Marek Rodák Explained

Marek Rodák
Full Name:Marek Rodák[1]
Birth Date:13 December 1996[2]
Birth Place:Košice, Slovakia
Height:1.94 m
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Al-Ettifaq
Clubnumber:1
Youthclubs1:MFK Košice
Youthyears2:2013–2014
Youthclubs2:Fulham
Years1:2014–2024
Clubs1:Fulham
Caps1:70
Goals1:0
Years2:2014–2015
Clubs2:Farnborough (loan)
Caps2:5
Goals2:0
Years3:2015–2016
Clubs3:Welling United (loan)
Caps3:17
Goals3:0
Years4:2017
Clubs4:Accrington Stanley (loan)
Caps4:20
Goals4:0
Years5:2017–2019
Clubs5:Rotherham United (loan)
Caps5:80
Goals5:0
Years6:2024–
Clubs6:Al-Ettifaq
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Nationalyears1:2013
Nationalteam1:Slovakia U17
Nationalcaps1:0
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2013–2015
Nationalteam2:Slovakia U19
Nationalcaps2:8
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2015–2018
Nationalteam3:Slovakia U21
Nationalcaps3:14
Nationalgoals3:1
Nationalyears4:2020–
Nationalteam4:Slovakia
Nationalcaps4:22
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:07:03, 15 August 2022 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:20:26, 5 June 2024 (UTC)
Upright:0.8

Marek Rodák (born 13 December 1996) is a Slovak professional footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq and the Slovakia national team.

Club career

Rodák began his career in his homeland with MFK Košice before being offered a trial with Fulham in 2013. He was signed permanently by the Fulham Academy in July 2013 at the age of 16. Despite his young age, he became part of the Under-18 side and played in the 2014 Final of the FA Youth Cup against Chelsea.[3]

A short two-month loan to Farnborough in January 2015 was followed by a progression to Fulham's Under-21 side. On 15 January 2016, he joined Welling United on loan for the remainder of the season.[3] Rodák joined Accrington Stanley on loan from Fulham until the end of the 2016–17 season in January 2017.[4] He made his English Football League debut on 14 January 2017 against Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road.[5] Rodák had a significant role in Accrington Stanley's move from the relegation zone to a comfortably mid-table position, courtesy of a 13 match unbeaten run.[3]

Rodák made his Fulham debut in a League Cup tie against Wycombe Wanderers on 8 August 2017.[6] Later that month Rodak joined Rotherham United on loan for the rest of the season[7] and made his debut in a 3–2 win at home to Bury.[8] He then re-joined the club for a further season-long loan on 25 July 2018.[9]

Rodák made his Premier League debut on 12 September 2020 in a 0–3 loss to Arsenal in the first round of 2020–21 season.[10] He then spent the rest of the season as a backup for Alphonse Areola and made only one additional league appearance in 0–2 loss to Newcastle United on the last day of the season.[11]

Rodák made his 2022-23 Premier League debut on 6 August, playing the entire 2–2 home draw against Liverpool.,[12] but was relegated to second-choice goalkeeper following the arrival of Bernd Leno from Arsenal.

On the 5th of June 2024, Fulham announced that Rodák would be leaving the club following the expiry of his contract, ending his 11-year spell at the club.[13]

On 25 July 2024, Rodák joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq on a three-year deal.[14]

International career

Rodák was called up to the Slovakia senior team in June 2018, but did not appear.[15]

In September 2018, Rodák scored a 94th minute winner for Slovakia U21s in a crucial 2019 European Under-21 Championship qualifying game against Iceland U21s.[16] This wasn't his first goal scored at under-21 level, having previously scored for Fulham against Aston Villa in the U21s Premier League in 2014.[17]

On 7 September 2020, Rodák made his senior team debut in a UEFA Nations League match against Israel, which ended in 1–1 draw.[18] He went on to start in another four matches in 2020, including two Euro 2020 qualification play-off matches. He made a save in the penalty shootout against Ireland on 8 October 2020,[19] and helped the team to secure 2–1 win after extra time against Northern Ireland on 12 November 2020, which qualified Slovakia for Euro 2020.[20]

Rodak was called up to the Slovak national team for Euro 2024.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Fulham2017–18Championship0000100010
2019–20Championship330201030390
2020–21Premier League20202060
2021–22Championship3300020350
2022–23Premier League20301060
2023–24Premier League00203050
Total70090100301020
Farnborough (loan)2014–15Conference South50001060
Welling United (loan)2015–16National League1700010180
Accrington Stanley (loan)2016–17League Two200100000210
Rotherham United (loan)2017–18League One3500030380
2018–19Championship4501000460
Total800100030840
Career total1920100100802200

International

[21]

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
Slovakia202050
202170
202270
202310
202420
Total220

Honours

Rotherham United

2018[22]

Fulham

2021–22[23]

2020[24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Fulham . English Football League . 16 . 17 June 2018.
  2. Web site: Marek Rodák: Overview . Premier League. 9 May 2022.
  3. News: Marek Rodak. Fulham F.C.. 2022. 6 September 2022.
  4. News: Marek Rodak: Accrington Stanley sign Fulham goalkeeper on loan. BBC Sport. 13 January 2017. 15 January 2017.
  5. News: Cheltenham Town 3–0 Accrington Stanley. BBC Sport. 14 January 2017. 15 January 2017.
  6. Web site: Wycombe 0–2 Fulham . BBC Sport . 8 August 2017 . 14 August 2017.
  7. News: Marek Rodak: Rotherham sign Fulham goalkeeper on season-long loan deal. BBC Sport. 30 August 2017.
  8. Rotherham United 3–2 Bury – http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41132951
  9. Web site: READ Millers confirm Rodak return. Rotherham United Official Site. 25 July 2018. 25 July 2018.
  10. Web site: Fulham v Arsenal, 2020–21 Premier League. premierlague.com. 12 September 2020. 1 June 2021.
  11. Web site: Fulham v Newcastle, 2020–21 Premier League. Premier League. 23 May 2021. 1 June 2021.
  12. Web site: Neil. Johnston. Fulham 2–2 Liverpool . BBC Sport. 6 August 2022.
  13. Web site: Player Departures.
  14. Web site: 3 مواسم.. روداك يحمي مرمى الاتفاق .
  15. Web site: Rodak's International Heroics. Fulham FC. 13 September 2018.
  16. Web site: Fulham goalkeeper scores last-minute winner on international duty. 12 September 2018.
  17. Web site: Aston Villa U21 video. Fulham F.C.. 13 February 2014.
  18. News: Futbal-LN: Hapalovci bojovali v Izraeli aj s počasím: "Dochádzali nám sily". TASR. News Agency of the Slovak Republic. 8 September 2020. sk.
  19. Web site: EURO 2020 play-offs: Semi-final round-up. 8 October 2020.
  20. Web site: Hungary, Slovakia, Scotland and North Macedonia take play-off route to EURO 2020. 12 November 2020.
  21. Web site: Marek Rodák. EU-Football.info. 10 June 2022.
  22. News: Ged. Scott. Rotherham United 2–1 Shrewsbury Town. BBC Sport . 27 May 2018 . 27 May 2018.
  23. Web site: Championship: 2021/22: Current table . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 9 May 2022.
    Web site: Fulham: Squad details: 2021/22 . Soccerbase. Centurycomm . 9 May 2022.
  24. News: Rob. Stevens. Brentford 1–2 Fulham. BBC Sport. 4 August 2020. 5 August 2020.