YouTuber Conor McGilligan has slammed Leeds United midfielder Brenden Aaronson and questioned whether he can even kick the ball hard enough to deliver key goalscoring contributions.
What's the latest on Brenden Aaronson and Leeds?
With the international break now upon us, it's a great time for Premier League clubs to reflect on the current season as we head into the final run-in.
Leeds currently sit 14th in the division, just two points above the bottom three with just 11 games left to ensure they don't end up getting relegated.
Alongside fellow USMNT star Weston McKennie, Aaronson has left England to go and represent his country as they look to progress to the CONCACAF Nations League Final Four.
While he's done enough to maintain his status in the US side, it seems as though things haven't been going too well for the 22-year-old at Leeds as he has failed to deliver a goalscoring contribution since the return of Premier League football after the break for the winter World Cup.
And while speaking on the One Leeds Fan Channel, McGilligan dropped some pretty damning claims on Aaronson, expressing doubt over his ability to deliver the goods when needed.
He said: "Listen, I'm willing to be proven wrong here, by the way, always. But those fine moments where you're playing as a central attacking midfielder and under pressure, you need to play that pass, you need to have a strike on goal. You know, all those technicalities, I just don't know if he's got the ball-striking ability.
"I've never seen him hit a ball hard. You know, a free kick, you normally get a lot of central attacking midfielders as being able to take set pieces. I don't really see that with him.
"And I just think some of the central attacking midfielders in world football you'd expect Leeds to maybe look at in the next couple of years would come in and naturally be picked over Aaronson straight away."
Where has it all gone from for Aaronson with Leeds?
The midfielder left Red Bull Salzburg in the summer to join the Whites on a five-year contract after a £25m transfer, while he earns a reported £43,000 a week.
Things got off to a pretty bright start for Aaronson in England too as he scored on his third Premier League outing for the Whites in a 3-0 win over Chelsea, before getting his first assist two games later.
Since then, however, he has just one more assist in the top flight which came back in November, playing in 12 more league games and four FA Cup matches without scoring or setting anyone up.
With that in mind, it's not hard to see why McGilligan has expressed such major doubts over the player's ability to deliver in the final third of the pitch.
Still only 22, however, perhaps Aaronson can turn things around in the future to fulfil his potential.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola isn't the world's best manager, according to former Citizens midfielder Didi Hamann.
Is Guardiola having a good season?
The Spaniard has arguably been the most influential figure of the Premier League era at the Etihad Stadium, inspiring City to a glorious period of success. Having arrived back in 2016, he has gone on to win four league titles, four EFL Cups and one FA Cup in the years since.
Granted, Champions League glory has continued to evade Guardiola at City – he won the competition twice during a prolific spell in charge of Barcelona – but he is surely the main reason among many for the club's success, playing some extraordinary football along the way.
This failure to win Europe's greatest club competition with the Citizens is a stick that is often used to beat the 51-year-old with, but he has the chance to silence the doubters this season, with City's quarter-final against Bayern Munich firmly under control heading into the second leg.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the trophy after winning the Premier League
Is Man City boss the world's best manager?
Speaking to German outlet Solinger Tageblatt [via Sport Witness], Hamann appeared be one of those naysayers, assessing Guardiola negatively and saying he isn't the world's leading manager at this moment in time:
"In decisive situations, you need players who make decisions themselves. He takes that away from them. Julian Nagelsmann did that too. Tuchel doesn’t do that.
"Guardiola has not managed anything that others have not managed. Everybody tells you that a Pep Guardiola is the super father of coaches.
"But he was in a Champions League final in ten years with Bayern Munich and Man City – and he lost that himself. And now people tell me he’s the best manager in the world – sorry."
This is a strange take from Hamann, who admittedly isn't exactly shy when it comes to criticising great managers, quite often taking issue with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp down the years.
While City's failure to win the Champions League is clearly disappointing, the job that Guardiola is still doing remains magnificent, with a fifth Premier League title in the space of six seasons coming their way if they can pip Arsenal to the trophy in the next month or so.
