ŠK Slovan Bratislava
ŠK Slovan Bratislava is a professional football club based in Bratislava, Slovakia, that plays in the Slovak First Football League. Founded as I. ČSŠK Bratislava in 1919, the club changed its name to Slovan Bratislava in 1953. Slovan is the most successful team in Slovakia with the most titles in both league and cup in the country.
Slovan Bratislava became the first and so far only club in Slovakia as well as former Czechoslovakia to win one of the European cup competitions, the Cup Winners' Cup when they defeated FC Barcelona in the final in Basel in 1969. The club also supplied seven players to the victorious Czechoslovakia team of UEFA Euro 1976.
History
Historical names
- I. ČSŠK Bratislava
- ŠK Bratislava
- ZSJ Sokol NV Bratislava
- DŠO Slovan ÚNV Bratislava
- TJ Slovan ÚNV Bratislava
- TJ Slovan Bratislava Dimitrov
- TJ Slovan CHZJD Bratislava
- '''ŠK Slovan Bratislava'''
1919–1944: early years
I. ČsŠK became the champions of Slovakia in 1922. Notable players from the early era were Pavol Šoral, Štefan Čambal and Štefan Priboj. In the spring of 1938 anti-Jewish sentiments penetrated into the club, and the victim was coach József Braun, who was one of the many Bratislava inhabitants who had to involuntarily leave the city. Under the terms of the 1938 Munich Agreement Czechoslovakia was dissolved, leading to the emergence of the Slovak Republic. At this point the club name was changed to ŠK Bratislava. On 26 September 1940 ŠK Bratislava played its first game at the new stadium, Tehelné pole.
The first international meeting at the new venue was on 27 October 1940, when ŠK Bratislava and Hertha Berlin played out a 2–2 draw. In the separate Slovak league, ŠK Bratislava won the title four times in the period from 1939 to 1945. Slovan was the first Czechoslovak team to use the WM formation. The team's first foreign opponent after World War II was Ferencvárosi TC. ŠK Bratislava lost 1–0, but won the Central European Cup 2–1 over Hungary before 20,000 spectators at Tehelné pole. In this period former players of I. ČSŠK Bratislava Ferdinand Daučík and Leopold "Jim" Šťastný served as coaches for ŠK Bratislava.
1945–1993: Czechoslovak League
The team name changed again in 1948, to Sokol NV Bratislava. The team met with success in 1949, when they became the first champions of the re-formed Czechoslovakia. Outstanding players from this era included Emil Pažický, Gejza Šimanský, Bozhin Laskov, Viktor Tegelhoff, and Teodor Reimann.Anton Bulla, the coach in 1953, added eight new players to team. In 1961–62 the team defeated Red Star Bratislava in the national league for the title. Under the influence of political and economic pressures and interests, TJ ÚNV Slovan and TJ Dimitrov merged to create CHZJD Slovan Bratislava on 5 August 1961.
File:Slovan 63-64.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Slovan squad from 1963 to 1964, with national team players like Schrojf, Popluhár, Jokl and Cvetler.
1962 was a successful year, as the Czechoslovakia national team were defeated 3–1 in the FIFA World Cup Final">1970 FIFA World Cup">FIFA World Cup Final in Chile, obtaining the silver, and repeating the success of the 1934 FIFA World Cup Final in Rome. Slovan players included goalkeeper Viliam Schrojf and defender Ján Popluhár.
Slovan ended the 1967–68 season second in the league, won the cup in Czechoslovakia, and participated in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. The team was managed by former Slovan player Michal Vičan, who focused on fast and simple games. Vičan took the team on a winter tour of Argentina in 1969.
In 1970 the Czechoslovak squad sent to the FIFA World Cup in Mexico included seven players from Slovan: Alexander Vencel, Ján Zlocha, Ivan Hrdlička, Karol Jokl, Ján Čapkovič, Vladimír Hrivnák, and Alexander Horváth. Jozef Vengloš was the coach of the Slovan Bratislava team for part of this era, as well as performing duties coaching at the international level.
In 1976, a Czechoslovak team including six Slovan players won the European title in the European Championships held in Belgrade. Gold medals were given to coach Vengloš, Alexander Vencel, Jozef Čapkovič, Koloman Gogh, Marián Masný, Anton Ondruš, Ján Pivarník, and Ján Švehlík. From the 1977–78, season Slovan were declining. In the 1984–85 season Slovan, led by coaches Ján Hucko and Jozef Obert, left the highest level of competition and were relegated to the Slovak National League.
