Stefan Żywotko

Stefan Żywotko (; 9 January 1920 – 10 February 2022) was a Polish football manager and player. He spent his entire coaching career in Poland and Algeria. His fourteen-year tenure as manager of JS Kabylie led to seven Algerian league titles, two African Cup of Champions titles, and a reputation as one of the greatest Polish/Algerian football managers. Near the end of World War II, he left Lwów to join the 4th Reserve Cavalry Regiment in Hrubieszów. When the war ended, his unit moved first to Warsaw, and then to Koszalin for demobilization. When Lwów was assigned to the Ukrainian SSR at the end of the war, Żywotko found himself homeless, and eventually settled in Szczecin, where he was joined by his parents. In Szczecin, Żywotko lived in a business flat, while working as a manager in a cold meat factory.

Playing career Żywotko began playing football with three clubs from Lwów: LKS Zniesieńczanka, Garbarnia Lwów, and Spartak Lwów.

While in the military, he began playing football with Milicyjny Klub Sportowy, which later moved to Szczecin where it took the name Gwardia Szczecin (today called Arkonia Szczecin).

In 1977, Żywotko was appointed manager of Algerian club JS Kabylie. He knew little of Algeria at the time, so he selected Mahieddine Khalef to co-manage the team with him. Facing ethnic tensions in Algeria, Żywotko mainly chose players from the local Kabyle people who would be loyal to their local club. He initially faced distrust from the players and local journalists, but he won them over with success. Under Żywotko's management, JS Kabylie became the top club in Africa at the time, and remains the most successful club in Algeria. Żywotko's success in Algeria made him the most successful Polish manager who worked outside of Poland.

In 1991, although JS Kabylie offered Żywotko another contract, he decided that after 14 years in Algeria, and at his advanced age of 71, it was time for him to retire, and he returned to Szczecin, Poland. His wife died shortly before his 100th birthday, at the age of 94; she was also from Lwów.

Honours JS Kabylie Algerian Championnat National: 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1988–89, 1989–90 Algerian Cup: 1985–86