Background and career
Emmanuel Olisadebe (Polish pronunciation: [ɛmaˈnuɛl olisaˈdɛbɛ]; born 22 December 1978) is a former professional footballer who played as a striker. Born in Nigeria, an indigene of Ibusa in present day Delta State, he played for the Poland national team. He scored 11 international goals in 25 caps between 2000 and 2004, and participated in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. In 2001, he won the Polish Footballer of the Year Award.
Olisadebe began his career with Jasper United in his native Nigeria, before signing with Polish top flight club Polonia Warsaw in 1997. At Polonia, he became a first team regular, and helped the club to the Ekstraklasa title, the Polish League Cup and the Polish Super Cup. After meeting the residency requirements, Olisadebe became a Polish national in 2000 making him available for selection for the Poland national team. He was subsequently called up, and in the process became the first black player to represent Poland at senior level.
After leaving Poland, he went on to play in Greece, Cyprus, England and China before retiring. In September 2026, he came out of retirement for one match, joining Polish amateur club KS Kłopotów-Osiek. He played twenty minutes in their 6–2 victory over Arka Trzebnice on 11 October, in which he made an assist.