After three seasons spent in the Slovak National League, Slovan Bratislava were able to return to national competition. In season 1987–88, the team returned to the top leagues under the leadership of coaches Ján Zachar and Jozef Jankech, who later coached the football team|Slovak national team]. Dušan Galis was the coach from 1977 to 1981. In 1991–92, Slovan Bratislava won the Czechoslovak title for the last time. Among the stars on the team were Peter Dubovský, Dušan Tittel, Ladislav Pecko, Vladimir Kinder, Miloš Glonek, Tomáš Stúpala, and Alexander Vencel Jr.
1969: Cup Winners' Cup champions
On 21 May 1969, the team defeated FC Barcelona in the 1969 [European Cup Winners' Cup Final] by a score of 3–2, which is the biggest success in the club's history so far.1993–present: Slovak League
Slovan won titles in the Slovak league in the 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons. For the next two years, MFK Košice won the title. Slovan returned to the Slovak throne in the 1998–99 season. The stars of the team included coach Stanislav Griga and players Róbert Tomaschek, Miroslav König, Stanislav Varga, Tibor Jančula, and Ladislav Pecko. In the next few years the club's performance was below par and they were in trouble financially. They were forced to sell some of their best players. At the end of the 2003–04 season, the team was relegated to the Slovak Second League, where they spent two seasons. After two years, in the 2010–11 season Slovan won the double with coach Karel Jarolím.Grounds
1940–2009: old Tehelné pole
, Slovan's previous stadium, was built during the first Slovak Republic, when Nazi Germany occupied Petržalka in 1938 and Bratislava lost almost all of its sporting facilities. The construction lasted from 1939 to 1944 and the stadium became home ground for Slovan Bratislava. The stadium was officially opened in September 1940 with 25,000 places, and the first international match was played on 27 October 1940, with Slovan Bratislava playing against Hertha Berlin, ending in 2–2 tie. The old stadium underwent reconstruction in 1961, which added second tribune, boosting its capacity to 45,000 and modernising by adding score table, artificial light and revamping the field. However, the stadium could hold up even 50,000 spectators, and just before breakup of Czechoslovakia, it was the largest one in use and was the home ground for Czechoslovak national team.The stadium was reconstructed once more in the 1990s to the "all-seater" stadium, reducing the capacity into 30,000. The last match at the old Tehelné pole stadium was played in November 2009.
2009–2018: Pasienky
During the demolition of the old Tehelné pole, the planning of the construction of the new stadium and during the construction itself, the Pasienky Stadium became the temporary home ground for Slovan.2019–present: new Tehelné pole
In September 2016, after many years of negotiations and discussions, the building of the new stadium begun. The new stadium was opened on 3 March 2019 with a ceremony before the derby match against Spartak Trnava. The new stadium was built at the same place where Slovan has had its original home. It is a locality, which is typically connected with sports activities in Bratislava. The capacity of the new stadium is 22,500 spectators and fulfils UEFA 4-star category criteria.Support
The main ultras group is called Ultras Slovan or Sektor C - according to the section in which they are situated during home matches. Previously, the main ultras group was called Belasá šlachta. The major hooligan firm is called Ultras Slovan Pressburg.Slovan supporters maintain friendly relations with fans of Zbrojovka Brno, Austria Wien, as well as Polish club Wisła Kraków.
Slovan Bratislava supporters have a history of involvement in far-right politics and hooliganism. In April 2007, fans commemorated Adolf Hitler's birthday during a home match in Senec, displaying a large banner with Hitler’s image and chanting slogans while giving Nazi salutes, though the police investigation was suspended due to lack of evidence. In July 2007, during an away match against Rapid Vienna in the UEFA Intertoto Cup, Slovan hooligans blocked traffic, destroyed property, and attempted to breach the opposing fan section, setting fires in the stands. In September 2007, fans of rival Spartak Trnava clashed with Slovan fans in Bratislava, resulting in injuries to police and security officers and multiple detentions; local authorities did not fully resolve the incidents. In October 2007, Slovan fans in Trenčín invaded the home section, stole banners, and engaged in physical assaults, with arrests and investigations following the incident.
The fanbase has also been involved in international far-right networks. In March 2022, a neo-Nazi banner featuring a Nazi SS version of a Totenkopf and the motto "My honor means loyalty" appeared at a Vienna match, linked to Slovan Bratislava supporters in coordination with far-right Austrian groups. Individual members of the club’s leadership have also faced legal consequences for public expressions of far-right ideology; in 2018, Ivan Kmotrik Jr., vice president and manager of Slovan Bratislava, performed a Nazi salute at a Slovak Cup match and was fined by both the Slovak Football Association and a court in 2019.