Whoever the world's best manager happens to be is clearly a subjective call, but to actively make an effort to downplay Guardiola's achievements seems strange from Hamann, especially given the vast influence he has had on English football in terms of the way so many teams play out from the ball now, among other examples.
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has made good use of his links to Manchester City over the past year, having brought in Arijanet Muric, CJ Egan-Riley and Taylor Harwood-Bellis to help with last season's successful promotion-winning campaign.
With Harwood-Bellis returning to the Etihad Stadium, the Clarets may well opt to use their City connection to bolster another position in the back line.
Transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri claims Burnley have reached out to City regarding a loan move for Sergio Gomez, but the Spanish left-back is stalling over a decision as he wants to try to win over boss Pep Guardiola first.
It is a loan move that makes sense for all three parties, though, with the 22-year-old likely to play regular Premier League football, while Burnley get a talented defender to help boost their survival hopes.
Is Sergio Gomez a good option for Burnley?
City signed Gomez for £11m from Anderlecht, where he spent time playing under Kompany, but he was restricted to only ten starts in all competitions in 2022-23 – just two of those in the Premier League.
Gomez showed he is capable of playing in a number of positions, as most players can under Guardiola, which is something the Spain U21 international prides himself on.
"I consider myself versatile. I'm available for whatever the coach asks," he told Spanish radio station Partidazo de COPE. "At City, they ask me to play full-back and with [Spain U21 boss] Luis de la Fuente, I'd always played right wing, and he likes me to play there."
It is at left-back Gomez is most comfortable – he started six games there last season, as per WhoScored – and from his limited time on the field, there are strong comparisons to be made with one of the finest around in that position.
Indeed, FBref's comparison model lists Liverpool's Andy Robertson as the player most like Gomez in terms of their statistical profiles. For example, Gomez averaged 0.25 assists per 90 minutes last season, compared to 0.28 for Robertson, with neither player scoring themselves.
The pair attempted 81.3 and 78.9 passes per 90 minutes respectively, averaged 91.8 and 86.5 touches, while they won the same amount of aerial duels per 90 (0.77).
Gomez has a long way to go to show he can be a match for Robertson, and a move to Burnley under Kompany is his first real step towards doing that.
With a relatively low salary of £50k-a-week, according to Capology, Gomez could also prove to be an upgrade on current left-back Ian Maatsen.
But as someone described as "a full-back, playmaker, king of assists and winger" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Kompany would not just be strengthening one position, but two or three with one deal.
Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has around two months left to build a squad capable of going all the way in the Championship next season after failing during the semi-finals of the play-offs earlier this year.
One area in which the former Blackburn Rovers head coach is seemingly looking to strengthen in is the forward department, as Ross Stewart is the only senior No 9 in the squad as it stands.
The Sunderland Echo recently reported that the club are 'obviously' interested in a deal to sign Ellis Simms from Premier League side Everton.
He spent the first half of last season on loan at the Stadium of Light and Kristjaan Speakman is now eyeing a second swoop for the attacker, who is said to be keen on returning to Wearside.
Although, they must first wait for the Toffees to green-light an exit for the centre-forward after Sean Dyche called on him for 11 Premier League matches this year.
Would Ellis Simms be a good signing for Sunderland?
The 22-year-old has the potential to be an exceptional addition to the squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign due to his previous form for the club.
Simms' impressive performances in the first half of the last term indicate that he would be a huge upgrade on Joe Gelhardt, who spent the final few months of the season on loan with Mowbray from Leeds United.
The Whites attacker averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.82 across 16 Championship starts and contributed with three goals alongside three assists, whilst the former Wigan man also created two 'big chances' for his teammates.
He ranked 12th among the squad for Sofascore ratings and did not crack the top three performers for Sunderland for goals or assists in the division.
These statistics suggest that the 21-year-old marksman endured a fairly average spell at the Stadium of Light as he was unable to provide quality on a regular basis.
Sunderland loanee Ellis Simms.
Simms, however, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.03 across 14 league starts for Sunderland and chipped in with seven goals to go along with two assists and five 'big chances' created.
