FC VSS Košice
| File:Mfkkosice.png | |||
| Full name | Mestský Futbalový Klub Košice | ||
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| Nickname(s) | žlto-modrí (yellow-blue) | ||
| Founded | 1952 (as Spartak VSS Košice) | ||
| Ground | Štadión Lokomotívy v Čermeli, Košice | ||
| Capacity | 9,000 | ||
| Chairman | Blažej Podolák | ||
| Manager | Radoslav Látal | ||
| League | Fortuna Liga | ||
| 2013–14 | Corgoň Liga, 5th | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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MFK Košice is a professional Slovak first division football club based in Košice. The club, founded in 1952, has won the Slovak League twice, the Slovak Cup five times and the Czechoslovak Cup once. The most successful era of the club was in the 70's and 90's years of the 20th century, which they spent mostly in the top tier of Czechoslovak and Slovak Football. Two of the UEFA Euro 1976 champions, namely Dušan Galis and Jaroslav Pollák, played for Košice.
History
Early history
The first club in the city was founded in 1903 as Kassai AC; Slovak: Košický Atletický Klub; Hungarian: Kassai Atlétikai Club. The club's colours were blue and yellow. In 10's years past century the club competed in Championship of Hungarian country. In 1909 Kassai AC won this Championship. Later they played in eastern group in Slovak-Subcarpathian division during four years 1935-1938. In 1939-40 the club played Hungarian League I. Most successful Kassai AC players were Szaniszló, Šiňovský, Drotár brothers, Klein, Lebenský, Dráb, Pásztor and others. Many years the club was settled at stadium on Sokoljevova Street with capacity 16,000 spectators. The stadium was often full. After ended World War II three city's clubs Kassai AC, Kassai Törekvés and ČsŠK were fused to one club named Jednota Košice. Jednota began played Czechoslovak League since 1945. In first season they ended league as fourth in Group B. It was nice success at the time.
VSS
Kassai AC and Jednota became VSS in 1952. The team was called Strojári; in English: Engineers, due to their main sponsors VSS (East-Slovakian Engineering). VSS was a stable member of the Czechoslovak First League and their best placing was second in 1970-71. In 1971 and 1973 VSS qualified for the UEFA Cup. In 1971 they won 2-1 against Spartak Moscow in the home leg and they drwe 0-0 in Moscow and as a first team from Slovakia progrssed to the group stage of the Cahmpions League. Two years later VSS qualified for the UEFA Cup. Against Honvéd FC they won 1-0 home and lost 2-5 away. Most successful VSS players were Andrej Kvašňák, Titus Buberník, Jaroslav Pollák, Dušan Galis (Euro 1976 Champions both), Anton Švajlen, Ján Pivarník, Jozef Bomba, Jozef Desiatnik and others. VSS was renamed to ZŤS in 1978.
90's
The twice Slovak football champions (1997, 1998) were relegated from the premier division in 2003 after the proposed sale of the club to Italian owners[1] in 2001 by the former owner and late VSŽ steelmaking tycoon Alexander Rezeš fell through. Although Rezeš's[2] dream to turn 1. FC Košice into a top European club never came true, he managed to lift an average second division team to the first group stage of the UEFA Champions' League in 1997/98. However, the next year's failure to make the same stage of the major European competition, and failure to defend the league title, combined with the change of government which undermined the position of the Rezeš clan (Alexander Rezeš was economy minister of Vladimír Mečiar's government in 1994-97) represented the beginning of the end of the "millionaires". Their home stadium was the Všešportový areál.[3][4]
1997-98 Champions League campaign
1. FC famously became the first Slovak club to reach the lucrative UEFA Champions League Group Stages when they did so in the 1997-1998 season. Also during this Champions League campaign, 1. FC Košice became the first club in the Champions League history to record no points at all in the group stage, losing all their six games.
1. FC Košice are best known outside their homeland for their two clashes with Manchester United in the 1997-1998 European Champions League group stages. Manchester United won both legs with the same score, 3-0. During this brief campaign in Europe's most prestigious club competition, Kosice suffered a tragedy when midfielder Milan Čvirik was killed in a car crash at the age of 21.
Recent history
2003-04 season, on the brink of financial collapse and relegation from the second division, the owners of 1. FC, were offered help by the president of Steel Trans Ličartovce Blažej Podolák,[5] one of the favourites to advance to the premier league that season. Steel Trans also paid for the Čermeľ stadium in Košice, where all former 1. FC teams – now under the protective wings of Ličartovce played their matches. In 2004/05 season 1.FC Košice in effect became reserve team of Steel Trans Ličartovce, playing in the third division, group East. Košice, the second largest city in Slovakia, now had no club in the top two divisions (although many can remember two in the Czechoslovak federal league). Another great team from the past, FC Lokomotíva Košice, is in the third division. It was quite difficult to predict the future of football in the city, whose major stadium is in a catastrophic condition and whose football officials turn a deaf ear to cries for help.
