Alex Cisak

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Alex Cisak
Cisak playing for Leyton Orient in 2015
Personal information
Full name Aleksander Cisak[1]
Date of birth (1989-05-19) 19 May 1989 (age 35)[1]
Place of birth Kraków, Poland
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
2004 South Hobart
2005–2007 Leicester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 Leicester City 0 (0)
2007 → Oxford United (loan) 0 (0)
2008 → Tamworth (loan) 16 (0)
2010–2011 Accrington Stanley 21 (0)
2011–2013 Oldham Athletic 48 (0)
2012 → Portsmouth (loan) 1 (0)
2013–2015 Burnley 1 (0)
2014–2015 → York City (loan) 10 (0)
2015 → Leyton Orient (loan) 19 (0)
2015–2017 Leyton Orient 71 (0)
2017–2019 Sydney FC 0 (0)
Total 187 (0)
International career
2008–2009 Australia U20 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Aleksander Cisak (born 19 May 1989) is a retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Born in Poland, he represented Australia at under-20 level.

Early life

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Cisak was born in Kraków, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland and moved to Hobart, Tasmania, Australia at the age of two.[3]

Club career

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Leicester City

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Cisak played for South Hobart in 2004 before signing for English club Leicester City in their youth system as a scholar in 2005.[4][5] With his young age his family left their family home in Glenorchy, Tasmania to accompany him in Leicester.[3] Cisak was a member of the team that won the 2006–07 FA Premier Academy League.[6]

Cisak signed his first professional contract with Leicester on 5 May 2007, signing a one-year deal alongside Andy King, Max Gradel, Carl Pentney and Eric Odhiambo.[7] He joined Oxford United on loan on 25 September 2007, as a replacement for Chris Tardif.[8][9] However, on 22 October 2007 he returned to Leicester having failed to make a first team appearance for Oxford.[10]

On 10 January 2008 he moved on loan again joining Tamworth on loan until the end of the season.[11]

Cisak was named in the match squad for the first time as Leicester beat Crewe Alexandra 2–1 at the Walkers Stadium, however he was an unused substitute.[12]

On 8 June 2009 Cisak signed a six-month contract extension at Leicester keeping him at the club until December 2009.[13] At the end of the 2009–10 season, Cisak was released by Leicester, along with seven other players[14]

Accrington Stanley

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Cisak playing for Accrington Stanley in 2011

Cisak joined Accrington Stanley in July 2010 on a two-year contract after being released by Leicester at the end of the 2009–10 season. He made his debut for the club in a League Cup match on 10 August against Doncaster Rovers.[15] His Football League debut came on 23 October 2010 when he played the full match against Hereford United.[16] While at Accrington Stanley, Cisak battled it out with Ian Dunbavin over a first choice goalkeeper throughout the season and at first, he was the second choice goalkeeper, but eventually regained his place in the second half of the season. He would quickly become a fans' favourite. He won the ESPN PFA Fans' League Two Player of the Month Award for March 2011.[17] In the League Two play-offs, Cisak played twice in the match against Stevenage but lost in both matches. After the matches, Cisak believed the club could bounce back from the play-off defeat.[18] His good performance at the club, led Cisak's future at doubt and was offered a new deal.[19][20]

Oldham Athletic

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On 6 July 2011, Cisak signed a two-year contract at Oldham Athletic. Oldham agreed a compensation package with Accrington because, though Cisak was out of contract, they were entitled to some recompense as he was under the age of 24.[21] He made his club debut on the first day of the 2011–12 season, starting the Football League match against Sheffield United.[22] Since then, Cisak established himself in the first team and made 43 appearances in the first team. On 5 November 2011, Cisak received his first straight red card of his career in a 2–0 loss against Bury after he brought down Andy Bishop in early minutes.[23] After the match, manager Paul Dickov felt his position has got to be better.[24] Despite his sending off, he played in the next match against Rochdale. In the third of the FA Cup, he played against Liverpool in a 5–1 loss.[25] In a 2–1 win over Walsall on 14 February 2012, Cisak was the hero when he saved a penalty in injury time from Alex Nicholls.[26] In late March, Cisak suffered a shoulder injury in a match against Leyton Orient after he collided with the post and was out for a month.[27] Even though injured, Dickov refused to call up Cisak and James Wesolowski before the end of the season because he risked another injury.[28] After playing five matches in the early of the season, Cisak was replaced by Dean Bouzanis due to a breakdown in his contract. Cisak spoke of his disappointment in Oldham's handling of the saga shortly after having been recalled from his loan at Portsmouth.[29]

