ŠK Slovan Bratislava

Association football club in Slovakia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ŠK Slovan Bratislava (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈslɔʋam ˈbracislaʋa], "Bratislava Slavs") is a professional football club based in Bratislava, Slovakia, that plays in the Slovak First Football League. Founded as I. ČSŠK Bratislava in 1919, the club changed its name to Slovan Bratislava in 1953. Slovan is the most successful team in Slovakia with the most titles in both league and cup in the country.

Full nameŠportový klub Slovan Bratislava futbal, a.s.
NicknamesBelasí (Sky Blues)
Bieli jastrabi z Tehelného poľa (White Hawks from Brickfield)
Králi Bratislavy (Kings of Bratislava)
Founded3 May 1919; 106 years ago (1919-05-03)
(as I. ČSŠK Bratislava)
Quick facts Full name, Nicknames ...
Slovan Bratislava
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Full nameŠportový klub Slovan Bratislava futbal, a.s.
NicknamesBelasí (Sky Blues)
Bieli jastrabi z Tehelného poľa (White Hawks from Brickfield)
Králi Bratislavy (Kings of Bratislava)
Founded3 May 1919; 106 years ago (1919-05-03)
(as I. ČSŠK Bratislava)
GroundTehelné pole
Capacity22,500[1]
PresidentIvan Kmotrík
ManagerVladimír Weiss
LeagueSlovak First Football League
2024–25Slovak First Football League, 1st of 12 (champions)
Websitewww.skslovan.com
Current season
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Slovan Bratislava became the first and so far only club in Slovakia as well as former Czechoslovakia to win one of the European cup competitions, the Cup Winners' Cup when they defeated FC Barcelona in the final in Basel in 1969. The club also supplied seven players to the victorious Czechoslovakia team of UEFA Euro 1976.

History

Historical names

  • I. ČSŠK Bratislava (1919–1939)
  • ŠK Bratislava (1939–1948)
  • ZSJ Sokol NV Bratislava (1948–1952)
  • DŠO Slovan ÚNV Bratislava (1953–1956)
  • TJ Slovan ÚNV Bratislava (1957–1961)
  • TJ Slovan Bratislava Dimitrov (1961)
  • TJ Slovan CHZJD Bratislava (1961–1990)
  • ŠK Slovan Bratislava (1990–present)

1919–1944: early years

Slovan was officially founded on 3 May 1919 as I. ČSŠK Bratislava (the First CzechoSlovak Sports Club Bratislava). The first president was Police Captain Richard Brunner, who arranged the club's first temporary training ground at Kuchajda (Pasienky). The club soon moved to Petržalka.

Slovan squad from 1919 season

I. ČsŠK became the champions of Slovakia in 1922. Notable players from the early era were Pavol Šoral, Štefan Čambal and Štefan Priboj. In the spring of 1938 anti-Jewish sentiments penetrated into the club, and the victim was coach József Braun, who was one of the many Bratislava inhabitants who had to involuntarily leave the city. Under the terms of the 1938 Munich Agreement Czechoslovakia was dissolved, leading to the emergence of the Slovak Republic. At this point the club name was changed to ŠK Bratislava. On 26 September 1940 ŠK Bratislava played its first game at the new stadium, Tehelné pole.

The first international meeting at the new venue was on 27 October 1940, when ŠK Bratislava and Hertha Berlin played out a 2–2 draw. In the separate Slovak league, ŠK Bratislava won the title four times in the period from 1939 to 1945. Slovan was the first Czechoslovak team to use the WM formation. The team's first foreign opponent after World War II was Ferencvárosi TC. ŠK Bratislava lost 1–0, but won the Central European Cup 2–1 over Hungary before 20,000 spectators at Tehelné pole. In this period former players of I. ČSŠK Bratislava Ferdinand Daučík and Leopold "Jim" Šťastný served as coaches for ŠK Bratislava.

1945–1993: Czechoslovak League

Champion of Czechoslovakia squad from 1951.

The team name changed again in 1948, to Sokol NV Bratislava. The team met with success in 1949, when they became the first champions of the re-formed Czechoslovakia. Outstanding players from this era included Emil Pažický, Gejza Šimanský, Bozhin Laskov, Viktor Tegelhoff, and Teodor Reimann.