Only Ross Stewart (7.40) averaged a higher rating than him in the Black Cats squad, which suggests that the English hotshot was one of the team's top performers during his time at the club.
The £3.3k-per-week finisher, who was dubbed an "absolute nuisance" by journalist Phil Smith, has already proven himself capable of delivering excellent performances and consistent end product in the final third under Mowbray's management with the likes of Stewart and Jack Clarke alongside him.
Therefore, Simms could be an exceptional signing as he is a player who could hit the ground running to make an instant impact next season while being a big upgrade on Gelhardt.
Liverpool have confirmed that a youth player was racially abused in an Under-16 game against Juventus, leading the team to walk off the pitch.
Why did the Liverpool U16 team walk off the pitch?
Playing in the Next Generation Trophy last Friday – a tournament held in Austria – the Reds were up against their Italian counterparts when the incident took place.
As per The Athletic, the Liverpool teenager involved went to the touchline to report the abuse to the coaching staff, who informed the players to follow protocol and leave the field.
The Juventus youngster involved was then suspended by his club for the rest of the tournament while staff offered the English side a full apology.
A Liverpool spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a member of our under-16s team was racially abused by an opponent while playing in the Next Generation youth tournament in Austria.
“The individual responsible was identified immediately and removed from the competition as a result of the swift intervention of our own players and staff, tournament organisers and opposition management, who have also taken additional disciplinary measures inclusive of education.
“We would like to place on record our appreciation for the prompt actions taken by all involved. This applies most of all to the player subjected to the attack, who showed remarkable maturity in following established protocols, including leaving the pitch, in order to report the matter as soon as it occurred. He is receiving the full support of the club.
“We would also reiterate that our condemnation of all forms of racist abuse remains unequivocal and absolute.”
What has been the reaction to the racist incident in the Liverpool U16 game vs Juventus?
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, before the statement had been officially given by Liverpool's spokesperson, former player Djibril Cisse took to social media to express his dismay and anger about what had happened.
The ex-French footballer has a son, Prince, who currently plays in the Reds' academy and was involved in the game.
Writing to his two million Instagram followers, Cisse said (via TalkSport): “Now it’s too much.
“During the game @LiverpoolFC vs @Juventus under 16s (my son Prince Cisse was playing) a kid from Juventus called a @LiverpoolFC a n****.
“The @LiverpoolFC staff had to stop the game. @Juventus what are you gonna do now? It’s a f****** shame. 15 years old kid @Juventus, you better act strongly now and shame.”
As per The Athletic, direct action has already been taken. Indeed, they report that staff members from Juventus’ academy and tournament organisers Red Bull Salzburg have since contacted Liverpool academy director Alex Inglethorpe to express their regret about the incident and check on the youngster’s well-being.
While it's also mentioned that the Juventus youth player is now undergoing a course to educate him that racism and all forms of discrimination are unacceptable. It is understood that senior Liverpool figures are happy with how Juventus have handled the matter.
All in all, it's a shameful incident and thoroughly disappointing to learn of such attitudes and behaviour existing within the academy of Europe's biggest football clubs.
In response to the incident, however, in a show of solidarity ahead of their following game at the Next Generation Trophy, Liverpool and their Argentinian opposition Independiente took the knee before kick-off.
West Ham are targeting Morocco international star Yassine ‘Bono’ Bounou as a possible heir to Lukasz Fabianski, according to reports.
The Lowdown: Fabianski deal expiring…
The Pole has been a faithful servant under manager David Moyes and was even rewarded with a new contract last summer, penning fresh terms until the summer of 2023 with an option to extend by one year.
Fabianski, having turned 37-years-old, is nearing the end of his twilight years and this season could be one of the last times West Ham supporters see him sport claret and blue.
The Premier League relegation-battlers, as a result, may have one eye on the veteran’s eventual heir or at least another shot-stopper to provide competition for Alphonse Areola.
The Latest: West Ham eye Bono…
According to a report in the print edition of AS (via Sport Witness), West Ham are one of the clubs in contention to sign Bono this summer.
