Peter Pekarík

Slovak footballer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Peter Pekarík

Peter Pekarík (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈpeter ˈpekariːk]; born 30 October 1986) is a Slovak professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Dynamo České Budějovice and the Slovakia national team.

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Peter Pekarík
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Pekarík with Hertha BSC in 2012
Personal information
Full name Peter Pekarík[1]
Date of birth (1986-10-30) 30 October 1986 (age 38)[1]
Place of birth Žilina, Czechoslovakia
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
České Budějovice
Number 22
Youth career
Žilina
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2009 Žilina 111 (5)
2004–2005Dubnica (loan) 27 (0)
2009–2012 VfL Wolfsburg 55 (0)
2011–2012Kayserispor (loan) 27 (0)
2012–2024 Hertha BSC 243 (5)
2024–2025 Žilina 7 (1)
2025– České Budějovice 1 (0)
International career
2006– Slovakia 132 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 February 2025
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:23, 9 September 2024 (UTC)
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Club career

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MŠK Žilina

Born in Žilina, Pekarík played football at the youth section of his local club.[3] His Corgoň Liga debut came for ZŤS Dubnica.[3] In his first season, he played 27 matches and came back to MŠK Žilina in summer 2005.[3] Pekarík won the Corgoň Liga in the 2006–07 season, playing 35 matches.[4][better source needed]

Germany and loan to Kayserispor

Following great performances in the 2008–09 Slovak Superliga, Pekarík and signed a four-and-a-half-year contract for Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg in January 2009.[5] On 31 January 2009, he made his Bundesliga debut during a 1–1 draw against 1. FC Köln, only to be replaced by Cristian Zaccardo at half-time.[6] Except for one game, Pekarík played in all matches of the second half as Wolfsburg won its first Bundesliga title.[7]

In August 2011, Pekarík joined Turkish Süper Lig club Kayserispor for the 2011–12 season on loan.[8]

After a loan in Turkey, Pekarík returned to Germany, signing for Hertha BSC.[9] On 31 March 2017, in his eighth season in Germany, he scored his first Bundesliga goal in a 3–1 loss against 1899 Hoffenheim which was his 151st Bundesliga match.[10]

Return to MŠK Žilina

On 26 September 2024, Pekarík returned to his hometown club MŠK Žilina after 15 years of playing abroad, signing a contract until 30 January 2025.[11]

Dynamo České Budějovice

On 10 February 2025, Pekarík signed a contract with Dynamo České Budějovice until the end of the season as a free agent.[12]

International career

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Early international career

On 10 December 2006, Pekarík debuted for the Slovak senior squad in a friendly match against United Arab Emirates.[13] He scored his first international goal in a 7–0 home victory over San Marino.[14]

Pekarík was included the Slovakia squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[15] After being an unused substitute in the opening match against New Zealand, he started the second and third Group F matches, assisting Kamil Kopúnek's decisive third goal in the 3–2 win over Italy that qualified Slovakia for the knockout stage.[16] He went on to start in the team's round of 16 match against the Netherlands, where they lost 2–1.[16]

Pekarík played in all four of Slovakia's matches at UEFA Euro 2016,[17] where the team reached the round of 16, losing to Germany[18] and all three of their matches at UEFA Euro 2020.[19]

2020s

On 1 June 2021, Pekarík played his 100th match for Slovakia in a friendly 1–1 draw against Bulgaria.[20] He was named in Slovakia's squad for UEFA Euro 2024 and played in all four of the team's matches at the tournament. This made him one of two players, along with the Juraj Kucka, to play in all eleven of Slovakia's matches in UEFA European Championships as an independent nation.[21]

Style of play

British newspaper The Guardian praised Pekarík for his important leadership qualities as a centre-back.[22]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 27 May 2023[23]
More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
MFK Dubnica (loan) 2004–05 Slovak Superliga 270270
Žilina 2005–06 Slovak Superliga 27240312
2006–07 350350
2007–08 31040350
2008–09 183100283
Total 11151801295
VfL Wolfsburg 2008–09 Bundesliga 16020180
2009–10 1600070230
2010–11 23011241
Total 5503170651
Kayserispor (loan) 2011–12 Süper Lig 27020290
Hertha BSC 2012–13 2. Bundesliga 19000190
2013–14 Bundesliga 31000310
2014–15 30020320
2015–16 12010130
2016–17 3113020361
2017–18 1701050230
2018–19 300030
2019–20 900090
2020–21 23311244
2021–22 2712020310
2022–23 500050
Total 207510170202265
Career total 454101523202050312
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International

As of match played 8 September 2024[24]
More information National team, Year ...
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Slovakia 200610
200700
200850
2009121
2010100
201180
201280
201360
201480
201551
2016100
201770
201850
201960
202060
2021120
202260
202390
202480
Total1322
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Scores and results list Slovakia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Pekarík goal.
More information No., Date ...
List of international goals scored by Peter Pekarík
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
16 June 2009[14]Tehelné pole, Bratislava, Slovakia San Marino2–07–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
227 March 2015[14]Štadión pod Dubňom, Žilina, Slovakia Luxembourg3–03–0UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
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Honours

MŠK Žilina

VfL Wolfsburg

Hertha BSC

Slovakia

See also

References

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