In October 2019, UEFA ordered Slovan Bratislava to play their Europa League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers in an empty stadium as punishment for incidents in previous European qualifiers that season, including chants targeting Greek, Albanian, and Jewish people, and an offensive banner displayed during an August playoff against PAOK of Greece. UEFA's appeals panel dismissed the Slovak club’s appeal against the one-match stadium closure. UEFA also fined Slovan €50,000 for the racist incidents, with an additional €41,750 for other offences, including fan disorder. UEFA initially banned all spectators, but Slovan circumvented the ban under a new regulation allowing children from local schools or football academies to attend free of charge. Thus, the stadium was filled with 20,000 under-14s and their chaperones. Wolves supporters were initially banned as well, though a small number were later able to gain entry through VIP allocations or last-minute arrangements.
During a 12 April 2025 match against DAC Dunajská, Slovan Bratislava fans displayed overtly nationalist and anti-Hungarian behaviour. They unfurled a banner depicting a balaclava-clad Slovan ultra "teaching a lesson" to children wearing DAC and Ferencvárosi TC kits, accompanied by a blackboard and inscriptions mocking Hungary and asserting Slovak dominance. Anti-Hungarian chants were a constant feature, and the timing of the match coincided with a historic date commemorating the deportation of ethnic Hungarians from Slovakia in 1947.
The club itself has issued official statements rejecting racism and intolerance. In July 2020, ŠK Slovan Bratislava stated that banners displayed by supporters containing political content did not represent the club, and emphasised the multinational composition of its squad as evidence of inclusivity. The club also indicated willingness to cooperate with authorities in banning individuals if legally sanctioned.
Rivalries
Slovan's greatest rival is Spartak Trnava. The derby is the most prestigious match in the Slovak football calendar.Matches against DAC Dunajská Streda are not considered derbies, but in general they are the second most prestigious fixture in the Slovak league after the traditional derby.
Slovan's major rival teams in Bratislava were Inter Bratislava and Petržalka. The rivalry between Slovan and Inter had a long and rich history as both teams played in the Czechoslovak First League. The rivalry with Petržalka peaked after 2000.
On the international scene, Slovan's rivals are mainly clubs from neighboring countries. Namely, Sparta Prague, Rapid Wien or Ferencváros.
Honours
Domestic
Slovakia- Slovak First Football League
- * 15px Winners : 1926, 1927, 1930, 1932, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25
- * 15px Runners-up : 1938–39, 1942–43, 2000–01, 2009–10, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
- Slovak Cup
- * 15px Winners : 1969–70, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1975–76, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21
- * 15px Runners-up : 1970–71, 1977–78, 2002–03, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2021–22, 2022–23
- Slovak Super Cup
- * 15px Winners : 1993–94, 1995–96, 2008–09, 2013–14
- * 15px Runners-up : 1994–95, 1996–97, 2009–10
- Czechoslovak First League
- * 15px Winners : 1949, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1969–70, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1991–92
- * 15px Runners-up : 1952, 1956, 1959–60, 1963–64, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1975–76, 1990–91
- Czechoslovak Cup
- * 15px Winners : 1961–62, 1962–63, 1967–68, 1973–74, 1981–82
- * 15px Runners-up : 1964–65, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1975–76, 1982–83, 1988–89
- 1.SNL
- * 15px Winners: 1987–88
European
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
- * 15px Winners: 1968–69
- Intertoto Cup
- * 15px Group winners : 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1990, 1992, 1994
- Mitropa Cup
- * 15px Runners-up: 1963–64
Results
Detailed seasons
Key to colours and symbols:| 1st or W | Winners |
| 2nd or RU | Runners-up |
| Current Season | |
| Promoted | |
| Relegated | |
| Top scorer in division |
Key to league record:
- Pld = Matches played
- W = Matches won
- D = Matches drawn
- L = Matches lost
- GF = Goals scored
- GA = Goals against
- Pts = Points
- % = Percentage of points earned out of the total possible number of points
- Pos = Final position
- NH = Not held
- QR = Qualifying round
- QR1 = First qualifying round
- QR2 = Second qualifying round, etc.
- PO = Play-off round
- GS = Group stage
- LP = League phase
- R1 = First round
- R2 = Second round, etc.
- R16 = Round of 16
- QF = Quarter-finals
- SF = Semi-finals
- RU = Runners-up
- W = Winners
European record
UEFA ranking
ranking as of 21 December 2025:| Rank | Team | Coefficient | ||||
| 63 |  PlayersCurrent squad''For recent transfers, see List of Slovak football transfers summer 2025 and List of Slovak football transfers winter_2025-26''Reserve squadPersonnelCoaching staff
|
