Samuel Slovák
Encyclopedia
Samuel Slovák is a retired Slovak
footballer who played as an attacking midfielder and currently manager of Slovan Bratislava juniori
.
Best known for his technical and passing abilities, his career was mostly associataed with ŠK Slovan Bratislava
, which he also captained for several years.
. After a brief spell at local FC Plastika
, the 19-year old signed with ŠK Slovan Bratislava
, where he appeared regularly from an early age on.
In the 1997 summer, Slovák moved abroad, joining Spain
's CD Tenerife
. During his spell, he was sparingly used whilst the club was in La Liga
(tops 27 matches in 1999–2000's second division
, without promotion), also being loaned for one year to former side Slovan.
Slovák moved in 2002 to neighbouring Czech Republic
, signing for national league
title holders FC Slovan Liberec
. After six games and three goals, his season was finished after he suffered a serious knee
injury. In the January 2004 transfer window, when fully recovered, the player changed countries again, moving to Germany
with 1. FC Nuremberg, where he teamed up with compatriots Marek Mintál
and Róbert Vittek
, being the least successful of the trio.
In mid-October 2005, Slovák, aged 30, left Nuremberg and returned to Slovan Bratislava. In the 2006–07 season he helped the club to a third-place, netting twice in 27 contests.
After having appeared in less than half of the matches in 2009–10
, with Slovan finishing in second position in the Corgoň Liga, Slovák retired from football, aged nearly 35.
for Slovakia
at the age of 20, going on to appear in a further 19 games in the following decade (he also went through a large period of international inactivity, playing in no matches from 2002–04).
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
footballer who played as an attacking midfielder and currently manager of Slovan Bratislava juniori
ŠK Slovan Bratislava B
ŠK Slovan Bratislava juniori is a Slovak football club, playing in the city of Bratislava. It is the reserve team of ŠK Slovan Bratislava.-Squad:-External links:*...
.
Best known for his technical and passing abilities, his career was mostly associataed with ŠK Slovan Bratislava
ŠK Slovan Bratislava
ŠK Slovan Bratislava is a football club based in Bratislava, Slovakia, that plays in the Corgoň liga. Founded as 1. ČsŠK Bratislava in 1919, the club changed its name to Slovan Bratislava in 1953...
, which he also captained for several years.
Club career
Slovák was born in NitraNitra
Nitra is a city in western Slovakia, situated at the foot of Zobor Mountain in the valley of the river Nitra. With a population of about 83,572, it is the fifth largest city in Slovakia. Nitra is also one of the oldest cities in Slovakia and the country's earliest political and cultural center...
. After a brief spell at local FC Plastika
FC Nitra
FC Nitra is a Slovak association football club, playing in the town of Nitra. Established in 1909, FC Nitra is one of the oldest football clubs in Slovakia. Nitra were promoted and relegated 4 times from the Czechoslovakian league with their longest stay being 5 years . Nitra came close to...
, the 19-year old signed with ŠK Slovan Bratislava
ŠK Slovan Bratislava
ŠK Slovan Bratislava is a football club based in Bratislava, Slovakia, that plays in the Corgoň liga. Founded as 1. ČsŠK Bratislava in 1919, the club changed its name to Slovan Bratislava in 1953...
, where he appeared regularly from an early age on.
In the 1997 summer, Slovák moved abroad, joining Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
's CD Tenerife
CD Tenerife
Club Deportivo Tenerife, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in Tenerife . Founded in 1922, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López, with a 24,000-seat capacity.-History:Club Deportivo Tenerife was founded in...
. During his spell, he was sparingly used whilst the club was in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
(tops 27 matches in 1999–2000's second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, without promotion), also being loaned for one year to former side Slovan.
Slovák moved in 2002 to neighbouring Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, signing for national league
Gambrinus Liga
The Gambrinus liga is a Czech professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Czech football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Czech 2. Liga. Seasons run from August to May,...
title holders FC Slovan Liberec
FC Slovan Liberec
FC Slovan Liberec is a Czech football club founded in the city of Liberec. The club is one of the most successful in the Czech Republic, having won two league titles and the domestic cup since 1993. Slovan Liberec is also one of the richest clubs in the Czech league...
. After six games and three goals, his season was finished after he suffered a serious knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
injury. In the January 2004 transfer window, when fully recovered, the player changed countries again, moving to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
with 1. FC Nuremberg, where he teamed up with compatriots Marek Mintál
Marek Mintál
Marek Mintál is a Slovak international football player who currently plays for Hansa Rostock.-Career:Mintál start to play football in Slovak club MŠK Žilina, with whom he won back-to-back Slovak championships in 2001–02 and 2002–03. This was also due to his scoring 20 and 21 goals respectively...
and Róbert Vittek
Róbert Vittek
Róbert Vittek is a Slovak football player who currently plays for Trabzonspor in Turkey.-Slovan Bratislava:...
, being the least successful of the trio.
In mid-October 2005, Slovák, aged 30, left Nuremberg and returned to Slovan Bratislava. In the 2006–07 season he helped the club to a third-place, netting twice in 27 contests.
After having appeared in less than half of the matches in 2009–10
2009–10 Slovak Superliga
The 2009–10 season of the Slovak Superliga will be the tenth season of the league since its establishment. It will begin in late July 2009 and end in May 2010. Slovan Bratislava are the defending champions.-Team changes from 2008–09:...
, with Slovan finishing in second position in the Corgoň Liga, Slovák retired from football, aged nearly 35.
International career
Slovák gained his first capCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Slovakia
Slovakia national football team
The Slovakia national football team represents Slovakia in association football and is controlled by the Slovak Football Association , the governing body for football in Slovakia. Slovakia's home stadium is Štadión Pasienky and their head coach is Vladimír Weiss...
at the age of 20, going on to appear in a further 19 games in the following decade (he also went through a large period of international inactivity, playing in no matches from 2002–04).