Marek Hamšík

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

After beginning his club career with Slovan Bratislava in 2004, Hamšík moved to Italian club Brescia later that year. In 2007, he was purchased by newly promoted Serie A club Napoli, where he became a mainstay in the squad's starting line-up. His energy, leadership, creativity, skill and eye for goal from midfield saw him play a key role in helping the team to two Coppa Italia titles and a Supercoppa Italiana. He was also involved in Napoli finishing second in Serie A in 2012–13 and 2018–19, while engaging in title races with Juventus in 2015–16 and 2017–18, when they again finished runners-up. In February 2019, Hamšík joined Chinese club Dalian Professional. He signed for Turkish side Trabzonspor in 2021, winning the Süper Lig title in his first season, before announcing his retirement in 2023. At international level, Hamšík played for the Slovakia national team from 2007 until 2023. He helped Slovakia qualify for the country's first ever FIFA World Cup, captaining the side at the 2010 tournament as they reached the round of 16 following a victory over defending champions Italy. He went on to lead his nation to European Championship qualification for the first time in 2016, as they once again reached the second round of a major tournament; a second consecutive European Championship appearance followed for Hamšík in 2020.

In Their Own Story

On 19 September 2010, Hamšík scored Napoli's first goal as they came back from a goal down to defeat Sampdoria 2–1 in Genoa. Three days later, he signed a three-year contract extension set to last until June 2015. On 30 January 2011, he scored a well taken effort as Napoli hammered Sampdoria 4–0. On 27 September 2011, he scored the winning goal in Napoli's 2–0 home victory over Villarreal, earning Napoli its first ever victory in the Champions League. On 29 November 2011, he missed a 15th-minute penalty before heading in a goal to give Napoli the lead against Juventus, though the match ended in a 3–3 draw. On 7 December 2011, he provided an assist for Gökhan Inler's opening goal against Villarreal and then scored himself, helping Napoli to a 2–0 victory in Spain that secured qualification for the round of 16. On 21 December 2011, he scored a superb goal in Napoli's 6–1 hammering of Genoa and also provided assists for strikes by Goran Pandev and Walter Gargano. On 9 March 2012, he signed a one-year contract extension with Napoli, announced following him scoring an incredible angled shot against Cagliari earlier that day as Napoli ran out 6–3 winners.

Reader's Guide

Hamšík is an eight-time winner of the Slovak Footballer of the Year Award, and he was named 2008 Serie A Young Footballer of the Year. In 2011, 2016 and 2017, he was named in the Serie A Team of the Year, and in 2015, he was included in the UEFA Europa League Squad of the season. In 2013, Hamšík was ranked as the eighth best footballer in Europe by Bloomberg.

Did You Know?

• Hamšík is Napoli's all-time top goalscorer with 121 goals.
• He played a club record 521 matches in all competitions for Napoli.
• He is both Slovakia's most capped player (138 caps) and all-time top scorer (26 goals).

The Napoli Dynasty

Marek Hamšík joined Napoli in June 2007 after the club paid Brescia a €5.5 million transfer fee. He signed a five-year contract. Over twelve seasons, he became the club's all-time top goalscorer (until 2020) with 121 goals and played a club record 521 matches in all competitions. He served as the club's captain between 2014 and 2019. His energy, leadership, creativity, skill and eye for goal from midfield saw him play a key role in helping the team to two Coppa Italia titles and a Supercoppa Italiana. He was also involved in Napoli finishing second in Serie A in 2012–13 and 2018–19, while engaging in title races with Juventus in 2015–16 and 2017–18, when they again finished runners-up. In February 2019, Hamšík joined Chinese club Dalian Professional.

International Pioneer

Hamšík played for the Slovakia national team from 2007 until 2023. He helped Slovakia qualify for the country's first ever FIFA World Cup, captaining the side at the 2010 tournament as they reached the round of 16 following a victory over defending champions Italy. He went on to lead his nation to European Championship qualification for the first time in 2016, as they once again reached the second round of a major tournament; a second consecutive European Championship appearance followed for Hamšík in 2020. With 138 caps and 26 goals at senior international level, Hamšík is both Slovakia's most capped player and all-time top scorer. He is currently the team manager and assistant coach for the Slovakia national team.

Early Foundations and Global Journey

Hamšík grew up in Banská Bystrica and began playing for a small youth team, Jupie Podlavice. In 2002, he signed with top Slovak club Slovan Bratislava. He played six times for the Slovan Bratislava first team and scored one goal. In August 2004, he scored his only senior goal for Slovan Bratislava with an injury-time header in a 4–1 Second League win against Tatran Prešov. In 2004, at age 17, Hamšík joined Italian Serie A club Brescia on a five-year contract for a €500,000 transfer fee. He made his Brescia debut in a 3–1 away defeat against Chievo on 20 March 2005, when he was 17 years and 237 days old. He became the third Slovak footballer to play in Serie A after Miloš Glonek and Vratislav Greško. Brescia finished the 2004–05 Serie A season in 19th place and were subsequently relegated to Serie B. In 2005–06, he played 24 league matches for Brescia. He had an impressive 2006–07 season, scoring 10 goals in 40 matches. In February 2019, Hamšík joined Chinese club Dalian Professional. He signed for Turkish side Trabzonspor in 2021, winning the Süper Lig title in his first season, before announcing his retirement in 2023.

Individual Accolades and Style

Hamšík is an eight-time winner of the Slovak Footballer of the Year Award. He was named 2008 Serie A Young Footballer of the Year. In 2011, 2016 and 2017, he was named in the Serie A Team of the Year. In 2015, he was included in the UEFA Europa League Squad of the season. In 2013, Hamšík was ranked as the eighth best footballer in Europe by Bloomberg. His football icon is Czech midfielder Pavel Nedvěd, to whom Hamšík has often been compared due to his playing style. In 2007, he was voted the second-best Slovak footballer of the year, after Martin Škrtel, and also he was voted the best young Slovak footballer (the Peter Dubovský Trophy). He was named 2008's Serie A Young Footballer of the Year in the January 2009 awards ceremony. In March 2009, he was announced as runner-up, again behind Martin Škrtel, in the Slovak Footballer of the Year award for 2008, as well as being that year's best young Slovak footballer, for the second year in a row.