Cisak finished his second season with Oldham Athletic as very much the second-choice goalkeeper with Dean Bouzanis established as first-choice goalkeeper for the club, with Cisak making only 11 appearances for the club by the end of the season. On 6 June 2013 after two years at Oldham Athletic, Cisak's contract at Latics was terminated as the club chose not to take up the option to extend his deal for a further year. He left the club having played 59 matches.[30]

Portsmouth (loan)

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On 22 November 2012, Cisak joined fellow League One club Portsmouth on a one-month loan, along with Jake Jervis.[31] He made several key saves in his debut in a 1–1 draw against Coventry City, giving the club their first point in eight matches.[32] After the match, Cisak stated that he could not have asked for a better start in his time at Portsmouth and that he had hopes to replicate the form of his Pompey predecessors such as David James and Asmir Begović.[33] However, after just one appearance, Cisak was recalled by Oldham after Dean Bouzanis was sent off for violent conduct in a 1–0 loss against Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday and leading Paul Dickov to invoke a 24-hour recall clause, leaving back-up goalkeeper Simon Eastwood as their only goalkeeper at Portsmouth.[34] After being recalled, Cisak spoke of his loan spell, expressing his disappointment of the loan deal being cut early, but that he had hopes for a return to Portsmouth in the future.[29]

Burnley

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Cisak playing for York City in 2014

Following his release by Oldham, Cisak signed for Championship club Burnley, joining fellow new keepers Tom Heaton and Nick Liversedge. He made his Burnley debut in a 2–0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on 24 August 2013, replacing Keith Treacy in the 57th minute following Tom Heaton's red card. He made his first start for Burnley three days later, keeping a clean sheet in their 2–0 League Cup win against Lancashire rivals Preston North End.

Cisak joined League Two club York City on 24 October 2014 on a one-month loan[35] and made his debut one day later in a 1–1 home draw against Mansfield Town.[36] Having conceded just three goals in four matches his loan was extended until 4 January 2015.[37] He was recalled by Burnley when the loan expired, having made 10 appearances for York.[38]

Leyton Orient

[edit]

Cisak signed for League One club Leyton Orient on 2 February 2015 on a one-month loan.[39]

On 27 July 2015, Cisak signed for Leyton Orient permanently on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[40] He was released at the end of 2016–17.[41]

Sydney FC

[edit]

On 27 July 2017, Cisak signed a two-year contract with Sydney FC in the A-League.[42] On 1 December, Cisak made his first appearance for Sydney FC in the Y-League where he conceded three goals against rivals Western Sydney Wanderers youth[43]

Cisak made his competitive debut for Sydney in a win over Rockdale City Suns in the 2018 FFA Cup, coming on as a late substitute after Andrew Redmayne suffered an injury.[44]

Following his release from Sydney, Cisak returned to Tasmania and retired from professional football.[45]

International career

[edit]

Cisak was eligible to play for either Poland or Australia due to holding dual citizenship.[citation needed] In July 2008, Cisak was listed in a group of Australian footballers aged between 16 and 22 known as "the lost boys", including Paul Giannou, Andreas Govas, Robert Stambolziev and Dean Bouzanis, who were likely to play for or had played for national teams of the country of their heritage.[46][47]

