YOU’LL do well to recognise this former Premier League star.
A promising player, the midfielder represented the England Under-21s three times in the 1990s.
Kicking off his career at Middlesbrough, he made 155 appearances before turning out for five clubs in five years as something of a journeyman.
With a stubbled goatee and slightly greyer hair, it’s tough to spot the former pro within.
And his career choices since retiring certainly don’t help either.
Incredibly, the ex-top-flight footballer has held – or currently holds – 21 director roles in the world of business since hanging up his boots.
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Soon after quitting the sport he took over as director of his family’s now-dissolved glass-making business.
Since then, he’s gone into the world of grass, property, construction and windows, among others – as well as opening a £1.5m football academy helping to find the next great footballer in the North East.
On the pitch, he played for Osasuna, Manchester City, Bolton and Crystal Palace, including a loan spell at Birmingham.
He also featured for England’s Under-19s and Under-21s in the mid-90s.
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Still need a hint? He’s widely regarded as scoring one of the “best” own goals in football history.
The player in question? Jamie Pollock.
The defensive midfielder made 155 league appearances for Boro to start his career, scoring 19 goals.
His spell at the club also saw him turn out for the club in the augural Premier League season in 1992-93.
Pollock briefly joined Spanish side Osasuna in 1996 but was sold to Bolton after just two matches that same year.
He made 52 appearances in two seasons before joining Man City.
And it was there Pollock scored the own goal that’s made every howler compilation for the last 25 years.
Signed for City to help them stave off relegation, the Manchester club faced QPR in a drop-zone derby – the penultimate game of the season.
With the match evenly-poised, Pollock intercepted the ball flicked it over the attacker’s head and nodded it back to his goalkeeper.
Except, the header flew miles over the rushing keeper and into the net.
The defeat condemned City to the drop – and their first ever taste of third-tier football.
After the game, QPR fans dubbed him the “most influential man of the last 2,000 years.. including Jesus” as they maintained their second-tier status.
With 60 City games under his belt, Pollock moved on to Palace in 2000 and retired in 2002 following a brief loan spell at Birmingham.
After taking over the family glass business, Pollock did return to football.
He managed Spennymoor United between 2003 and 2005 until they folded, taking over at Spennymoor Town until 2007 – helping them win the Northern League Division 2 title.
Pollock also coached a Polton All-Stars team before taking over as Billington Synthonia boss in 2018-19 – having taken on the role of chairman in April 2018.
He stepped down at the end of the season to focus on his role as chairman, as well as oversee the newly-former academy.
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Pollock quit the role in 2021.
According to the gov.uk company information service, Pollock is now director of Pollock Properties, Top Corner Sports and W&D Development.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