Reformed on 17 June 2005, FC Steel Trans Ličartovce was renamed MFK Košice. They ended the season gaining promotion back to the premier league.
Home Stadium
Stadium in city district Čermeľ is a multi-use stadium in Košice, Slovakia. It is currently used mostly for football matches as the home ground of MFK Košice since 1997. The stadium holds 10,787 (8,787 seated) spectators and was built in 1970. Initially was the stadium used by Lokomotíva Košice and 1.FC Košice (now MFK) there are playing since 1997. The Slovakia national football team there played a few matches, but the stadium does not meet UEFA criteria for international events today. The club planned construction of the new stadium for 20,000 spectators in neighbourhood of the old not used Všešportový areál stadium.[6][7][8][9] The estimated cost of the stadium is €28 million. However, the construction was not launched and it is not clear when it starts.[10]
Rivalries
MFK Košice's most important rivalry is with FC Lokomotíva Košice. The match between them is called, Košické Derby (Košice Derby). MFK Košice and Lokomotíva Košice include among historically the most successful football teams in the country. The next biggest rivalry is with 1. FC Tatran Prešov. Matches between these two clubs are referred to as the Východniarske derby (Eastern Slovak derby). They also have rivalries with ŠK Slovan Bratislava, FC Spartak Trnava and MŠK Žilina. MFK Košice supporters are called Viva Košice. MFK Košice supporters maintain friendly relations with fans of MFK Zemplín Michalovce and Czech Sparta Prague.
Historical names
| Club name | Period |
|---|---|
| TJ Spartak VSS | 1952–1956 |
| TJ Spartak | 1956–1957 |
| TJ Jednota | 1957–1962 |
| TJ VSS | 1962–1979 |
| ZŤS | 1979–1990 |
| ŠK Unimex Jednota VSS | 1990–1992 |
| 1. FC | 1992–2004 |
| MFK | 2005– |
Note: The club played 2004–2005 season as Steel Trans Ličartovce reserve squad.
Players
Current squad
As of 4 October 2014.[11] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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For recent transfers, see List of Slovak football transfers summer 2014.
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Reserve team
MFK Košice B are the reserve team of MFK Košice. They currently play in the Slovak 3. Liga (Eastern division). MFK Košice "B" plays home matches at Barca stadium, near Košice.
Squad
Head coach: 
Marek Fabuľa
Assistant coach: Ján Lesniak
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable players
Had international caps for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries while playing for MFK.
Past (and present) players who are the subjects of Wikipedia articles can be found here.
Managerial history
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Honours
- Slovak League First Division/Corgoň Liga (1939 – 1944, 1993 – Present)
- Slovak Cup (1961 – Present)
- Slovak Super Cup (1993 – Present)
- Winners: 1997
- Runners-up: 1998, 2009, 2014
- Slovak League Second Division (1993 – Present)
- Champions: 2005–06
- Czechoslovak First League (1925 – 1938, 1945 – 1993)
- Runners-up: 1970–71
- Czechoslovak Cup (1961 – 1993)
- Winners: 1992–93
- Runners-up: 1963–64, 1972–73, 1979–80
Košice in Europe
UEFA-administered
| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Agg. | Home leg | Away leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971–72 | UEFA Cup | 1st. Round |  Spartak Moscow
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2–3 | 2–1 | 0–2 |
| 1973–74 | UEFA Cup | 1st. Round |  Budapest Honvéd
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3–5 | 1–0 | 2–5 |
| 1993–94 | Cup Winners' Cup | Qualifying |  FK Žalgiris
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3–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| 1st. Round |  Beşiktaş
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2–3 | 2–1 | 0–2 | ||
| 1995 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | Group Stage |  Wimbledon
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1–1 | ||
 Beitar Jerusalem
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5–3 | |||||
 Charleroi
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3–2 | |||||
| Bursaspor
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1–1 | |||||
| 1995–96 | UEFA Cup | Preliminary | Újpest
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1–3 | 0–1 | 1–2 |
| 1996–97 | UEFA Cup | Preliminary |  KS Teuta
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6–2 | 2–1 | 4–1 |
| Qualifying |  Celtic
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0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | ||
| 1997–98 | Champions League | 1st. Qualifying |  ÍA
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4–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 |
| 2nd. Qualifying |  Spartak Moscow
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2–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | ||
| Group Stage | Manchester United
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0–3 | 0–3 | |||
 Juventus
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0–1 | 2–3 | ||||
 Feyenoord
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0–1 | 0–2 | ||||
| 1998–99 | Champions League | 1st. Qualifying |  Cliftonville
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13–1 | 8–0 | 5–1 |
| 2nd. Qualifying |  Brøndby
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1–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | ||
| UEFA Cup | 1st. Round | Liverpool
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0–8 | 0–3 | 0–5 | |
| 2000–01 | UEFA Cup | Qualifying |  Ararat
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4–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 |
| 1st. Round |  Grazer AK
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2–3 | 2–3 | 0–0 | ||
| 2009–10 | Europa League | 3rd. Qualifying |  FK Slavija
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5–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Play-off | Roma
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4–10 | 3–3 | 1–7 | ||
| 2014–15 | Europa League | 2nd. Qualifying |  Slovan Liberec
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0–4 | 0–1 | 0–3 |
| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champions League | 14 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 22 | 17 | +5 |
| Europa League | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 11 | –2 |
| UEFA Cup | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 28 | –10 |
| Cup Winners' Cup | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 |
| UEFA Intertoto Cup | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 7 | +3 |
| Total | 42 | 18 | 7 | 17 | 64 | 67 | –3 |
Key – Pld: Played, W: Won, D: Drawn, L: Lost, GF: Goals For, GA: Goals Against, GD: Goal Difference.
