Slovak club constants are Skrtel and Hamsik

Martin Skrtel played every minute of the 2010/11 Premier League season, while Jan Mucha did not play a single one. Slovak internationals had very different club experiences.

Marek Hamsik and Martin Skrtel are the Slovaks playing in the most prestigious leagues and at the same time among the biggest pillars of their clubs. While Skrtel did not miss a single minute in last season’s Premier League, Marek Hamsik only missed one Serie A match (due to suspension). Neither Skrtel nor his club have any reason to break up their partnership.

Expensive Hamsik
Hamsik is not in a hurry to leave Napoli either, but admits he would like to try it in an even bigger club. There are interested parties, but his price puts them off. Napoli value him at around 30 million euros, and even big clubs think twice before paying that much for a single player. “I am a Napoli player, I have nothing new to say in this regard,” Hamsik repeated at the national team gathering. And with great probability, that will also be the case next season. Juraj Kucka has also established himself very well in Serie A. He played 17 matches in the spring for Genoa, clocking 1,308 minutes. Milan clubs and Juventus were scouting him, but no transfer move is imminent. Vladimir Weiss Jr. also had a good season – in 23 games he contributed five goals to Rangers’ title win, despite having to end the season early through injury. He would like to extend his loan, but Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini would prefer to see him in a stronger league than the Scottish one. Jan Durica again secured a regular place in the Lokomotiv Moscow lineup, while Kornel Salata settled quickly after arriving in Rostov. Both were among the most used players in their teams this spring.

Mucha and Karhan out of play
Coach David Moyes did not give Jan Mucha a chance to make his Premier League debut. He only played him in two League Cup matches. Already in winter, Legia Warsaw wanted to bring him back on loan, but Everton was against it. Now they are open to letting him go. According to his agent Jozef Tokos, the preference would be to find him a club in the Premier League, with Wigan possibly renewing their interest. Miroslav Karhan last played for Mainz in the 15th Bundesliga round and did not play at all in the spring. He was only twice on the bench, otherwise in the stands. After twelve years abroad, he is returning home – to Spartak Trnava. “I’m looking forward to it,” said the footballer, who will soon turn 35. For coach Vladimir Weiss, he still remains an irreplaceable part of the national team. The positions of Peter Pekarik and Marek Cech worsened after the arrival of new coaches. Pekarik is trying to solve it by leaving Wolfsburg, while Cech (West Bromwich activated their option on him) is staying in the team for now. The seasons of Turkish-based players Robert Vittek, Filip Holosko, and Stanislav Sestak were affected by injuries. Whenever Holosko (whose forced loan eventually helped him) and Sestak were fit, they scored regularly. Holosko would like to return to Besiktas, but the club also has to want it... Sestak’s loan at Ankaragücü expired, and he is returning to Bochum. However, the club remains in the second division, so it is questionable whether Sestak will continue there.