-wonderkids.co.uk.
  5. ^ "Paweł Żuk podpisał kontrakt z Lechią Gdańsk!". lechia.pl.
  6. ^ "Lotto Ekstraklasa. Lechia Gdańsk szykuje kolejne wzmocnienie. Paweł Żuk bliski podpisania kontraktu". sportowefakty.wp.pl.
  7. ^ "2019/20 IV Liga, Gr. pomorska". lechia.net.
  8. ^ "IV Liga. Lechia II - Stolem Gniewino 11:0". lechia.pl.
  9. ^ "2019/20 Ekstraklasa". lechia.pl.
  10. ^ "Paweł Żuk zawodnikiem Nafciarzy" (in Polish). Wisła Płock. 21 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Paweł Żuk odchodzi z Wisły" (in Polish). Wisła Płock. 11 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Paweł Żuk trenuje z Radomiakiem Radom". weszlo.com.
  13. ^ "Radomiak: junior podpisze kontrakt, Silva trenuje, Żuk wrócił do domu, kilka urazów". weszlo.com.
  14. ^ "Żuk piłkarzem Ruchu" (in Polish). Ruch Chorzów. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Barrow sign ex-Poland youth international Zuk". BBC Sport. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  16. ^ @GlossopNorthEnd (November 4, 2022). "⚽️𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚⚽️ GNE are pleased to welcome Polish defender Pawel Zuk to the Hillmen! Pawel started out in the youth sides at Oldham & Everton, and joins us on a 1 month loan from @BarrowAFC. Welcome to the club Pawel!🔵⚽️🔵 #vivaGNE" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 November 2022 – via Twitter.
  17. ^ "Pav Zuk Joins Lancaster City On Loan". www.barrowafc.com. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Barrow Confirm Retained List". www.barrowafc.com. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  19. ^ [Your 23/24 Men's Squad to take on the NPL "Your 23/24 Men's Squad to take on the NPL"]. https.www.fc-utd.co.uk. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  20. ^ "Club News - Defender Pawel Zuk is a Celt!". www.stalybridgeceltic.co.uk. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  21. ^ "Republic of Ireland 1-2 Poland (Under 15's)". fai.ie.
  22. ^ "eME U-17: Polska 8-0 San Marino". 90minut.pl.
  23. ^ "U-18: Polska 1-0 Słowacja". 90minut.pl.
  24. ^ "Informacje o zawodniku: Paweł Żuk | 2019/20 IV Liga, Gr. pomorska". lechia.net. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  25. ^ "Informacje o zawodniku: Paweł Żuk | 2019/20 IV Liga, Gr. pomorska". lechia.net. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  26. ^ "Glossop North End | Appearances | Pawel Zuk | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  27. ^ "Glossop North End | Appearances | Pawel Zuk | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  28. ^ "FC United of Manchester – Appearances – Pawel Zuk". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2023.