Dariusz Żuraw

Dariusz Żuraw

Żuraw in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Dariusz Żuraw
Date of birth	(1972-11-14) 14 November 1972 (age 52)
Place of birth	Wieluń, Poland
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1989–1990	LZS Ostrówek
1990–1992	LZS Rychłocice	5	(0)
1992–1996	WKS Wieluń	71	(4)
1996–1997	Okocimski KS Brzesko	42	(2)
1997–2001	Zagłębie Lubin	100	(10)
2001–2008	Hannover 96	146	(7)
2008–2009	Arka Gdynia	30	(6)
2009–2011	WKS Wieluń
International career
2005	Poland	1	(0)
Managerial career
2010–2012	WKS Wieluń
2012–2013	Odra Opole
2014	Miedź Legnica
2017–2018	Znicz Pruszków
2018–2019	Lech Poznań II
2018	Lech Poznań (caretaker)
2019–2021	Lech Poznań
2021	Zagłębie Lubin
2022–2023	Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała
2023–2024	Wisła Płock
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Dariusz Żuraw (born 14 November 1972) is a Polish professional football manager and former player who was most recently in charge of I liga club Wisła Płock. Besides Poland, he has played in Germany.^[1]

Born in Wieluń, Żuraw began his career in his native Poland, playing for a succession of lower league teams: LZS Ostrówek, LZS Rychłocice, WKS Wieluń, Okocimski KS Brzesko, Zagłębie Lubin.^[2]

He was spotted by Hannover 96, then of 2. Bundesliga, and moved there on 24 October 2001, making his debut a month later on 28 November 2001 in a DFB-Pokal tie against VfL Wolfsburg II. He immediately enjoyed success, as the club won promotion, comfortably finishing as champions.

Żuraw's first game at the top level was also a memorable occasion as he scored after just 6 minutes against Hamburger SV.

He was a regular fixture in defence during his seven seasons with Hannover 96; in 2004–05, he was just one game away from being an ever-present (as suspension ruled him out).

In 2008, he transferred to the Polish Ekstraklasa club Arka Gdynia, on a free transfer from Hannover 96.

Żuraw made one appearance for the Poland national team, in a 3–1 friendly defeat to Belarus on 9 February 2005.^[3]

Ahead of the 2017–18 season, Żuraw took over as manager at Znicz Pruszków, newly relegated to the third-tier II liga.^[4]

From 31 March 2019 to 6 April 2021, he served as manager of Ekstraklasa club Lech Poznań.^[5]

On 6 September 2022, he was appointed manager of second-tier side Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała, signing a deal until June 2024.^[6] On 3 June 2023, during a press conference following a 4–3 comeback win against Resovia, which saw Podbeskidzie finish the season in 7th, one spot short of promotion play-offs, Żuraw announced he would be leaving the team with immediate effect.^[7]

On 26 October 2023, Żuraw took charge of another I liga club Wisła Płock.^[8] After losing the last three games of the regular season and missing out on the promotion play-offs by two points, Żuraw left the club by mutual consent on 27 May 2024.^[9]

Odra Opole

• III liga Opole–Silesia: 2012–13^[10]
• Polish Cup (Opole regional level): 2012–13^[11]

Individual

• Ekstraklasa Coach of the Month: June 2020,^[12] July 2020^[13]

• Dariusz Żuraw at fussballdaten.de (in German)