Anton Bulla, the coach in 1953, added eight new players to team. In 1961–62 the team defeated Red Star Bratislava in the national league for the title. Under the influence of political and economic pressures and interests, TJ ÚNV Slovan and TJ Dimitrov merged to create CHZJD Slovan Bratislava on 5 August 1961 (CHZJD stood for the Juraj Dimitrov Chemical Plant).

Slovan squad from 1963 to 1964, with national team players like Schrojf, Popluhár, Jokl and Cvetler.

1962 was a successful year, as the Czechoslovakia national team were defeated 3–1 in the 1962 FIFA World Cup Final in Chile, obtaining the silver, and repeating the success of the 1934 FIFA World Cup Final in Rome. Slovan players included goalkeeper Viliam Schrojf and defender Ján Popluhár.

Slovan ended the 1967–68 season second in the league, won the cup in Czechoslovakia, and participated in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. The team was managed by former Slovan player Michal Vičan, who focused on fast and simple games. Vičan took the team on a winter tour of Argentina in 1969.

In 1970 the Czechoslovak squad sent to the FIFA World Cup in Mexico included seven players from Slovan: Alexander Vencel, Ján Zlocha, Ivan Hrdlička, Karol Jokl, Ján Čapkovič, Vladimír Hrivnák, and Alexander Horváth. Jozef Vengloš was the coach of the Slovan Bratislava team for part of this era, as well as performing duties coaching at the international level.

In 1976, a Czechoslovak team including six Slovan players won the European title in the European Championships held in Belgrade. Gold medals were given to coach Vengloš, Alexander Vencel, Jozef Čapkovič, Koloman Gogh, Marián Masný, Anton Ondruš, Ján Pivarník, and Ján Švehlík. From the 1977–78, season Slovan were declining. In the 1984–85 season Slovan, led by coaches Ján Hucko and Jozef Obert, left the highest level of competition and were relegated to the Slovak National League.

After three seasons spent in the Slovak National League, Slovan Bratislava were able to return to national competition. In season 1987–88, the team returned to the top leagues under the leadership of coaches Ján Zachar and Jozef Jankech, who later coached the Slovak national team. Dušan Galis was the coach from 1977 to 1981. In 1991–92, Slovan Bratislava won the Czechoslovak title for the last time. Among the stars on the team were Peter Dubovský, Dušan Tittel, Ladislav Pecko, Vladimir Kinder, Miloš Glonek, Tomáš Stúpala, and Alexander Vencel Jr.

1969: Cup Winners' Cup champions

On 21 May 1969, the team defeated FC Barcelona in the 1969 European Cup Winners' Cup Final by a score of 3–2, which is the biggest success in the club's history so far. During the match, well-known commentator Gabo Zelenay delivered the slogan "Bieli jastrabi z Tehelného poľa bratislavského" (White Hawks from Tehelné pole Bratislava), referring to the Slovan players who had achieved success in the final.[2] The phrase later became one of the nicknames for the club.[2]

More information Slovan Bratislava, 3–2 ...
Slovan Bratislava Czechoslovakia3–2Spain Barcelona
Cvetler 2'
Hrivnák 30'
Čapkovič 42'
Report Report 2 Zaldúa 16'
Rexach 52'
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Attendance: 19,000
Referee: Laurens van Ravens (Netherlands)

1993–present: Slovak League

Slovan won titles in the Slovak league in the 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons. For the next two years, MFK Košice won the title. Slovan returned to the Slovak throne in the 1998–99 season. The stars of the team included coach Stanislav Griga and players Róbert Tomaschek, Miroslav König, Stanislav Varga, Tibor Jančula, and Ladislav Pecko. In the next few years the club's performance was below par and they were in trouble financially. They were forced to sell some of their best players. At the end of the 2003–04 season, the team was relegated to the Slovak Second League, where they spent two seasons. After two years, in the 2010–11 season Slovan won the double with coach Karel Jarolím.