The east Londoners are mentioned as an interested party when it comes Sevilla’s goalkeeper and the La Liga side apparently know important offers will be coming for him later this year.
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The Verdict: Fantastic option…
The 31-year-old seriously made a name for himself at last year’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar, standing out as a key player in Walid Regragui’s plucky Morocco side.
They became Africa’s first ever nation to reach a WC semi-final, making history and forever etching themselves into the memories of football supporters from that continent.
Bono started six tournament games and clinched a Man of the Match award before they were eventually knocked out by France.
Regragui called his keeper one of the best in football with members of the media also branding him ‘world class’ for his Morocco displays.
If West Ham are looking for a safe pair of hands alongside Areola, Bono could certainly be the man, especially considering league champions Man City even allegedly made an approach for him in January.
Liverpool remain in negotiations with Southampton for midfielder Romeo Lavia, but to the indignation of the Anfield support, progress is moving at a snail's pace with the 2023/24 Premier League campaign just one week away.
Who are Liverpool signing this summer?
The summer transfer market started so brightly for the Reds, with Alexis Mac Allister arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion in a £35m deal before Dominik Szoboszlai was captured from RB Leipzig for £60m.
But progress was hampered when Saudi interest led to the departures of industrious midfield duo Fabinho and – captain – Jordan Henderson.
Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…
Jurgen Klopp's side have since seen two bids for Lavia rejected, the second offer, £41m, still some way below Saints' £50m demand for the precocious engine room machine.
What is Romeo Lavia's style of play?
Lavia has been superb since joining Southampton from Manchester City one year ago in a deal potentially rising to £14m, and his performances on the south coast suggest that he boasts every ounce of quality requisite for success at the very highest level.
The 19-year-old would be a long-term project and the successor to Fabinho's role as the midfield anchor at Anfield, though given his Premier League displays over the past year there will be confidence at Liverpool that he could hit the ground running.
As per Sofascore, he recorded an average rating of 6.80 in the English top-flight, despite the tumult at St. Mary's Stadium and the discordant and disjointed harmony of Southampton's squad, resulting in a 20th-placed finish.
If Klopp succeeds in his pursuit, the £38k-per-week ace will be able to slot seamlessly into the Liverpool centre; the words of The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell corroborate the argument, as he said: in terms of technical quality and tactical understanding, he's more than ready to go right into that Liverpool midfield."
It is his innate ease and presence in the No. 6 role that will consequently allow teammates around him to flourish, with his ranking among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for blocks per 90, as per FBref, illustrating his tenacity and determination to stifle opposition transitions.
Szoboszlai would certainly benefit from Lavia's arrival at Anfield, with the 32-cap Hungary captain's creative capabilities requiring steel-clad framework behind him to ensure he can effectively contribute to the offensive efforts.
And the £120k-per-week maestro could aid Lavia in his work too, ranking among the top 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers for blocks and the top 13% for clearances per 90.
Szoboszlai recorded an exemplary average rating of 7.42 in the German Bundesliga last season after scoring six goals and supplying eight assists from 28 starting appearances, creating 2.3 key passes per game, averaging 1.5 tackles per match and completing 83% of his passes.
Lavia is the "absolute monster" – as called by journalist Benjy Nurick – that Szoboszlai needs to thrive in the Premier League, while he can also utilise his own dynamism and defensive application to ensure that the workload is not too great for the teenage talent; it could be a partnership for the ages on Merseyside and Liverpool must ensure that they get this one over the line.
Liverpool's results on the pitch this season have left little to be admired – that's despite remarkable results including the 9-0 demolition of Bournemouth, 7-1 dismantling of Rangers and incredible 7-0 mauling of heated rivals Manchester United – but the rich crop of talent at youth level has been the shining light.
It's impressive that, despite such sensational results, many Reds supporters would probably attribute the season's defining success to the rise of 18-year-old midfielder Stefan Bajcetic.
