Nina Patalon (born 20 January 1986) is a Polish professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder, currently in charge of Poland women's national team.[1]
Club career
In 2002, Patalon began her career at Medyk Konin in the Ekstraliga, where she had played for many years, with an in-between stint at Czarni Sosnowiec.[2]
International career
From 2004 to 2006, she was a member of the under-19 national team. In 2009, she represented Poland as part of a students' team at the Summer Universiade 2009 in Belgrade.[3] The later stage of her career, however, was plagued by injuries for which she underwent seven knee surgeries.[4]
Managerial career
After retiring from an active career she began working as a coach. Initially, from 2010, she trained Medyk Konin's youth team and, in January 2011, became the co-head coach of the Medyk's senior squad, alongside Anna Gawrońska.[5] In 2011, she took on a role of an assistant coach for the under-15 squad, and in May 2014 she was appointed to the managerial position of the Poland U17s.[6][7]
In March 2021 she replaced Miłosz Stępiński as the head coach of the senior national team,[1] becoming the first female coach in history to hold this position.[1] She made her debut in a friendly match against Sweden on 13 April 2021.[8]
Patalon has stressed that, in order for Poland to develop a stronger women's football capability, more awareness and finding is needed, and girls must receive more encouragement to take up the sport during school sports classes.[9]
Personal life
Patalon graduated with a bachelor from the State University of Applied Sciences in Konin and with a Masters from the Poznan University of Physical Education, where she obtained a class II football coaching license.[4]
Managerial statistics
- As of match played 21 February 2025
| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||
| Poland | 23 March 2021 | Present | 43 | 21 | 7 | 15 | 83 | 69 | +14 | 48.84 |
| Total | 43 | 21 | 7 | 15 | 83 | 69 | +14 | 48.84 | ||
Honours
Player
Medyk Konin
- Ekstraliga runner-up: 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2010–11
- Ekstraliga third place: 2003–04, 2008–09
- Polish Cup: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09
- Polish Junior Championships: 2004, 2005, 2006
Manager
Medyk Konin
- Ekstraliga runner-up: 2011–12, 2012–13
- Polish Cup: 2012–13;[10] runner-up: 2011–12
References
- ^ a b c "Nina Patalon oficjalnie selekcjonerem reprezentacji kobiet". TVP Sport (in Polish). 23 March 2021.
- ^ "futbolkobiet.pl | Video: Nina Patalon o futbolu!". futbolkobiet.pl. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
- ^ "XXV Uniwersjada: Skład reprezentacji Polski - WP SportoweFakty". sportowefakty.wp.pl. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
- ^ a b Witkowski, Maciej. "Nina Patalon: dobra trenerka, dobra mama". Biblioteka Piłkarstwa Polskiego (in Polish). Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ "Reprezentacja ma nowego trenera - Kobiecy Klub Piłkarski MAX-Sprint". kkpbydgoszcz.futbolowo.pl. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
- ^ "Nowi trenerzy w reprezentacjach - KobiecaPilka.pl - serwis o kobiecej piłce nożnej w Polsce". kobiecapilka.pl. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
- ^ "Nina Patalon: Na stadionie muszę być pierwsza! - Łączy nas piłka". laczynaspilka.pl. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
- ^ "Kobiety: Polska 2-4 Szwecja". 90minut (in Polish).
- ^ "Dziewczyny kontra chłopcy. Nieprzyjemna sytuacja na boisku. "Wygrywały 3:1"". Sport.pl (in Polish). 12 August 2023. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ "Puchar Polski kobiet 2012/2013". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 23 November 2024.