Samuel Slovák Explained

Samuel Slovák
Fullname:Samuel Slovák
Birth Date:17 October 1975
Birth Place:Nitra, Czechoslovakia
Height:1.78 m
Position:Attacking midfielder
Youthclubs1:Nitra
Youthyears2:1989–1994
Youthclubs2:Slovan Bratislava
Years1:1994–1997
Caps1:62
Goals1:7
Years2:1997–2002
Clubs2:Tenerife
Caps2:70
Goals2:5
Years3:2000–2001
Clubs3:Slovan Bratislava (loan)
Caps3:18
Goals3:5
Years4:2002–2003
Clubs4:Slovan Liberec
Caps4:6
Goals4:3
Years5:2004–2005
Clubs5:1. FC Nürnberg
Caps5:31
Goals5:4
Years6:2005–2010
Caps6:89
Goals6:20
Totalcaps:276
Totalgoals:44
Nationalyears1:1996–2007
Nationalcaps1:20
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:2011–2012
Managerclubs1:Slovan Bratislava B
Manageryears2:2012–2013
Managerclubs2:Slovan Bratislava
Manageryears3:2014
Managerclubs3:Slovan Liberec
Manageryears4:2020–2022
Managerclubs4:Slovakia (assistant)
Manageryears5:2022
Managerclubs5:Slovakia

Samuel Slovák (born 17 October 1975) is a Slovak former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder and currently serves as an assistant coach of Slovakia.

Best known for his technical and passing abilities, his career was mostly associated with Slovan Bratislava, which he also captained for several years.

Club career

Slovák was born in Nitra. After a brief spell at local FC Nitra, the 19-year-old signed with ŠK Slovan Bratislava, where he appeared regularly from an early age.

In the summer of 1997, Slovák moved abroad, joining Spain's CD Tenerife. During his spell, he was sparingly used while the club was in La Liga (with a maximum input of 27 matches in 1999–2000's Segunda División, without promotion), also being loaned to former side Slovan for one year.

Slovák moved in 2002 to neighbouring Czech Republic, signing for Gambrinus liga title holders FC Slovan Liberec. After six games and three goals, his season was finished after he suffered a serious knee injury.[1]

In the January 2004 transfer window, when fully recovered, Slovák changed countries again, signing for 1. FC Nürnberg, where he teamed up with compatriots Marek Mintál and Róbert Vittek,[2] being the least successful player of the trio. In mid-October of the following year, the 30-year-old left the Germans and returned to Slovan Bratislava.[3] In the 2006–07 campaign, he helped the team to a third-place finish, scoring twice from 27 appearances.

After appearing in less than half of the matches in 2009–10, with Slovan finishing in second position in the Slovak Super Liga, Slovák retired from football due to recurring knee problems, aged nearly 35. He returned to his main club in 2011, being appointed manager of the reserves.

In the 2012–13 season, Slovák led Slovan to the double.[4] He left the Štadión Pasienky, however, being appointed at Liberec.

International career

Slovák won his first cap for Slovakia at the age of 20, going on to appear in a further 19 games in the following decade, although he went through a large period of international inactivity, playing no matches from 2002 to 2004.

Honours

Player

Slovan Bratislava

1994–95, 1995–96, 2008–09

1996–97, 2009–10

Manager

Slovan Bratislava

2012–13

2012–13

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Liberec denied Slovák. UEFA.com. 14 February 2003. 16 September 2008.
  2. Web site: "Club" verteidigt in Unterzahl Rang drei. "Club" defends third place undermanned. Der Spiegel. German. 16 February 2004. 16 February 2016.
  3. Web site: Samuel Slovák: "Zakázanie pyrotechniky bolo chybou". Samuel Slovak: "It was a mistake to ban fireworks". Pro Futbal. Slovak. 26 February 2007. 16 September 2008.
  4. Web site: Košice and Liberec: Tale of the dugouts. UEFA.com. 16 July 2014. 2 October 2015.