Grounds

1940–2009: old Tehelné pole

Tehelné pole (old)

Tehelné pole, Slovan's previous stadium, was built during the first Slovak Republic, when Nazi Germany occupied Petržalka in 1938 and Bratislava lost almost all of its sporting facilities.[3] The construction lasted from 1939 to 1944 and the stadium became home ground for Slovan Bratislava. The stadium was officially opened in September 1940 with 25,000 places, and the first international match was played on 27 October 1940, with Slovan Bratislava playing against Hertha Berlin, ending in 2–2 tie. The old stadium underwent reconstruction in 1961, which added second tribune, boosting its capacity to 45,000 and modernising by adding score table, artificial light and revamping the field.[4] However, the stadium could hold up even 50,000 spectators, and just before breakup of Czechoslovakia, it was the largest one in use (Strahov Stadium in Prague had a capacity of 220,000 but was disused in the 1990s) and was the home ground for Czechoslovak national team.[5] The stadium was reconstructed once more in the 1990s to the "all-seater" stadium, reducing the capacity into 30,000.[5] The last match at the old Tehelné pole stadium was played in November 2009.

2009–2018: Pasienky

Štadión Pasienky

During the demolition of the old Tehelné pole, the planning of the construction of the new stadium and during the construction itself, the Pasienky Stadium became the temporary home ground for Slovan.

2019–present: new Tehelné pole

Tehelné Pole

In September 2016, after many years of negotiations and discussions, the building of the new stadium begun. The new stadium was opened on 3 March 2019 with a ceremony before the derby match against Spartak Trnava. The new stadium was built at the same place where Slovan has had its original home. It is a locality, which is typically connected with sports activities in Bratislava. The capacity of the new stadium is 22,500 spectators and fulfils UEFA 4-star category criteria.

Support

Slovan fans are called Ultras Slovan

The main ultras group is called Ultras Slovan or Sektor C - according to the section in which they are situated during home matches. Previously, the main ultras group was called Belasá šlachta (Sky-blue aristocracy). The major hooligan firm is called Ultras Slovan Pressburg.

Slovan supporters maintain friendly relations with fans of Zbrojovka Brno, Austria Wien,[6] as well as Polish club Wisła Kraków.

Slovan Bratislava supporters have a history of involvement in far-right politics and hooliganism. In April 2007, fans commemorated Adolf Hitler's birthday during a home match in Senec, displaying a large banner with Hitler’s image and chanting slogans while giving Nazi salutes, though the police investigation was suspended due to lack of evidence.[7] In July 2007, during an away match against Rapid Vienna in the UEFA Intertoto Cup, Slovan hooligans blocked traffic, destroyed property, and attempted to breach the opposing fan section, setting fires in the stands.[8] In September 2007, fans of rival Spartak Trnava clashed with Slovan fans in Bratislava, resulting in injuries to police and security officers and multiple detentions; local authorities did not fully resolve the incidents. In October 2007, Slovan fans in Trenčín invaded the home section, stole banners, and engaged in physical assaults, with arrests and investigations following the incident.[8]

The fanbase has also been involved in international far-right networks. In March 2022, a neo-Nazi banner featuring a Nazi SS version of a Totenkopf and the motto "My honor means loyalty" appeared at a Vienna match, linked to Slovan Bratislava supporters in coordination with far-right Austrian groups.[9] Individual members of the club’s leadership have also faced legal consequences for public expressions of far-right ideology; in 2018, Ivan Kmotrik Jr., vice president and manager of Slovan Bratislava, performed a Nazi salute at a Slovak Cup match and was fined by both the Slovak Football Association and a court in 2019.[10]

In October 2019, UEFA ordered Slovan Bratislava to play their Europa League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers in an empty stadium as punishment for incidents in previous European qualifiers that season, including chants targeting Greek, Albanian, and Jewish people, and an offensive banner displayed during an August playoff against PAOK of Greece.[11] UEFA's appeals panel dismissed the Slovak club’s appeal against the one-match stadium closure. UEFA also fined Slovan €50,000 for the racist incidents, with an additional €41,750 for other offences, including fan disorder. UEFA initially banned all spectators, but Slovan circumvented the ban under a new regulation allowing children from local schools or football academies to attend free of charge. Thus, the stadium was filled with 20,000 under-14s and their chaperones. Wolves supporters were initially banned as well, though a small number were later able to gain entry through VIP allocations or last-minute arrangements.[12]