Candidly, the emphatic and singular moments of rapture masquerade over the woes of the year with a transparent quilt; Liverpool languish in sixth in the Premier League after 27 matches, seven points behind fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur and out of all cup competitions after gleaning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last term, falling in the Champions League final to Real Madrid.
Manager Jurgen Klopp certainly has his work cut out to get Liverpool back on its pedestal, but with the comfort of a thriving youth academy underlying the exploits of the senior team, dynamic defender Calum Scanlon could be the next to follow in Bajcetic's footsteps.
Who is Calum Scanlon?
Scanlon was signed for Liverpool for £500,000 from Birmingham City in 2021, arriving with high expecations and so far impressing as he pushes for a place in Klopp's reckoning over the next few years.
Signing his first professional contract with the Reds last March, the 'exciting' – as dubbed by the club website – full-back has now forged 26 appearances for the U18 outfit, scoring one goal and providing two assists, also breaking into the U21 team this season and performing against Manchester City in the Premier League 2.
Hailed as "calm and creative" by reporter Caoimhe O'Neill, Scanlon possesses the tools demanded for success as a marauding full-back under Klopp's wing, and while established phenom Andy Robertson will not be uprooted from his position any time soon, Scanlon could serve as the perfect understudy and perhaps even take the place of Kostas Tsimikas, who has been a largely peripheral figure.
Liverpool's Kostas Tsimikas in action.
The Greek Tsimikas signed for Liverpool for roughly £12m in 2020 and has now forged 55 appearances for the Merseyside outfit, supplying an impressive 12 assists and notably winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last season.
This season, the £50k-per-week full-back has clinched four assists in the Premier League, but only started on six occasions, and he could look to forge a transfer in the coming seasons should play time fail to improve.
Should this occur, Liverpool need not scour the market for a fresh face, rather provide a platform for Scanlon to take his place and serve as Robertson's understudy, with the 'creative' prowess to his game leaving him in good standing to thrive.
Media members have slammed Antony’s performance in Manchester United’s embarrassing 7-0 defeat to Liverpool, describing his display as ‘shocking’.
The Lowdown: United humiliated at Anfield
The Red Devils rocked up to Anfield full of confidence on Sunday afternoon but they ended up enduring one of their worst afternoons ever in the Premier League.
Liverpool led 1-0 at half-time after a tight opening 45 minutes, only to score six times in a galling second half, inflicting endless misery on a United side who appeared to give up on the game after the first couple flew in.
It was an afternoon full of awful individual performances, with the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Marcus Rashford anonymous by their recent standards.
The Latest: ‘Shocking’ Antony
It was Antony who talkSPORT’s Mark Goldbridge took to Twitter to rip into, however, slamming his effort levels at Anfield:
“I’ve defended Antony non stop but his effort levels today have been shocking. Not tracked back all game. If you don’t fight and work hard at Anfield then you don’t last long at United. Lot to learn.”
Speaking on BBC Match of the Day 2, Micah Richards said it was “like playing with 10 men” due to the Brazilian’s lack of running, while Darren Bent took to Twitter to compare the winger with Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez:
“If anyone tries to tell me Antony has had a decent season compared to Darwin Nunez they’re having a laugh.”
The Verdict: Simply not good enough
Antony has certainly divided opinion since moving from Ajax to United last summer, with some feeling that his game lacks substance in the final third too often while others enjoy his flair and bravery on the ball.
The former was certainly the case on Sunday, with the 15-cap Brazil international losing possession 18 times and also making no interceptions off the ball, in a horribly ineffective showing.
Antony’s work ethic was nowhere near good enough, allowing Andy Robertson to wreak havoc down the left flank, and his overall attitude came into question, too.
It’s only three goal contributions in the league all season for Antony – Mohamed Salah got four in one half against United – and much more is needed from him moving forward.
The Slovakian national football team, or The Falcons as they are sometimes called, are an interesting side to talk about, as there have been some brilliant Slovakian footballers over the years, and yet, the country has only made it to one World Cup since the dissolution of the Czechoslovakian football team.
