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Slovakia: Premier League Nations

The next destination of our alphabetical world tour is Slovakia. After the breakup of Czechoslovakia in the early 1990s, Slovakia became a separate political and footballing nation. Slovakian players who had appeared for Czechoslovakia continued their international careers with Slovakia.

Slovakia played their first official match as an independent country in 1994 and according to the Premier League website, 17 players have represented Slovakia in the Premier League.

First Player – Vladimir Kínder (Middlesbrough; 1997-98)

Joining Middlesbrough during 1996/97, Vladimir Kinder became the first Slovakian to play in the Premier League in what became one of the most remarkable seasons any club has ever had.

As high as fourth after the first few games, a horrid run saw Boro drop to the foot of the Premier League table at the start of 1997. Despite suffering a three-point deduction for a short notice postponement of a game against Blackburn, Boro looked set for safety as they strung together several good performances in the season’s home straight.

Ultimately it proved in vain however, and those three points proved oh so costly as Boro finished two points from safety. Even more remarkably, Boro became the first team to reach both domestic Cup Finals and be relegated in the same season, though they lost them both.

Kinder had a big impact in the few games he featured in, impressing in the league, being sent off in the first half of Boro’s FA Cup semi-final, and featuring in both finals. He featured five further times as Boro returned to the Premier League immediately, before he left England in 1999.

Records

Current/Most Recent Players

Two Slovaks currently play in the Premier League. Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka has played for the Magpies since January 2018, while Ondrej Duda is currently on loan at Norwich from German side Hertha Berlin. Duda is one of several Premier League players whose contracts expire on June 30th, meaning his short-term future is up in the air regarding the potential rearrangement of fixtures.

Trivia

  • Slovakia are one of 48 UEFA nations to have been represented in the Premier League.
  • Former Middlesbrough striker Szilárd Németh is the third-highest goal scorer in the history of the Slovakian national team (22 goals).
  • Martin Škrtel is one of only three players to have won 100 or more caps for the Slovakian national team (104 caps).

Sam Hanys

A miserable Ipswich Town fan.

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