During a 12 April 2025 match against DAC Dunajská, Slovan Bratislava fans displayed overtly nationalist and anti-Hungarian behaviour. They unfurled a banner depicting a balaclava-clad Slovan ultra "teaching a lesson" to children wearing DAC and Ferencvárosi TC kits, accompanied by a blackboard and inscriptions mocking Hungary and asserting Slovak dominance. Anti-Hungarian chants were a constant feature, and the timing of the match coincided with a historic date commemorating the deportation of ethnic Hungarians from Slovakia in 1947.[13]

The club has issued official statements rejecting racism and intolerance. In July 2020, ŠK Slovan Bratislava stated that banners displayed by supporters containing political content did not represent the club, and emphasised the multinational composition of its squad as evidence of inclusivity. The club also indicated willingness to cooperate with authorities in banning individuals if legally sanctioned.[14]

Rivalries

Slovan's greatest rival is Spartak Trnava. The derby is the most prestigious match in the Slovak football calendar.

Matches against DAC Dunajská Streda are not considered derbies, but in general they are the second most prestigious fixture in the Slovak league after the traditional derby.

Slovan's major rival teams in Bratislava were Inter Bratislava and Petržalka. The rivalry between Slovan and Inter had a long and rich history as both teams played in the Czechoslovak First League. The rivalry with Petržalka peaked after 2000.

On the international scene, Slovan's rivals are mainly clubs from neighboring countries. Namely, Sparta Prague (Federal Derby),[15][16] Rapid Wien[17] or Ferencváros.[18]

Honours

Domestic

Slovakia Slovakia

Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia

European

Results

Detailed seasons

Slovak League era only (1993–present)

Table correct as of 17 May 2025
More information Season, League ...
Season League Slovak Cup Super Cup UEFA Top scorer(s)[a] Goals
Tier Pld W D L GF GA Pts % Pos CL EL ECL CWC IC
1993–94 1 32 20 10 2 63 28 50 78.1 1st W W R1 NH[b] NH[c] Nigro 12
1994–95 1 32 21 9 2 63 25 72 75.0 1st QF W R2 Maixner / Faktor 9
1995–96 1 32 22 9 1 79 20 75 78.1 1st R2 RU R1 Németh 12
1996–97 1 30 15 5 10 49 33 50 55.6 3rd W W QR Németh 13
1997–98 1 30 12 9 9 41 36 45 50.0 5th R1 RU R1 Medveď 8
1998–99 1 30 21 7 2 56 11 70 77.8 1st W Jančula / Hrnčár / Majoroš 9
1999–2000 1 30 16 9 5 52 18 57 63.3 3rd R1 NH QR2 NH[d] Varga 9
2000–01 1 36 21 8 7 84 49 71 65.7 2nd R2 R1 Meszároš 18
2001–02 1 36 14 9 13 42 39 51 47.2 6th R2 R1 Vittek 14
2002–03 1 36 19 6 11 60 42 63 58.3 3rd RU Vittek 19
2003–04 1 36 6 11 19 37 58 29 26.9 10th R1 Onofrej 9
2004–05 2 30 14 8 8 37 24 50 55.6 3rd QF Sloboda 5
2005–06 2 30 19 6 5 47 25 63 70.0 2nd R1 Masaryk 11
2006–07 1 28 11 8 9 35 33 41 48.8 3rd R2 NH Masaryk 14
2007–08 1 33 15 6 12 46 37 51 51.5 5th QF R2 Masaryk / Slovák / Meszároš / Sylvestr 6
2008–09 1 33 21 7 5 69 25 70 70.7 1st SF NH Masaryk 15
2009–10 1 33 21 7 5 54 24 70 70.7 2nd W W QR3 PO NH[c] Halenár 11
2010–11 1 33 20 8 5 63 22 68 68.7 1st W RU PO Šebo 22
2011–12 1 33 16 11 6 48 35 59 59.6 3rd QF NH QR3 GS Halenár 15
2012–13 1 33 16 11 6 56 33 59 59.6 1st W QR2 Peltier 10
2013–14 1 33 24 3 6 63 32 75 75.8 1st RU QR2 Fořt / Vittek 12
2014–15 1 33 18 3 12 49 42 57 57.6 3rd QF W PO GS Soumah / Milinković 8
2015–16 1 33 20 9 4 50 25 69 69.7 2nd RU NH QR3 Priskin 12
2016–17 1 30 18 3 9 54 34 57 63.3 2nd W QR2 Soumah[e] 20
2017–18 1 32 17 8 7 58 37 59 61.5 2nd W QR2 Mareš / Čavrić 12
2018–19 1 32 25 5 2 84 33 80 83.3 1st R2 QR3 Šporar 29
2019–20 1 27 21 5 1 57 14 68 84.0 1st W QR1 GS Šporar 12
2020–21 1 32 22 5 5 78 28 71 74.0 1st W QR1 QR2 Ratão 14
2021–22 1 32 22 8 2 71 25 74 77.1 1st RU QR2 PO GS Henty 9
2022–23 1 32 21 6 5 65 32 69 71.9 1st RU QR2 QR3 R16 Čavrić 15
2023–24 1 32 23 4 5 76 31 73 76.0 1st QF QR3 PO R32 Barseghyan 15
2024–25 1 32 22 6 4 74 39 72 75.0 1st SF LP Barseghyan / Strelec 20
Season Tier Pld W D L GF GA Pts % Pos Slovak Cup Super Cup CL EL ECL CWC IC Top scorer(s)[a] Goals
League UEFA
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  1. Domestic league goals only.
  2. The competition was first contested in the 2021–22 season.
  3. The competition was founded in 1961, but was only taken over by UEFA in 1995. It was abolished after the 2008 tournament.
  4. The competition was abolished after the 1998–99 season and merged into the UEFA Cup (now the UEFA Europa League).
  5. Joint top scorer with Filip Hlohovský of Žilina.

