FK Železiarne Podbrezová

Podbrezová
Full nameFutbalový klub Železiarne Podbrezová
NicknamesŽeleziari (Ironmongers)
Horehronci (People from Upper Hron Region)
Founded1920; 106 years ago (1920)
as RTJ Podbrezová
GroundZELPO Aréna
Capacity4,061
Owner(s)Železiarne Podbrezová a.s. 35%
Stanislav Lobotka 35%
Other investors 30%
PresidentJúlius Kriváň
ManagerŠtefan Markulík
LeagueSlovak First Football League
2025–26Slovak First Football League, 6th of 12
Websitewww.zpfutbal.sk

FK Železiarne Podbrezová (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈʐelezɪɐrɲe ˈpɔdbrezɔʋaː]) is a Slovak football team, based in the village of Podbrezová.

History

Podbrezová was formed in 1920 as RTJ Podbrezová. The club is also particularly famous for its youth program that has produced many Slovak talents over the years, including Juraj Kucka, Michal Breznaník, Róbert Pich, Peter Štyvar and Marek Bažík. Podbrezová has been cooperating with the Italian club Inter, in a worldwide social project – Inter Campus (2002–2008). Argentine midfielder Pablo Podio, who played for Podbrezová, is a product of the Inter Campus project. Major achievements in the history of the club include: second place in the I. liga in the 2007/2008 season and the semifinals of the Slovak Cup in the 2001/2002 season. In 2009–10, the club withdrew from the Slovak First League.

Slovak First Football League promotion

In 2013–14, Podbrezová were promoted to the top flight of Slovak football for the first time in their history. The success was born under the leadership of coach Jaroslav Kentoš. The keys players were Vratislav Greško, Blažej Vaščák, Jozef Hanák, Michal Pančík and others.

Events timeline

Affiliated clubs

The following clubs are affiliated with Podbrezová:

Honours

Domestic

Transfers

FK have produced numerous players that have gone on to represent the Slovak national football team. Over the last period there has been a steady increase of young players leaving Podbrezová after a few years of first-team football and moving on to play football in bigger Slovak clubs (Juraj Kucka to MFK Ružomberok in 2007, Michal Breznaník to ŠK Slovan Bratislava in 2007, Mahmudu Bajo to Dunajská Streda in 2024, Jakub Kiwior to MŠK Žilina in 2019) and European clubs of a higher standard (Peter Kováčik to Italian Como 1907 in 2024 and Roland Galčík and Radek Šiler to Portuguese Rio Ave F.C. in 2026). The same year moved also Patrik Blahút and Richard Ludha to Czech league 1. FC Slovácko and FK Teplice.. The top transfer was agreed in 2024 when 20 years old forward Moses Cobnan moved to Russian FC Krasnodar for a fee €1.75 million.

Record transfers

Rank Player To Fee Year
1.Nigeria Moses CobnanRussia FC Krasnodar€1.75 million2023
2.Czech Republic Radek ŠilerPortugal Rio Ave€1.6 million2026
3.The Gambia Alasana YirajangSlovakia Slovan Bratislava€1 million2025
4.Slovakia Filip MielkeCzech Republic FC Hradec Králové€700.0002026
5.Slovakia Peter KováčikItaly Como 1907€600.0002024
6.Nigeria Ridwan SanusiSlovakia MŠK Žilina€450.0002025
7.The Gambia Mahmudu BajoSlovakia Dunajská Streda€350.0002024
8.Poland Jakub KiwiorSlovakia MŠK Žilina€250.0002019
9.Ghana Mark AssinorUkraine LNZ Cherkasy€230.0002024

*-unofficial fee

Sponsorship

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
1998–1999 Puma none
1999–2001 ATAK Sportswear
2001–2002 NIKE Železiarne Podbrezová
2002–2004 ŽP Trade
2004–2005 Puma none
2005–2006 NIKE ŽP Trade
2006–2007 ALEA none
2007–2010 Jako Železiarne Podbrezová
2010–2022 Adidas
2022–present Niké

