“I’m quite busy with my time and work, and I’m also in Spain. However, I would like to find time for an interview,” admitted the former midfielder, who was one of the few Slovaks to play in Sweden. Today (20.45) the northerners will present themselves in the League of Nations at Tehelno pol.
How did you get to Spain?
I work in a company that focuses on wood production. I often go around the world. If an order comes, I go.
So was the transition to civilian employment easy?
But where…
Why?
The change in the rhythm of life is huge. I didn’t have hard days, but years. I had them lined up for years. Then training, then rest, then matches, and that’s how it went week after week. I ended my career at the age of 33. The body was tired after those years in Malaysia.
It was not easy to play there. If it is the monsoon season, the humidity reaches 99 percent. The quality of the league may not be that high, but not everyone can handle the conditions. I returned to Slovakia for a year and a half in Veľký Ludiniec. But that was more for fun in the third league.
Do you play a little more in addition to your workload?
If I were at home more often, I would also play a lower competition. It is not possible without exercise and training.
You also traveled a lot during your career. Are you enjoying it?
That’s the best thing football has given me. I saw the world. A lot of people experience it for a week during the holidays. I got to know the country and the mentality of the people. Sure, I don’t like long trips, but I’ve always liked going on adventures.
You also played in the Slovakian under-21 team…
Yeah, I think it was five meetings. Beautiful memories. The most valuable jersey is very comfortable to wear. I appreciated it. It is not easy to be in the national team. Now younger players are given priority in clubs, but in those days it was not the case. Look at Žilina, which lives from them.
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You also played one duel against Sweden in a team with the then unknown young man Zlatan Ibrahimovic…
That’s true. An exceptional appearance. Shortly after that, he transferred to Ajax. When I saw him, I thought that the boy was somewhere else. He could have played for the 21 team for two more years, but the Swedes immediately took him to the senior team. I’m not even surprised by them.
You came to Artmedia Petržalka in 1999. What is it like for a teenager among the experienced stars of the team?
I actually came to Petržalka twice. First I went from Artmedia to Trenčín and then I returned to Petržalka after the Champions League. The squad was sold out and I was supposed to replace Ján Kozák Jr., who went on loan to West Bromwich Albion.
But some stars stayed there, didn’t they?
Of course, Balász Borbély, Marián Čišovský, Juraj Čobej and others were there. I used to watch them on TV and now we were teammates. I have actually known Boby (Borbély, note) since 1999.
We both came to Petržalka as young players. We were together in the national team. Quality and confidence were higher after the Champions League group stage. I was looking forward to it, it was a new experience for me.
Čišovský is no longer with us, he lost his battle with an insidious disease in 2020. How do you remember him?
It’s hard for me to talk about it… Čiša and I later played together in Romania, when he and Boby were in Timișoara. Sad when a young and good person leaves like this. (sighs)
I learned this when I was in Norway. I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t have any information, I immediately called Balász. Such a tragedy. He was a good guy.
You came to Petržalka in the period when Vladimír Weiss senior became the head coach. what was he like
I can only thank him. He gave me a chance in 1999 as a young boy. At that time, it was not a common phenomenon in Slovakia. Many of my peers from the national team did not play regularly, but I had a chance thanks to Weiss.
He still coaches at a high level. Do you follow his achievements?
What to add to them? Weiss is the best coach in Slovak history. That says it all. He went through certain phases, but everywhere he confirmed the quality. He did not fail anywhere, not even now in Slovan.
To get him in the Champions League at this time is unreal. If the club from Slovak conditions – although the Whites have above-standard ones – gets among the cream of the crop, it’s a big deal.
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Goalkeeper Čobej admitted to Športweb that you must not betray Weiss, otherwise you are finished. Does it fit?
I watched him as a boy on TV. And then I sat in the dressing room, listening to his instructions, and next to me were the players, whom I also watched on the screens. How could I betray him?