European record

UEFA ranking

UEFA coefficient ranking as of 21 December 2025:

More information Rank, Team ...
Rank Team Coefficient
63Denmark FC Midtjylland38.250
64Spain Athletic Bilbao36.750
65Slovakia Slovan Bratislava36.000
66France Stade Rennais35.000
67Switzerland FC Basel34.500
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Players

Current squad

As of 5 February 2026

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...
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For recent transfers, see List of Slovak football transfers summer 2025 and List of Slovak football transfers winter 2025-26

Reserve squad

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...
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Personnel

Coaching staff

More information Position, Name ...
Position Name
ManagerSlovakia Vladimír Weiss
Assistant coachesSlovakia Boris Kitka
Slovakia Ľuboš Benkovský
Slovakia Timotej Vajdík
Goalkeeping coachSlovakia Miroslav Hrdina
Slovakia Ján Mucha
Fitness coachesSlovakia Roman Švantner
Slovakia Matej Balun
First team directorSlovakia Ján Švehlík
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Management

More information Position, Name ...
Position Name
PresidentSlovakia Ivan Kmotrík
Director of international relationsSlovakia Róbert Vittek
Sporting directorSlovakia Róbert Tomaschek
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Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

More information Period, Kit manufacturer ...
Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
?–1992 Puma Incheba
1993–1998 Adidas VÚB
1998–1999 SPP
2000–2003 none
2003–2004 SPP
2004–2005 none
2005–2008 Nike Doprastav
2008–2009 none
2009–2010 Grafobal
2010–2011 Adidas
2011–2017 Niké
2017–2018 none
2019–2020 Grafobal
2020– Niké
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Player records

Most goals (only domestic league goals)

More information #, Nat. ...
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Players whose name is listed in bold are still active.

Czechoslovak and Slovak top goalscorer

The Czechoslovak League top scorer from 1944 to 1945 until 1992–93. Since the 1993–94 Slovak League top scorer.

