John Salako

A fast and imaginative player, Salako began his career at Crystal Palace in the mid 1980s, and was their regular left winger by the time they won promotion to the First Division in 1989. He was also in the side for the 1990 FA Cup Final, picking up a runners-up medal after they drew 3–3 with Manchester United before losing the replay 1–0. A year later, Salako helped Palace achieve their highest ever finish of third in the top flight in the 1990–91 season and he memorably scored twice for the Eagles in a 3–0 home win over Manchester United in the league. However, a serious knee injury suffered in a league match against Leeds United ruled him out until the following season, when Palace were founder members of the FA Premier League. They finished the season relegated, with Salako often being positioned as a centre forward alongside Chris Armstrong after the sale of Ian Wright and Mark Bright. Salako helped them get straight back up, but they went down again the following season despite reaching the semi-finals of both cups. Salako left Palace in the summer of 1995, signing for Coventry City. He spent three seasons at Coventry, including a brief spell on loan at Bolton Wanderers, before signing for Fulham in Division Two. At Fulham he scored twice, once in the league against Macclesfield, and again in the League Cup against Cardiff City. After Fulham, he played for Charlton Athletic and Reading, before ending his career at Brentford.

He has previously coached the Crystal Palace under 16 team between 2009 and 2015, working with former teammate Mark Bright. On 8 August 2015, he was announced as Crystal Palace first team coach, but left after only one season.

Salako previously worked as a matchday correspondent on Sky Sports.

As a teenager, he lived in Westerham, Kent and was a student at The Wildernesse School in Sevenoaks. His brother Andy Salako was also a professional footballer.