On Monday 6 October 2008 Cisak made his debut for Australia U20 in their 3–1 victory over China playing the full 90 minutes.[48] On 21 July 2009, Cisak was again called into the Australia U20 squad by manager Jan Versleijen for the match against Argentina U20.[49] He has since gone on to make an additional three appearances for the Under 20s and was named in the squad for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.[50]

On 19 August 2015, Cisak was named in a 23-man squad for Australia ahead of two 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Bangladesh and Tajikistan.[51]

Career statistics

[edit]
Cisak playing for York City in 2014
As of match played 6 May 2017
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
Leicester City 2007–08[52] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2008–09[53] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2009–10[54] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oxford United (loan) 2007–08[55] Conference Premier 0 0 — — — 0 0
Tamworth (loan) 2007–08[56] Conference North 16 0 — — 4[a] 0 20 0
Accrington Stanley 2010–11[57] League Two 21 0 0 0 1 0 3[b] 0 25 0
Oldham Athletic 2011–12[58] League One 38 0 4 0 1 0 4[c] 0 47 0
2012–13[59] League One 10 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 12 0
Total 48 0 5 0 2 0 4 0 59 0
Portsmouth (loan) 2012–13[59] League One 1 0 — — — 1 0
Burnley 2013–14[60] Championship 1 0 0 0 1 0 — 2 0
2014–15[36] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 1 0 0 0 1 0 — 2 0
York City (loan) 2014–15[36] League Two 10 0 — — — 10 0
Leyton Orient (loan) 2014–15[36] League One 19 0 — — — 19 0
Leyton Orient 2015–16[61] League Two 43 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 46 0
2016–17[62] League Two 28 0 1 0 0 0 1[d] 0 30 0
Total 90 0 3 0 1 0 1 0 95 0
Sydney FC 2017–18 A-League 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0
2018–19 A-League 0 0 1 0 — 0 0 1 0
Total 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Career total 187 0 8 0 5 0 12 0 212 0
  1. ^ Appearances in FA Trophy
  2. ^ One appearance in Football League Trophy, two in League Two play-offs
  3. ^ Appearances in Football League Trophy
  4. ^ Appearance in EFL Trophy

