Slovakia’s weirdest manager
When two Slovakian outfits faced off, one man won – but also lost...
Not many people can say they have both won and lost the same football match, but Emil Jacko can.
The Slovakian has found himself in a weird situation this season: already the chairman of one club in the country’s third tier, he’s also the manager of another outfit in the same division.
For several years, Jacko was the coach of hometown club Odeva Lipany, a small team in eastern Slovakia that launched the career of former Celtic defender Stanislav Varga, and have flitted between the second and third divisions over the past decade.
He departed as boss in 2019 after relegation to the 3. Liga, hopping a few miles across the border to lead Watra Bialka Tatrzanska in Poland’s fifth tier.
In the summer of 2020, however, Jacko agreed to become Lipany’s new chairman – he could juggle the two jobs easily, given that the sides were in different countries, never mind different leagues.
Things got more complicated when Jacko ended his involvement in Polish football – leaving Watra and joining OSK Rudnany, who had just been promoted to the same league as Lipany, the club he’s chairman of. Rules don’t forbid him from occupying both posts, which he’s combined with a third gig - his day job, as director of a primary school.
“It’s true that maybe I’m the only guy in the world with these cross- functional duties,” Jacko explains to
FFT about his roles. “But I wanted to help Rudnany, as they needed a coach with an adequate coaching badge. They chose me, not vice versa.”
He’s adamant that his dual position hasn’t reduced his dedication to either club. “Not at all, I always give 100 per cent,” he says. “When I’m in the dugout, my focus is on Rudnany. In the boardroom, I concentrate solely on Lipany.”
It became a little more awkward only three games into the new season, though, when Rudnany travelled to face Lipany in an August league fixture. The team he coaches were battered 7- 1 by the team he runs – Jacko lost, but also he won.
“That was the only time my allegiance was 50- 50,” he says. “As chairman, I was glad with how Lipany’s lads performed. But on the other hand, as manager of Rudnany, it was a pretty hard test for us.”
When Jacko entered the Lipany dressing room to congratulate the victors afterwards, banter inevitably ensued. Many managers might have felt distressed after such a drubbing, but Jacko had good reason to stay calm. Not only was his other club looking good for a promotion tilt, but he was realistic that league newcomers Rudnany have a long road ahead of them.
“You know, this isn’t about my self- promotion or anything like that,” he insists. “I just want to help my friend, who’s the chairman of Rudnany. Sure, we’re rivals, but I see this relationship more as colleagues and good friends.”
The pair are scheduled to lock horns again in March, and Jacko hopes football will be the winner that day. One way or the other, he probably will be too.