Rafał Ulatowski


Rafał Ulatowski is a Polish professional football manager and executive who is currently the sporting director of Ekstraklasa club Zagłębie Lubin.
Previously a professional player as a midfielder, he has also worked as a sports commentator. His father Zdzisław was also a player and manager.

Managerial career

In October 2006, he became assistant coach at Zagłębie Lubin under Czesław Michniewicz, after spending the previous two years at Lech Poznań working with Michniewicz in the same capacity. The club won the league title in the 2006–07 season. In October 2007, the club appointed Ulatowski as head coach. Zagłębie finished the 2007–08 season in fifth place but was relegated one division after past corruption was uncovered.
In July 2008, Ulatowski left Zagłębie to join the Poland national team's coaching staff as an assistant under Leo Beenhakker. He continued working with Poland in a reduced capacity until Beenhakker was sacked in September 2009. In January 2009, he was named manager of GKS Bełchatów after the resignation of Paweł Janas and continued with the club until the end of 2009–10 season, finishing fifth in the league.
A few days after his departure from Bełchatów, he was signed by Cracovia, taking the club's hot seat after Orest Lenczyk. The first months with the new team were far from successful, as Cracovia earned only four points in nine games and occupied the last position in the league's table. On 27 October 2010, Ulatowski was relieved of his duties.
On 9 November 2011, he signed a contract with Lechia Gdańsk. He had further unsuccessful spells with Miedź Legnica and a second spell with GKS Bełchatów which saw the club relegated.
In 2016, he returned to Lech Poznań, where he worked with the youth and reserve system, mainly as the head of youth development, and managed Lech's reserve team on several occasions. He left the club in May 2023.
On 5 December 2023, he resumed his managerial career, agreeing to manage I liga club Resovia, who at the time of his appointment were placed in the relegation zone, four points away from safety. Despite winning on the last matchday, Resovia finished the 2023–24 season in 16th and were relegated to the third division. He left the club by mutual consent on 19 June 2024.
On 9 June 2025, Ulatowski returned to Zagłębie Lubin after 17 years, after being appointed as their new sporting director.

Honours

Lech Poznań II