Yan Klukowski (born 1 January 1987) is an English former professional footballer who was most recently assistant manager at Gloucester City.

Yan Klukowski
Klukowski with York City in 2016
Personal information
Full name Yan Klukowski[1]
Date of birth (1987-01-01) 1 January 1987 (age 37)[2]
Place of birth Chippenham, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Chippenham Town
0000–2003 Bath City
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2008 Central Connecticut[4] 71[5][6][7][8] (24)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2005 Bath City 14 (0)
2005 Chippenham Town 7 (0)
2006–2007 Chippenham Town 5 (0)
2007 Ottawa Fury 16 (1)
2008 Cape Cod Crusaders 14 (5)
2009 Western Mass Pioneers 12 (1)
2009 Chippenham Town 2 (0)
2010 Larkhall Athletic 8 (6)
2010–2014 Forest Green Rovers 159 (48)
2014–2016 Newport County 66 (5)
2016–2017 York City 25 (3)
2017–2018 Torquay United 7 (0)
2017Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 4 (0)
2018–2019 Chippenham Town 4 (0)
2019–2020 Hungerford Town 10 (1)
2020–2023 Hereford 28 (0)
Managerial career
2023 Hereford (interim)
2023 Gloucester City (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13.24, 23 May 2023 (UTC)

Club career edit

Youth and College edit

Born and raised in Chippenham, Wiltshire,[9] Klukowski was educated at Sheldon School.[10] His football education began at local club Chippenham Town before moving to Bath City.[11] At 18 years of age, he broke into the first team at Bath.[citation needed] Klukowski turned down a new contract with Bath in July 2005 to sign a four-year scholarship with Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) in New Britain, Connecticut, United States.[12][13] He had a brief stint with Chippenham Town at the start of the 2005–06 season before starting his scholarship.[14]

At CCSU, Klukowski was the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year, playing for the All Conference first team.[citation needed] He was named to the All-NEC first team and received second team NSCAA All-North Atlantic Region honors as a sophomore in 2006.[citation needed] From December 2006 to January 2007, Klukowski played with Chippenham Town, while on holiday from the United States.[15] In 2007, he led the NEC in assists and was named to the All-NEC second team and the NSCAA All-North Atlantic Region first team.[citation needed]

During his college years, Klukowski also played with Ottawa Fury[16] and the Cape Cod Crusaders in the USL Premier Development League.[17]

Professional edit

Klukowski turned professional in 2009 and joined the Western Mass Pioneers of the USL Second Division, where he played 12 times, scoring once in a 2–1 win over Wilmington Hammerheads.[18] He was the joint seventh highest assist provider in the 2009 USL Second Division, with five.[19]

Following the conclusion of the season, Klukowski returned to England in an attempt to find a professional club to play for during 2009–10 and beyond.[citation needed] His first trial was provided by Carlisle United who were originally impressed and extended his trial period before deciding against offering him a contract.[20][21] Klukowski then went on trial with Swindon Town,[22] but was not offered a contract.[citation needed] In August 2009, Klukowski rejoined Chippenham Town.[citation needed] He later joined Larkhall Athletic until the end of 2009–10,[23] scoring six goals from eight league appearances.[14] In June 2010, he returned to Bath City on trial in an attempt to earn a contract following their promotion into the Conference Premier.[24]

 
Klukowski celebrates scoring for Forest Green Rovers in 2012

In July 2010, he went on trial with Forest Green Rovers, before joining the Conference Premier club on 13 August.[25] He scored his first goal for the club in August 2010 in only his second appearance against Wrexham.[26] On 21 January 2011, he was awarded a new contract until the end of 2011–12 by Forest Green, after a number of impressive appearances.[27] After suffering an injury in the latter months of 2010–11, Klukowski was required to have surgery and returned to first-team action at the start of 2011–12.[citation needed] He scored his first goal of the season in a 6–1 away win over Alfreton Town on 20 August 2011, after converting James Rowe's cross.[28][29] On 31 March 2012, in a home match against Barrow, Klukowski scored his first hat-trick for Forest Green.[30] Klukowski ended 2011–12 as Forest Green's top scorer with 18 goals from 45 appearances.[28]

On 12 June 2012, Klukowski signed a contract extension at Forest Green, keeping him at the club until 2014.[31] On 15 April 2014, two goals in a 2–1 away win over Macclesfield Town saw him overtake Alex Meechan as Forest Green's all-time leading Conference Premier goal scorer, a record that has since been beaten, with a total of 48 league goals for the club.[32][33] On 28 April 2014, it was revealed that he had turned down the offer of a new contract with Forest Green in the hope he could earn a deal with a Football League club.[34]

On 20 May 2014, Klukowski joined League Two club Newport County on a two-year contract.[35] He made his debut for Newport on the opening day of 2014–15 against Wycombe Wanderers on 9 August 2014 as a second-half substitute.[36] His first goal for Newport came in a 2–1 home defeat against Swindon Town on 23 September 2014 in the first round of the Football League Trophy, with a tap-in from Aaron O'Connor's pass.[36][37] He was released by Newport on 10 May 2016 at the end of his contract.[38]

On 28 June 2016, Klukowski joined newly relegated National League club York City on a two-year contract.[39] On 21 May 2017, he started as York beat Macclesfield Town 3–2 at Wembley Stadium in the 2017 FA Trophy Final.[40]

On 29 June 2017, Klukowski signed for National League club Torquay United on a contract of undisclosed length,[41] having been allowed to leave York despite having a year left on his contract.[42] He joined National League North club Kidderminster Harriers on 17 November 2017 on a one-month loan.[43]

