Introduction
Kevin Rutkiewicz (born 10 May 1980) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a defender. He began his career with Aberdeen and has also played in the Scottish Premier League for St Johnstone.
Career
Glasgow born Rutkiewicz began his professional career with Aberdeen, making his debut in an SPL fixture against Hibernian in November 1999 at the age of nineteen. He went on to make almost seventy first-team appearances for the Pittodrie club, scoring his only goal for the club in a 3-2 defeat to Hearts in April 2002.
Rutkiewicz became then St Johnstone manager John Connolly's first signing for the Perth club in June 2004. He scored his first goal for Saints in a 3–0 win over Queen of the South in the league cup two months into his St Johnstone career. He signed a new two-year contract at the end of 2005–06, but missed all of 2006–07 due to an injury. In his first game back, on 11 August 2007, he scored a goal in Saints' 2–2 draw with Stirling Albion at McDiarmid Park.
Rutkiewicz was made club captain in 2008–09 after the previous captain, Kevin James, suffered injury problems and dropped out of the first team. In March 2009 he received the Scottish First Division Player of the Month Award for a string of solid performances that helped the team maintain their lead at the top of the league table.
In January 2011, Rutkiewicz joined Dunfermline on loan. This successful spell at the club led to him being offered a permanent contract for the 2011/12 season, which he accepted. He missed most of the season due to a hip injury. Soon after making a comeback he suffered an ankle injury. He made a second comeback but then immediately suffered a third injury, which ruled him out of action for the rest of the season.
After he was released by Dunfermline in May 2012, and went on trial with Greenock Morton starting in a friendly match against Concordia Chiajna and coming off the bench to replace Martin Hardie in the Renfrewshire Cup final against St Mirren.
He signed for Morton towards the end of July 2012. In April 2013, Rutkiewicz agreed a two-year player/coach deal with Carolina RailHawks in the North American Soccer League.
In October 2015, Rutkiewicz dropped down to Junior level when he signed for Blantyre Victoria in a player/coach role. He took temporary charge of Vics after the departure of Davie Greig in December 2015 but followed his former manager to Irvine Meadow in January 2016. Rutkiewicz returned to the SPFL tier-system in March 2017, signing a short-term contract with Scottish League Two side Clyde. Rutkiewicz left the club in May 2017 after his contract ended.
Personal life
Rutkiewicz is of Polish descent. His late grandfather Ernest was born in Warsaw but moved from Poland to Scotland during World War II, meaning Rutkiewicz is eligible to represent Poland at international level.