Erik Jirka


Erik Jirka is a Slovak professional footballer who plays as a winger for Ekstraklasa club GKS Katowice.

Club career

Spartak Trnava

Jirka is a product of the Spartak Trnava youth academy. During the spring round of the 2013/2014 season, he was included in the Spartak B team. On 25 May 2014, in the 32nd round of the 2nd League match against FK Pohronie, he made his senior debut. In the 2014/2015 season, he was registered as a first-team player, although he mainly played for the reserves. On 8 November 2014, he made his debut for Spartak's first team in an away 0–0 draw against MFK Ružomberok, coming on off the bench in stoppage time for Ján Vlasko. On 18 April 2015, he scored his first goal for Spartak B in the 3rd round of the 2nd League match against FK Pohronie, which was also his first goal at senior level. In the 2016/2017 season, he became a full first-team player. On 14 July 2016, in an away match in the second qualifying round of the Europa League against Armenian club Shirak Gyumri, he scored his debut goal for the Spartak first team. Shortly afterwards, on 31 July 2016, in an away match against MFK Ružomberok, which ended in a 1–1 draw, he recorded his first top-flight goal. In the 2017/18 season, Jirka won the Slovak league title with Spartak.

Red Star Belgrade

In September 2018, Jirka signed a four-year contract with Red Star Belgrade, effective from January 2019. However, in July 2019, he was sent out on loan to fellow Serbian club Radnički Niš, along with Dejan Meleg, to get more playing time.
In January 2020, Jirka was sent on another loan, this time to Polish club Górnik Zabrze. The same year in August, he was sent on a third loan since arriving at Red Star Belgrade, this time to the Spanish side Mirandés for the entire 2020–21 season with an option to buy at the end of a season. On 17 July 2021, Jirka signed with Oviedo a two-year contract with a further year dependent on the completion of objectives.

International career

Jirka debuted for the Slovak senior squad on 1 June 2021 in a friendly match against Bulgaria. In March 2022, he was called up as an alternative footballer to Ivan Schranz for two friendly matches against Norway and Finland. Jirka scored his first international goal against the latter opponent on 29 March.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
129 March 2022Estadio Nueva Condomina, Murcia, Spain2–02–0Friendly
222 September 2022Anton Malatinský Stadium, Trnava, Slovakia1–11–22022–23 UEFA Nations League C

Honours

Spartak Trnava
Red Star Belgrade