He was released by Torquay at the end of the 2017–18 season.[44]

On 22 May 2018, Klukowski signed for National League South side Chippenham Town,[45]

Klukowski left the Bluebirds on 17 September 2019.[46] On 27 September, he then joined Hungerford Town.[47]

On 15 July 2020, Klukowski signed for Hereford.[48] On 5 February 2023, following the departure of manager Josh Gowling, Klukowski was appointed interim manager having already been serving as assistant manager.[49]

International career edit

Klukowski scored with a 35-yard shot on his debut for England schools, in a 3–0 away win over Scotland on 25 February 2005.[50] He represented Great Britain at World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand in 2006.[citation needed] He was also selected to represent the Great Britain university football team at the 2007 Summer Universiade.[citation needed]

Coaching career edit

In May 2023, he joined Gloucester City in the role of assistant manager.[51] He left by mutual agreement on 17 September 2023, along with manager Tim Flowers.[52]

Personal life edit

Klukowski is of Polish descent, through his grandfather.[9]

Career statistics edit

 
Klukowski playing for Forest Green Rovers in 2012
As of match played 29 April 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bath City 2003–04[14] Southern League Premier Division 5 0 5 0
2004–05[14] Southern League Premier Division 9 0 9 0
Total 14 0 14 0
Chippenham Town 2005–06[14] Southern League Premier Division 7 0 7 0
2006–07[53] Southern League Premier Division 5 0 5 0
Total 12 0 12 0
Ottawa Fury 2007[14] USL Premier Development League 16 1 16 1
Cape Cod Crusaders 2008[14] USL Premier Development League 14 5 14 5
Western Mass Pioneers 2009[18][54] USL Second Division 12 1 2 0 14 1
Chippenham Town 2009–10[14] Southern League Premier Division 2 0 2 0
Larkhall Athletic 2009–10[14] Western League Premier Division 8 6 8 6
Forest Green Rovers 2010–11[55] Conference Premier 37 7 2 0 1[b] 1 40 8
2011–12[28] Conference Premier 46 18 1 0 2[b] 0 49 18
2012–13[18] Conference Premier 40 11 3 2 2[b] 0 45 13
2013–14[18] Conference Premier 36 12 1 0 3[b] 1 40 13
Total 159 48 7 2 8 2 174 52
Newport County 2014–15[36] League Two 38 4 1 1 1 0 1[c] 1 41 6
2015–16[56] League Two 28 1 2 1 1 0 1[c] 0 32 2
Total 66 5 3 2 2 0 2 1 73 8
York City 2016–17[18] National League 25 3 2 0 5[b] 0 32 3
Torquay United 2017–18[18] National League 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 2017–18[18][57] National League North 4 0 0 0 4 0
Chippenham Town 2018–19[18] National League South 8 0 1 0 0 0 9 0
2019–20[18] National League South 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 10 0 1 0 0 0 11 0
Hungerford Town 2019–20[18] National League South 12 1 0 0 0 0 12 1
Hereford 2020–21[18] National League North 10 0 1 0 6[b] 0 17 0
2021–22[18] National League North 15 0 0 0 0 0 15 0
2022–23[18] National League North 3 0 2 1 0 0 5 1
Total 28 0 3 1 6 0 37 1
Career total 390 70 18 5 2 0 21 3 431 77
  1. ^ Appearances in U.S. Open Cup and FA Cup
  2. ^ a b c d e f Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  3. ^ a b Appearance in Football League Trophy

Managerial statistics edit

As of 29 April 2023
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L Win %
Hereford (interim manager)   5 February 2023 1 May 2023 17 5 5 7 029.41 [58]
Total 17 5 5 7 029.41

Honours edit

York City

References edit

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  2. ^ "Yan Klukowski". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Newport County player profiles: Yan Klukowski". Newport County A.F.C. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Yan Klukowski and David Tyrie named to Hermann Trophy watch list". Central Connecticut Athletics. 19 August 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  5. ^ "2008 Central Connecticut overall team statistics". Central Connecticut Athletics. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  6. ^ "2007 Central Connecticut overall team statistics". Central Connecticut Athletics. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  7. ^ "2006 Central Connecticut overall team statistics". Central Connecticut Athletics. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  8. ^ "2005 Central Connecticut overall team statistics". Central Connecticut Athletics. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  9. ^ a b "New recruit Klukowski pays tribute to Forest Green leaders". Gloucestershire Echo. Cheltenham. 21 August 2010. Archived from the original on 6 July 2016.
  10. ^ "England 2–0 Finland". English Schools' Football Association. 7 April 2005. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  11. ^ Whitney, Steve (20 May 2014). "Klukowski steps up a division". Pitchero Non-League. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  12. ^ "July 2005". Bath City F.C. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016.
  13. ^ "May 2005". Bath City F.C. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016.
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  16. ^ Stronz, Jason (28 February 2008). "Blue Devils turn to captain Yan". Inside Connecticut Sports. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014.
  17. ^ "Cape Cod Crusaders at Brooklyn Knights 0:0". United Soccer Leagues. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014.
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  21. ^ "Cumbrians end Klukowski interest". BBC Sport. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
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  47. ^ HERRING SECURES DOUBLE SIGNING, hungerfordtown.com, 27 September 2019
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    "2009 second round: City Islanders advance after dramatic PK shootout with Western Mass Pioneers". TheCup.us. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
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External links edit