Czechoslovakia made it to eight World Cups – coming second in two of them – and three European Championships – coming third twice and winning one. And so, when creating a list of the ten greatest Slovakian footballers, we had to include a few Slovakian stars who reached the pinnacle of their careers under the banner of Czechoslovakia – you’ve got to love geopolitics, right?
With that, here’s our list of arguably the ten greatest Slovakian footballers!
10 Martin Dubravka
Kicking off the list is Slovakia’s current number one goalkeeper, Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka. Now, it could’ve been Fulham’s Marek Rodak in here instead, as he was, for a while, claiming the number one spot in the national side, but since he lost the gloves at Fulham to Bernd Leno, Dubravka has become Slovakia’s number one.
In all, the Zilina-born shot-stopper has played for seven clubs – including a loan stint with the Magpies – with his most successful spell coming with the Magpies, where he has made 179 appearances. He was named Player of the Year at Newcastle for his contributions in the 2019/20 season.
At the international level, he has won 52 caps and looks to have – for now, anyway – cemented his place as the team’s number one.
9 Peter Pakarik
The second name on our list might be one unfamiliar to those who don’t watch much of the Bundesliga: Peter Pakarik. 38-year-old has had an incredibly long and successful career in the German top flight.
He made his way to the league via Wolfsburg in 2009 and played every game in the second half of the season, bar one, as the club won the first league title in their history. After another couple of years with the club, he would eventually join fellow Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin, where he remained until his exit in 2024, 231 appearances and a second-division title later.
He has won 134 caps for the national side, playing in the 2010 World Cup and the European Championships in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
8 Martin Skrtel
Up next is someone many consider to be something of a Premier League cult hero, Martin Skrtel. The often intimidating centre-back has played for seven clubs across six countries in his career, but he will always be best remembered for his eight-year stint on Merseyside for Liverpool.
Skrtel joined the team in 2008 from Russian side Zenit Saint Petersburg and ended up making 320 appearances for the Reds, scoring 18 goals and providing six assists in the process. His time with the club saw him win three Slovakian Footballer of the Year awards, one Liverpool Player of the Year award and one League Cup in 2012.
On the international scene, he was a vital member of the team that played at the 2010 World Cup and the one that made it to the 2016 European Championships. In all, he won 104 caps for his country and scored six goals.
7 Stanislav Lobotka
Slovakia'sStanislavLobotkareacts
Another player who’s still playing, and if anything, is still firmly in his prime years at the age of 30, Napoli’s Stanislav Lobotka. Before the club’s remarkable league title in 2022/23, Lobotka might’ve been a name relatively unfamiliar to many fans outside of Napoli, but not anymore.
The 5 foot 6 midfielder was a central pillar to the team’s hardworking and tenacious midfield, well and truly establishing himself as one of Europe’s premier central midfielders and following in the footsteps of national icon Marek Hamsik.
He has also won 67 caps for the national side, having made his debut just a few months after the country’s involvement at Euro 2016.
6 Milan Skriniar
The next name on the list has been one of the best defenders in Europe for over half a decade now and is showing no signs of slowing down, Milan Skriniar. Despite playing for three clubs beforehand, it was his time with Italian giants Inter Milan that truly caught Europe’s attention.
In total, he made 246 appearances for I Nerazzurri, scored 11 goals, provided five assists, and never once got a straight red card. During his time with the club, he won one Scudetto, two Italian Cups, two Italian Super Cups, and was voted Slovakian Footballer of the Year four times.
On the international scene, Skriniar has won 79 caps since his debut in 2016, while featuring at three major tournaments.
5 Marián Masný
Born on the 13th of August 1950 in the Slovakian village of Rybany, Marián Masný has to go down as one the country’s greatest ever footballers for both his exploits at international level and club level.
In all, he earned 81 caps for Czechoslovakia between 1974 and 1982, scoring 20 goals and playing a vital role in helping the side emerge from the 1976 European Championships as champions.
The team beat West Germany on penalties in the final after the match ended 2-2, with Masný stepping up first and scoring to set the tone.