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Alex Cisak". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  2. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline Publishing Group. p. 508. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. ^ a b "Alex Cisak back at Giblin Street Oval, where it all began". The Mercury. Hobart. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  4. ^ "Tassie goalkeeper Alex Cisak has his eyes on English Premier League goal". The Mercury. Hobart. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  5. ^ Morrison, Steven (26 September 2007). "Cisak in loan move". Sky Sports. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  6. ^ Somerford, Ben (29 April 2014). "Promoted Cisak's number one EPL ambition". FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  7. ^ "Young Stars Make The Grade". Leicester City F.C. 5 May 2007. Archived from the original on 13 April 2009.
  8. ^ "Oxford loan Robinson to Cambridge". BBC Sport. 25 September 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
  9. ^ "Cisak signs". Oxford United F.C. 25 September 2007. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012.
  10. ^ "Foxes keeper ends stint at Oxford". BBC Sport. 22 October 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  11. ^ "Young Keeper Joins The Lambs". Leicester City F.C. 10 January 2008. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012.
  12. ^ "Leicester 2–1 Crewe". BBC Sport. 25 November 2008. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008.
  13. ^ "Keeper Signs Contract Extension". Leicester City F.C. 8 June 2009. Archived from the original on 12 June 2009.
  14. ^ "Solano signs new Foxes deal". Sky Sports. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  15. ^ "Doncaster 1–2 Accrington Stanley". BBC Sport. 10 August 2010. Archived from the original on 12 August 2010.
  16. ^ "Hereford 1–1 Accrington Stanley". BBC Sport. 23 October 2010. Archived from the original on 23 October 2010.
  17. ^ "Accrington Stanley goalkeeper nets award". Lancashire Telegraph. Blackburn. 5 April 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  18. ^ "Cisak: Reds will return strong". Sky Sports. 8 June 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  19. ^ "Cisak bides time over contract". Sky Sports. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  20. ^ "Accrington Stanley wait for news on duo". Lancashire Telegraph. Blackburn. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  21. ^ "Oldham Athletic sign Australian keeper Alex Cisak". BBC Sport. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  22. ^ "Oldham 0–2 Sheffield Utd". BBC Sport. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  23. ^ "Oldham 0–2 Bury". BBC Sport. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  24. ^ "Defence switched off twice, admits Dickov". Oldham Chronicle. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  25. ^ "Bolt from the blue". Oldham Chronicle. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  26. ^ "Cisak saves the day". Oldham Chronicle. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  27. ^ "Cisak out with shoulder injury". Sky Sports. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  28. ^ "Dickov delaying duo's return". Sky Sports. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  29. ^ a b "Keeper hopes for Pompey return". The News. Portsmouth. 3 December 2012. Archived from the original on 14 December 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  30. ^ "Cisak leaves Latics". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. 6 June 2013.
  31. ^ "Pompey sign Cisak and Jervis". The News. Portsmouth. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  32. ^ "Coventry 1–1 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  33. ^ "Cisak wants to be a Pompey 'great'". Chichester Observer. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  34. ^ "Cisak returns to Oldham". The News. Portsmouth. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  35. ^ "Alex Cisak: York City sign Burnley goalkeeper on loan". BBC Sport. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  36. ^ a b c d "Games played by Alex Cisak in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  37. ^ "Alex Cisak: Burnley goalkeeper extends York City loan spell". BBC Sport. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  38. ^ Flett, Dave (5 January 2015). "On-loan Peterborough keeper Bobby Olejnik joins York City with view to permanent move". The Press. York. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  39. ^ "Transfer Deadline Day: Leyton Orient sign Burnley's Alex Cisak". BBC Sport. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  40. ^ "Leyton Orient sign Cisak, Dunne, Essam and Shaw". BBC Sport. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  41. ^ Sessions, George (21 May 2017). "Liam Kelly and Gavin Massey set to exit Leyton Orient following relegation". Docklands & East London Advertiser. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  42. ^ Bossi, Dominic (27 July 2017). "Sydney FC sign fringe Socceroo goalkeeper Alex Cisak". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  43. ^ "Western Sydney Wanderers FC Youth vs Sydney FC Youth, Foxtel Y-League, Round 3, 1st Dec 2017". November 2017.
  44. ^ Parkinson, Andrew (1 August 2018). "Report, Video, Photos | Sydney FC end Rockdale City's FFA Cup run with 4–2 victory". St George and Sutherland Shire Leader. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  45. ^ Davidson, John (26 May 2020). "'Tassie kids need more opportunities' – Cisak hangs up his boots". FTBL.com.au. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  46. ^ "The lost boys?". 10 July 2008.
  47. ^ "The lost boys?". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 July 2008. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023.
  48. ^ "Lujic and Nichols see off China in Bangkok". Football Australia. 6 October 2008. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
  49. ^ "Cisak Call Up". Leicester City F.C. 21 July 2009. Archived from the original on 24 July 2009.
  50. ^ "Alex aims to turn miles into smiles". Manchester Evening News. 6 August 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.[dead link]
  51. ^ "Stars recalled for Socceroos' World Cup Qualifier in Perth". socceroos.com.au. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  52. ^ "Games played by Alex Cisak in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  53. ^ "Games played by Alex Cisak in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  54. ^ "Games played by Alex Cisak in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  55. ^ Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2008). Non-League Club Directory 2009. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 118–119. ISBN 978-1-869833-59-6.
  56. ^ Williams; Williams (eds.). Non-League Club Directory 2009. pp. 284–285.
  57. ^ "Games played by Alex Cisak in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  58. ^ "Games played by Alex Cisak in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  59. ^ a b "Games played by Alex Cisak in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  60. ^ "Games played by Alex Cisak in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  61. ^ "Games played by Alex Cisak in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  62. ^ "Games played by Alex Cisak in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
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