The Rise of Slovakian Football Star Ivan Schranz: A Transfer Opportunity or Title Hunt?

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At the European Football Championship, he scored against Belgium, Romania and England in the round of 16, although it was not enough to advance. Before his 31st birthday, the Slovakian national team player Ivan Schranz said that with great performances he would be able to move to a better competition and make a career move. In Slavia, however, the fast winger has a contract for two more years. “But when else, if not now?” his agent Václav Ježdík from the AMG Sports company realizes an opportunity that may not be repeated.

You know that Ježdík’s phone is ringing more often than before the Euros, where his client Schranz shone like few others. How significantly has he raised his price in the market? “We’ll see,” Ježdík smiles.

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There are no specific offers yet, or rather, he is reluctant to talk about them until Slavia determines the figure from which it will be willing to consider the sale of Schranz. And that’s not just before the season, in which direct promotion to the heroic Champions League is at stake.

“The demands are already there, a big role will be played by Slavia, which has a very important season ahead,” Ježdík nods. “We have it so that until the offer is concrete, I will not publish it. Even if interested parties call and ask. What is important now is the transfer fee, which is set by Slavia. It is in their hands. I have a good relationship with sports director Jirka Bílek and we have a good conversation.”

If transfer, then now

After the age of 30, big transfers from the Czech league happen only exceptionally, which is why it is essential to set the priorities correctly – for the club and the player. “Ivan is not running away, he is happy in Slavia, but age cannot be stopped. If the possibility of a transfer is to come, then now,” suspects Ježdík. However, he adds: “If he doesn’t come, Ivan will want to win the title he is missing in Slavia.”

With Schranz, who scored 170 starts and 47 goals in the Czech league, he experienced ups and downs. “We know what Ivan has been through,” she breathes.

He mentions how crucial the meeting with coach David Horejš in České Budějovice was for his development. “Ivan started his career from zero to 120 percent. It goes up steeply from České Budějovice. He got to know himself and his style of play,” he says. “Coach Horejš, who was one of the first to use his enormous running abilities, has a big share in this.”

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He saw Schranz struggle with tragedy when he lost his beloved dad Dušan three years ago. “Daddy must be proud of him.”

Too bad he couldn’t be there to see Ivan score the winning goal for Belgium. Or when he failed to defend the last car in the set time, so that his goal sent the proud Englishmen out of the tournament. After all, even Ježdík, who played in the league in Teplice or Ostrava, could hardly hold back tears of emotion: “I can’t even describe it. We were excited. A fantastic feeling, something unreal.”

It was not just about work, but about the friendship that has connected him with Schranz for many years. He surprised almost everyone with his form at the Euros.

He’s had a busy season. Due to health problems, he played only 21 league matches in Slavia, in which he scored two goals. If someone had told him after such a year that he would score more goals at the European Championship, it would have been a wet rag on the forehead.

Carriers for the Euro

Photo: List of News

Water carriers

“We trust Ivan,” emphasizes Ježdík. “He’s a great guy and this is an incredible story of how it all came together. I really wish him the best. He showed what he has shown in the last two or three seasons in the Czech league and European competitions.”

What exactly? Speed, runs behind the defense, hard work and a flair for goals. And also the fact that his position is mainly on the right wing, not necessarily on the wingback, as Slavia’s coach Jindřich Trpišovský used to fly with him in times of need.

Coach Calzona believed in him

“Ivan is a fantastic boy by nature. He will never say no to you, every time he gets comfortable with the role he gets. At Slavia, everyone is fighting for a spot, there is tremendous competition. Ivan can be used everywhere and the coach uses that,” Ježdík understands. “He’s a team player. Goals are of course a joy, but he is really happy to start. He is aware of where he is,” Slavists believe.

But the front simply stands out more. “Everything can play in the top three,” Ježdík nods. “He has changed his style of play a bit, he is no longer just a run-up player behind the defense, but he is also able to play balls to the feet. He’s starting to show it more, he’s interesting with the ball.”

What is behind it? “He now has family comfort at home. More things came together. Coach Calzona believed in him, you could feel it from the beginning. Ivan repaid him, and the entire nation. And by that I don’t just mean goals, but overall work,” praises Ježdík.

However, Schranz will have to overcome the unfortunate elimination with England first. “I scored the third goal of the tournament, but so what? We might regret it for the rest of our lives. We may not get another chance like this to rewrite history. In the end, we will deal with it somehow, but it will take a long time,” he said.

We’ll see, Schranz’s agent says.