Masný would spend the majority of his club career in his home country, ending up with two league titles and two national cups. He may have been at his best before a lot of fans were even watching the game, but he is still certainly deserving of a place on this list.
4 Peter Dubovsky
Peter Dubovsky was a player who could’ve gone on to further cement himself as one of Slovakia’s all-time greats were it not for his unfortunate death in 2000, aged just 28. The Bratislava-born forward was a real talent during his early years playing for Slovan Bratislava, and Real Madrid must’ve thought the same.
Los Blancos signed Dubovsky in 1993 off the back of his 59 goals in 94 appearances for the Slovakian side. However, while he wasn’t a flop in Madrid, nor was he a runaway success, after two years, he moved on to fellow La Liga side Real Oviedo, where he would make 120 appearances before his untimely death.
Alongside a club career many dream of, he was also excellent for the national team, earning 14 caps for Czechoslovakia and 33 for Slovakia. He was the country’s top scorer with 14 at the time of his passing and would remain so until it was broken in 2003 by Szilard Nemeth.
3 Jozef Adamec
Another of Slovakia’s greats from the past, Jozef Adamec, enjoyed an incredibly successful domestic career in his home country and shone for Czechoslovakia whenever he was called upon.
In all, Adamec won 44 caps for his homeland, scored 14 goals, and was part of the legendary side that finished as runners-up in the 1962 edition of the World Cup. Another of his greatest moments for the national side came in a friendly against Brazil in 1968, a friendly Czechoslovakia won 3-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Adamec.
On a domestic front, the Vrbove-born forward never left his homeland, moving between four clubs over a 22 year spell, winning seven league titles, three cups and one Mitropa Cup.
He may not be a name all that well known outside of Czechia or Slovakia, but Adamec was a genuine great of football in his time.
2 Jan Popluhar
The last of our old-school picks here and certainly one of the very best. Jan Popluhar was an extremely talented Slovak defender with a career spanning three decades from 1955 to 1979. While he spent the majority of that career in his homeland with sides like Slovan Bratislava, Ruda Hvezda Brno, and Zbrojovka Brno, he also enjoyed a fruitful two-season spell with French giants Lyon from 1969 to 1970.
He was also a vital member of the national side that made it to the 1958 and 1962 World Cups – finishing as runners-up on both occasions – and the 1960 European Championships, where they placed third.
He was named the UEFA Slovak Golden Player in 2003 and was named in the World Soccer World XI on three occasions: 1962, 1963, and 1968.
1 Marek Hamsik
Come on, who else was it really going to be in top spot? When you ask the modern football fan to name a Slovakian footballer, we would be willing to bet that the vast majority answer with the same name: Marek Hamsik.
Hamsik was undoubtedly one of Europe’s greatest cult heroes in the 2010s for how much he gave to Napoli, becoming both talisman and captain for the side during his 12-year stint with the Italians.
In all, he made 520 appearances for I Partenopei, scored 121 goals, provided 103 assists and even earned himself two red cards for good measure. He might’ve left Naples without a league title to his name, but he did help the club win two Italian Cups, an Italian Super Cup, and he played in the Champions League 36 times.
So intertwined is Hamsik with the Napoli of the 2000s and 2010s that former teammate and Chelsea player Dalla Bona likened the situation to Steven Gerrard and Liverpool, saying:
“He is a legend for Napoli. He is a big legend. He is like Steven Gerrard in Liverpool. He is parallel to Gerrard, he is a top player and a leader. I played against Gerrard and with Hamsik.
“He had offers but he never wanted to change clubs. Napoli became a very big team with him.”
It wasn’t just about club football for Hamsik, though, as he also holds the record for most caps for Slovakia – 138 – and the most goals – 26. He also played a crucial role in getting the national side to the 2010 World Cup, where he would be captain, and the 2016 and 2020 Euros, where he would remain captain.
Ultimately, Hamsik will go down as not just one of the greatest Slovakian footballers of all time but one of Europe’s best footballers of all time.
And there you have it, Slovakia’s top ten footballers of all time.