John Salako
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Akin Salako | ||
| Date of birth | 11 February 1969 | ||
| Place of birth | Ibadan, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Westerham FC | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1986–1995 | Crystal Palace | 215 | (22) |
| 1989 | → Swansea City (loan) | 13 | (3) |
| 1995–1998 | Coventry City | 72 | (4) |
| 1998 | → Bolton Wanderers (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 1998–1999 | Fulham | 10 | (1) |
| 1999–2001 | Charlton Athletic | 47 | (2) |
| 2001–2004 | Reading | 111 | (13) |
| 2004–2005 | Brentford | 35 | (4) |
| Total | 510 | (49) | |
| National team | |||
| 1991 | England | 5 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2009– | Crystal Palace (U16s) | ||
| 2015–2016 | Crystal Palace (1st Team Coach) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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John Akin Salako (born 11 February 1969) is an English former professional footballer, sports television pundit. Salako was first team coach of Premier League side Crystal Palace for the 2015/15 season.
Born in Nigeria, Salako played as a midfielder from 1986 until 2005, he notably played in the Premier League for Crystal Palace, Coventry City and Charlton Athletic, in the Football League for Swansea City, Bolton Wanderers, Fulham, Reading and Brentford. He represented England at senior level, earning five caps, all during 1991 while he was a Crystal Palace player.
A fast and imaginative player, Salako began his career at Crystal Palace in the mid 1980s, and was their regular left winger by the time they won promotion to the First Division in 1989. He was also in the side for the 1990 FA Cup Final, picking up a runners-up medal after they drew 3-3 with Manchester United before losing the replay 1-0. A year later, he helped Palace finish third in the league. Late in the 1990-91 season, he memorably scored twice for Palace in their 3-0 home win over Manchester United in the league.
However, a serious knee injury suffered in a league match against Leeds United ruled him out until the following season, when Palace were founder members of the FA Premier League but finished the season relegated. Salako helped them get straight back up, but they went down again the following season despite reaching the semi-finals of both cups.
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