Club partners

source

Current squad

As of 21 September 2026 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
5 DF  SLO Rene Lampreht
6 MF  NGR Samson Tijani (on loan from Czech Republic Dukla Prague)
7 FW  GEO Luka Silagadze
8 MF  CZE Ondřej Deml
9 MF  SVK Martin Chrien
11 FW  MNE Balša Mrvaljević
13 MF  SVK Vincent Chyla
14 MF  UKR Maksym Khyminets
15 DF  SVK René Paraj
17 MF  GHA Alexander Amoafo
19 DF  GAM Saidy Saibo
20 DF  SVK Ján Krivák
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 MF  SVK Šimon Faško
25 DF  CZE Radek Kejval
26 MF  SVK Samuel Štefánik
27 FW  CRO Karlo Miljanić
31 GK  SVK Martin Trnovský
33 FW  SVK Michal Duraj
37 DF  SVK Jakub Luka
41 GK  SVK Ivan Rehák
66 MF  SVK Matúš Rusnák (on loan from Czech Republic Baník Ostrava)
70 GK  SVK Lukáš Domanisky
77 MF  SVK Peter Kováčik

For recent transfers, see List of Slovak football transfers summer 2026

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
6 DF  GHA Ebenezer Kpozo (at Humenné until 30 June 2027)
12 MF  SVK Tobiáš Diviš (at Sandecja Nowy Sącz until 30 June 2027)
No. Pos. Nation Player
44 MF  UKR Andriy Havrylenko (at Komárno until 30 June 2027)
— GK  SVK Matej Jurička (at IF Gnistan until 31 December 2026)

Staff

Current technical staff

As of 6 July 2024
Staff Job title
Slovakia Štefan Markulík Manager
Poland Kamil Wilczek Assistant manager
Slovakia Boris Godál Assistant manager
Canada Dominic Rajna Assistant manager
Slovakia Miroslav Poliaček General Manager
Slovakia František Kunzo Team Leader
Slovakia Miroslav Seman Goalkeeping coach
Slovakia Ernest Caban Team Doctor
Slovakia Richard Horňák Fitness coach
Slovakia Dárius Kolodzej Masseur

Club officials

Position Name
PresidentSlovakia Július Kriváň
Vice presidentSlovakia Marián Kurčík
Vice presidentSlovakia Vladimír Soták ml.

Results

League and Cup history

Slovak League only (1993–present)

Year Division (name) Position Domestic cup Top scorer (goals)
2003–04 (III) 2. liga 1 Round 1 ?
2004–05 (II) 1. liga 4th Round 1 ?
2005–06 (II) 1. liga 9/16 Round 2 ?
2006–07 (II) 1. liga 8/12 Round 1 ?
2007–08 (II) 1. liga 2/12 Round 1 Slovakia Róbert Tomko (13)
2008–09 (II) 1. liga 3/12 Round 2 ?
2009–10 (II) 1. liga 12/12 Round 2 ?
2010–11 (III) 2. liga 1/12 Round 3 ?
2011–12 (II) 2. liga 2/12 Round 2 Nigeria Hector Tubonemi (11)
2012–13 (II) 2. liga 2/12 Round 2 Nigeria Hector Tubonemi (12)
2013–14 (II) 2. liga 1/12 Round 2 Slovakia Blažej Vaščák (13)
2014–15 (I) Fortuna Liga 11/12 Round 3 Slovakia Blažej Vaščák (7)
2015–16 (I) Fortuna Liga 8/12 Round 4 4 players (5)
2016–17 (I) Fortuna Liga 5/12 Round 4 Netherlands Endy Opoku (7)
2017–18 (I) Fortuna Liga 9/12 Round 5 Netherlands Endy Opoku (5)
2018–19 (I) Fortuna Liga 12/12 Round of 16 Slovakia Dávid Leško (8)
2019–20 (II) 2.liga 4/16 Round 3 Slovakia Martin Pribula (5)
2020–21 (II) 2.liga 4/15 Round 4 Slovakia Roland Galčík (11)
2021–22 (II) 2.liga 1/16 Round 4 Slovakia Daniel Pavúk (16)
2022–23 (I) Fortuna Liga 4/12 Semi-finals Nigeria Moses Cobnan (9)
2023–24 (I) Niké Liga 6/12 Semi-finals Nigeria Ridwan Sanusi (7)
2024–25 (I) Niké Liga 6/12 Round of 16 The Gambia Alasana Yirajang (9)
2025–26 (I) Niké Liga 6/12 Semi-finals Czech Republic Radek Šiler (13)

Player records

Most goals

# Nat. Name Goals
1 Slovakia Roland Galčík 50
2 Slovakia Daniel Pavúk 34
3 Slovakia Peter Kováčik 28
4 Slovakia Blažej Vaščák 22
5 Slovakia Michal Breznaník 21

Players whose name is listed in bold are still active.