Not UEFA-administered
| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home leg | Away leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964–65 | Intertoto Cup | Group B3 |  Szombierki Bytom
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4–2 | 0–3 |
 Vorwärts Berlin
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0–0 | 3–0 | |||
| Wiener Sportclub
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3–2 | 1–1 | |||
| 1965–66 | Intertoto Cup | Group B2 | Empor Rostock
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0–3 | 0–1 |
| Zagłębie Sosnowiec
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4–3 | 0–3 | |||
 Radnički Niš
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2–7 | 2–0 | |||
| 1966–67 | Intertoto Cup | Group B5 | Vorwärts Berlin
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1–3 | 4–0 |
 Elfsborg
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3–0 | 0–6 | |||
 Borussia Neunkirchen
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2–0 | 2–2 | |||
| 1967 | Intertoto Cup | Group B6 | Dynamo Dresden
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0–0 | 2–1 |
| AIK
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4–0 | 1–1 | |||
| AGF
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3–1 | 1–1 | |||
| 1968 | Intertoto Cup | Group B4 | Szombierki Bytom
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2–3 | 2–0 |
| Djurgårdens
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1–0 | 3–2 | |||
| Werder Bremen
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1–0 | 3–1 | |||
| 1969 | Intertoto Cup | Group 8 | Wisła Kraków
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0–4 | 4–0 |
| Lierse
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2–1 | 1–1 | |||
| EfB
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3–1 | 4–0 | |||
| 1970 | Intertoto Cup | Group A5 | Åtvidaberg
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0–1 | 2–0 |
| MSV Duisburg
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1–1 | 3–0 | |||
| Holland Sport Haag
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4–1 | 2–0 | |||
| 1974 | Intertoto Cup | Group 9 | ŁKS Łódź
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1–1 | 1–3 |
| Randers Freja
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6–1 | 3–1 | |||
| Sturm Graz
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6–0 | 2–2 | |||
| 1976 | Intertoto Cup | Group 11 | Widzew Łódź
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0–1 | 0–2 |
| KB
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1–2 | 2–3 | |||
 Start
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2–0 | 1–0 |
Kit manufacturers
Kit manufacturers of MFK Košice since club's reformation in 2005.
| Period | Kit manufacturer |
|---|---|
| 2005–2006 | Jako |
| 2006 | Umbro |
| 2006–2008 | Puma |
| 2008 | Adidas |
| 2009–2011 | Umbro |
| 2011–2012 | Givova |
| 2012–2014 | Nike |
| 2014– | Jako |
References
- ^ "Nie Taliani vlastnia 1. FC Košice, ale Talian! Je to moja spoločnosť, ja som jej majiteľ!" (in Slovak). cassovia.sk. 10 October 2001.
- ^ "Rezešovci majú Spartu a už aj 1. FC Košice" (in Slovak). sme.sk. 23 June 1997.
- ^ "Ani chrám futbalu, ba ani drevená dedina" (in Slovak). cassovia.sk. 7 March 2005.
- ^ "VŠA-chatrajuci stánok" (in Slovak). fansvss.blog.cz. 7 October 2008.
- ^ "1. FC Košice zmizol z futbalovej mapy" (in Slovak). sme.sk. 2 August 2004.
- ^ "Nový štadión vyrastie na blšáku" (in Slovak). mfkkosice.sk. 22 July 2005.
- ^ "Nový štadión už má svoju štúdiu" (in Slovak). mfkkosice.sk. 21 December 2007.
- ^ "Štadión má zelenú – MFK dostal pozemky do prenájmu na 50 rokov!" (in Slovak). mfkkosice.sk. 21 December 2007.
- ^ "Nový košický štadión s kapacitou takmer 20 000" (in Slovak). profutbal. 2009-02-26.
- ^ "Štadión sa v dohľadnom čase nezačne stavať" (in Slovak). MFK Košice official website. 2010-07-27.
- ^ First team squad list
External links
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