More information Year, Winner ...
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Transfers

Slovan have produced numerous players who have gone on to represent the Slovak national football team. Over the last period there has been a steady increase of young players leaving Slovan after a few years of first team football and moving on to play football in leagues of a higher standard, with the German Bundesliga (best scorer Róbert Vittek to 1. FC Nürnberg in 2003), English Premier League (Vladimír Kinder to Middlesbrough in 1997, Stanislav Varga to Sunderland in 2000, Igor Bališ to West Bromwich in 2000), Turkish Süper Lig (Marko Milinković to Gençlerbirliği S.K. in 2016, Ľubomír Meszároš to Elazığspor in 2002, Marián Zeman to İstanbulspor A.Ş. in 1995), Italy (Marek Hamšík to Brescia Calcio in 2004), Spanish La Liga (Samuel Slovák to CD Tenerife in 1997 and Peter Dubovský to Real Madrid C.F. for 110 million SKK (4.3million) in 1993). Other interesting transfers were Dušan Tittel to Nîmes Olympique in 1992, Igor Demo to PSV Eindhoven in 1997, Róbert Tomaschek to Heart of Midlothian F.C. in 2000, Kornel Saláta to FC Rostov in 2011 and Branislav Niňaj to Lokeren in 2015. Second highest transfer was agreed in 2020 when 25 years old striker and previous season topscorer Andraž Šporar joined Portugal team Sporting CP for a fee more than €7 million. Top transfer was agreed in 2025 when topscorer David Strelec joined Middlesbrough F.C. for a fee €10 million, which was the highest ever paid to a Slovak club.

Record departures

More information Rank, Player ...
Rank Player To Fee Year Ref.
1Slovakia David StrelecEngland Middlesbrough F.C.€10 million2025[19]
2Slovenia Andraž ŠporarPortugal Sporting CP€6 million[A]2020[20]
3Slovakia Peter DubovskýSpain Real Madrid€3.4 million[B]1993[21]
4Slovakia Dominik GreifSpain Mallorca€2.5 million2021[22]
Slovakia David Strelec Italy Spezia 2021 [23]
6Slovakia Vladimír KinderEngland Middlesbrough€2.1 million1997[24]
7Guinea Seydouba SoumahSerbia Partizan€1.65 million2017[25]
8Slovakia Róbert VittekGermany 1. FC Nürnberg€1.3 million2004[26]
9Slovakia Stanislav VargaEngland Sunderland€1.25 million2000[27]
9Brazil Rafael RatãoFrance Toulouse FC€1.2 million2021[28]
Slovakia Miloš GlonekItaly A.C. Ancona€1.2 million1992[29]
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  1. Fee may eventually rise above €7 million.
  2. For comparison, the world record transfer fee at the time was €16.5 million.

Record arrivals

More information Rank, Player ...
Rank Player From Fee Year Ref.
1Nigeria Ibrahim RabiuBelgium Gent€1.0 million2017[30]
The Gambia Alasana YirajangSlovakia Podbrezová€1.0 million2025[31]
Croatia Marko TolićCroatia Dinamo Zagreb€1.0 million2024[32]
Serbia Svetozar MarkovićCzech Republic Viktoria Plzeň€1.0 million2026[33]
4Ukraine Mykola KukharevychEngland Swansea€800,0002025[34]
5Hungary Dávid HolmanHungary Debrecen€700,0002017[35]
Trinidad and Tobago Lester PeltierSlovakia AS Trenčín€700,0002012[36]
Slovakia David StrelecItaly Spezia Calcio€700,0002024[37]
8Slovenia Kenan BajrićSlovenia Olimpija Ljubljana€600,0002018[38][39]
Slovakia Samuel ŠtefánikNetherlands NEC Nijmegen€600,0002014[36]
Slovenia Andraž ŠporarSwitzerland Basel€600,0002018[40][41][42]
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Club records

Slovak First Football League records

  • Best position: 1st (see Honours)
  • Worst position: 10th (2003–04)
  • Biggest home win:
  • Biggest away win:
  • Biggest home defeat: Slovan Bratislava 0–5 Žilina (2024–25)[43]
  • Biggest away defeat:

See also

References

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