Notable players

Had international caps for their respective countries

For full list, see Category:ŽP Šport Podbrezová players

Notable managers

References

  1. ↑ "Oslovil ho nastavený projekt. Stanislav Lobotka jedným z vlastníkov bývalého klubu Fortuna ligy".
  2. ↑ Podbrezovú vylúčili z prvej ligy. Na vlastnú žiadosť Archived 26 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine 19 March 2012, aktualne.atlas.sk
  3. ↑ "FO ŽP Podbrezová - História oddielu". Archived from the original on 29 May 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  4. ↑ "Podbrezová s novým názvom, podpísala zmluvu s juniorom Káčeríkom". ProFutbal.sk. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  5. ↑ "Podbrezová nechce ustúpiť z pozícií, črtá sa spolupráca s Turkami". ProFutbal.sk. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  6. ↑ "Zhodnotenie jesennej časti a novinky v sezóne 2022/2023". 12 December 2022.
  7. ↑ "Farmou FK Železiarne Podbrezová sa stalo TJ Baník Kalinovo". FK Železiarne Podbrezová (in Slovak). 7 July 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  8. ↑ "Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  9. ↑ "Juraj Kucka si vyzlečie ružomberský dres". myliptov.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  10. ↑ "Po peknej kariére návrat domov, Podbrezová ulovila bývalého reprezentanta". Futbalový svet (in Slovak). 7 June 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  11. ↑ Kubove, Matej (18 July 2024). "Bajo prestupuje do Dunajskej Stredy". FK Železiarne Podbrezová (in Slovak). Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "Slováci urobili super kšeft. Odpísaný Poliak má cveng, zarobí im milióny". sportnet.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  13. ↑ Teraz.sk (3 June 2024). "Kováčik prestúpil z Podbrezovej do talianskeho Coma". TERAZ.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  14. ↑ https://sport.aktuality.sk/futbal/clanok/nike-liga-roland-galcik-prestupil-do-rio-ave-2026071615275200208
  15. ↑ https://www.denniksport.sk/futbal/c/radek-siler-prestup-podbrezova-portugalsko-rio-ave-spoluhrac-galcik-2026-2027
  16. ↑ Kubove, Matej (18 January 2024). "Patrik Blahút odchádza do Slovácka". FK Železiarne Podbrezová (in Slovak). Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  17. ↑ Kubove, Matej (3 January 2024). "Richard Ludha prestupuje z Podbrezovej do Teplíc". FK Železiarne Podbrezová (in Slovak). Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  18. ↑ "Lukratívny obchod nováčika Fortuna ligy! Krasnodar získal jedného z najlepších kanonierov súťaže". Šport.sk. 7 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  19. ↑ https://www.denniksport.sk/futbal/c/podbrezova-generalny-manazer-miroslav-poliacek-rozhovor-radek-siler-prestup-rio-ave-portugalsko
  20. ↑ https://www.denniksport.sk/futbal/c/radek-siler-komentar-portugalsko-rio-ave-9-september-2026
  21. ↑ https://www.denniksport.sk/futbal/c/alasana-yirajang-slovan-bratislava-rozhovor
  22. ↑ https://www.denniksport.sk/futbal/c/filip-mielke-rozhovor-prestup-z-podbrezova-do-hradec-kralove-ceska-liga
  23. ↑ https://sportnet.sme.sk/spravy/futbal-peter-kovacik-prestup-podbrezova-taliansko-como-serie-a/
  24. ↑ https://parameter.sk/1270796/a-dac-nal-tenyleg-erosites-tortent-a-slovan-regi-kozonsegkedvencet-hozott-a-millios-csatar-helyere-mig-nagyszombatban-a-csallokozt-is-megjart-tamadotol-varjak-a-golokat-igy-zajlott-a-nyari/
  25. ↑ "2. predkolo KL: DAC vs. Zira 🏆 preview, analýza, tipy". www.betarena.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  26. ↑ "Žilina šla do likvidácie, on zostal a bral pár stoviek. Dnes hrá vážne o anglický titul". sportnet.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  27. ↑ "Mladé pušky v DAC-e, v Komárne udreli v hodine dvanástej, Slovan pritvrdil – takto posilňovali tímy Niké ligy počas leta". Paraméter (in Slovak). Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  28. ↑ "Partneri". FK Železiarne Podbrezová.