I wouldn’t forgive myself. Weiss made it to Italy in the Czechoslovak jersey for the 1990 World Championships in competition with players from Sparta and Slavia. He also had authority because of what he showed as a player.
Before leaving for Sweden, you played in Slovan for a year. So are you currently rooting for him in the Champions League?
Of course, but I would support any Slovak club.
How did your move to Swedish Ljungskile come about?
Coach Ladislav Borbély helped me with that. I don’t know exactly how it was. I guess he knew a manager there. I was there for a six-day trial, and we agreed on a half-year hosting.
how was it
They were not miles ahead of us then. There was more money going around. But then I went to Romania and it couldn’t be compared. Northerners are guys, it was very physical. It didn’t fit me at all.
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Are Swedes cold in private?
I heard it too, but we had a great relationship. Norwegians are cold. The country was nice, neither life nor mentality was a problem. However, physical football in Sweden does.
Was the Romanian league diametrically different?
At the end of the second millennium, they had a legendary team around Gheorghe Hagi. Quality footballers were born there, the league was at a high level. Everyone wanted the ball at the foot, no one was hiding behind the opponent. I felt much better there in terms of football.
However, the transition of young talents to senior teams was very difficult. Often, smart teenagers finished very early and preferred to go into civilian employment. I can’t explain it.
How did you get from Romania to distant Malaysia?
I remember this very clearly. (laughs) After two and a half years in Romania, I still had some offers. However, I did not want to stay there, I looked for other alternatives. I was 31 years old and former agent Miroslav Bóžik arranged for me to transfer to FC Perak.
In 2011, Google was already working. Have you entered this club into the search engine?
I resisted it at first. It was far away. In the end, it turned out to be my best football experience.
Don’t say…
Indeed.
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What attracted you to Malaysia?
The environment is specific. The pitches are not so well prepared, there are often storms, and the players don’t work as hard either. But they offered me a different perspective on life.
From Perak, you went to one of the most successful clubs in Malaysian history – Selangor FC. Why?
We played the Asian Champions League there. I marched across Asia. Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, India, we even played in the Maldives.
You also met former coach Vladimír Goff there, right?
Yes, even with Peter Chrappan, who was my teammate in Selangor. Goff’s team was better than us and played more football. Paradoxically, it was my last professional fight. I would never have said that I would play it in the Maldives, but it happened. (smile)
Asia sounds exotic. How is life there?
Perfect. If we are talking about Malaysia, the metropolis of Kuala Lumpur is a different world. A modern center, but if you are on the periphery, it will grow close to your heart. It is my favorite of all the countries I have been to. I was there for a year and a half, but I could imagine more years.
Why didn’t it work?
In my first season in Perak, I was about the third best scorer in the league. We got an offer from Selangor. However, only two legionnaires could play in the Malaysian league, but four in the Asian Champions League. So, Peć and I only played the Champions League for half a year.
A really different world, even in terms of football…
I believe, but it was not easy. Sometimes I didn’t see my teammates for eight days when there were two away games. We had to train a lot. We experienced a lot in our free time, but unfortunately – we couldn’t publish it. (laughter)
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Didn’t you resent Slovak football?
No, why? I like to watch the league and the national team. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for them. I was pleased to advance to the 2024 European Championships. It’s a shame that the English ran away from us. We had fun watching our game with the guys from work. Modern, fast, aggressive.
I am also pleased with Slovan. It will be difficult in the Champions League, but he is not choosing. I believe they will get a good result, although both Celtic and Manchester City were somewhere else. The Slav achieved what he could. He made a lot of money, he needs to invest it well.
There are few Slovak players who played in Sweden. How will today’s confrontation in the League of Nations look like?
First of all – I will keep my fingers crossed. Today, almost every opponent in Europe knows how to line up well, defend and be physically prepared. The Swedes also have several quality players.
Slovaks are in a similar situation. They will be playing at home and are slight favorites for me. If they want to get a category higher in the League of Nations and for the second time in history also to the World Cup, they have to overcome such opponents as well.
