16 Czechoslovakians #19 FC Petržalka
Having already visited First Vienna and Spartka Trnava, there would still be two other games to attend on the Sunday, which I’d be spending in Bratislava. The second part of the day would involve Slovan Bratislava, but first a trip to the southern part of the city to watch FC Petržalka – formerly Artmedia Bratislava, but more on that later.
I’d been
staying in a flat somewhere in a place called Toryska (booo!), which was only
around half an hour via bus – buying a 24 hour ticket is fairly straightforward
via the IDS BK app, and only around three euros. The bus would cross the Danube toward the southern part of Bratislava - not the most scenic or picturesque, but pleasant enough.
I arrived
with around 45 minutes to spare, though given it was a Sunday morning, there
was very little else to do other than sit on a bench near the stadium and
continue making my way through the excellent Calcio by John Foot – a
superb history of the Italian game up to 2007 which I'd highly recommend.
Though the
weather in Bratislava wasn’t exactly Italian, the early signs of Spring were
making themselves known. As kick-off drew closer, I asked (in Czech) where I
could buy a ticket, and the ticket office happened to be right in front me. For
just five euros, I sat in the relative sunshine and watched a fantastic second
tier spectacle between table-topping visitors Tatran Prešov, and struggling
hosts Petržalka who’d been languishing around 14th (in a 16 team league).
First of
all, some kudos has to go to the travelling supporters, of which there were
just over a dozen who’d made the arduous trip from the far east of the country
for a 10:30 kick-off on a Sunday. It didn’t take long for the away fans to
raise a smile, as Kamil Karaš tapped in from a cross; an eleventh minute opener
for the away side.
That said,
it didn’t take the hosts long to respond either, with Bosnian striker Haris
Harba grabbing a deserved equaliser nineteen minutes in with a lovely finish
just inside the box. Cue a German refrain being played on the PA system: Immer
Wieder Engerau! The origin of this is something of a mystery as far as my
research goes, but I’d guess it has something to do with the club’s early
identity as Engerau Pressburg in 1939.
Only six
minutes later, Patrik Danek managed to beat the offside trap to give the hosts
the lead, which they would take into the break. They had some great chances to
put the game to bed, even hitting the bar from distance, but Prešov would
continue to turn up the errm… Prešov in the hunt for an equaliser.
That
equaliser arrived two minutes from time via an absolutely stupendous
half-volley from Dragan Andric, worthy of winning any game. They would have to
settle for a draw, but the game as a spectacle was a wonderful advert for the
Slovak second tier. You can see the goals for yourself below should you wish to
do so – Andric’s is especially worth seeing.
Who are
ya?
There are
two answer to this question, given the club had to fold and reform in 2014, but
we should begin in 1898 when the first iteration of the club was born under the
name Pozsonyi TE. They would become Engerau Pressburg in 1939, before becoming Petržalka
for the first time in 1945 – ŠK Petržalka to be exact.
Several
different names followed in the intervening years to now – well over a dozen to
be exact. From TJ Sparta Kovosmalt Bratislava to Artmedia Bratislava to the
current FC Petržalka we know today. It would be fair to say this constant shift
in identities represents a rocky history to say the least.
The club bounced
around the lower league throughout the 20th century, with the club
getting to the 2nd Slovak National League in 1979 under the name TJ
ZŤS Petržalka (Physical Education Unit of Heavy Engineering Plant Petržalka in
English). They would then make their debut in the First League in 1981-82,
though they’d go straight down.
They’d be
back in 1984-85, but would suffer the same ignominy of a one season stay in the
top flight. After the Velvet Revolution, the club began something of an upward trajectory,
gaining promotion in 1995-96 by winning the league. This would begin a 14 year
stay in the top tier, and without a doubt the most successful period in the club’s
history.
The club won
their first trophy in 2004 in the form of the Slovak Cup, and this set the
wheels in motion for more when the club changed the name to Artmedia
Bratislava. The following season saw the club win a first league title, with
another two runner-up finishes preceding their next title in 2008.
Of course
these trophies mean European Football would have found its way to the southern
part of Bratislava. The 2005-06 season is undoubtedly the most memorable for
the club, with Artmedia making the group stage of the Champions League. They
saw of Kairat Almaty, Celtic and Partizan en route to facing Inter, Porto and
Rangers.
Celtic fans
won’t remember Artmedia too fondly, with a 5-4 aggregate win dumping the
Glasgow giants out in the 2nd preliminary round (the first leg was
5-0 in Bratislava). Porto fans would also rather forget their experience against
the Slovak side, as they fell to a 3-2 defeat having gone in 2-1 up at the
break. Even more incredibly, this was in Portugal.
They would
finish above the Portuguese side to drop into the UEFA Cup, but Levski Sofia
would comfortably see them off 3-0 on aggregate. That said, you couldn’t buy
the memories that these Petržalka fans have been able to enjoy.
This was to
be their swansong as far as group stage football was concerned, with the
following campaigns resulting in play-off round defeats to the likes of Espanyol,
Panathinaikos and even Juventus in the 2008-09 Champions League.
As they say,
whatever goes up, must come down, and Petržalka did so with a bang. They fell
into the 2nd tier once more in 2010, before dropping again in 2012
to the third tier. Owner Ivan Kmotrik leaving for rivals Slovan Bratislava
arguably played a huge role in the club’s decline, which ultimately led to its
demise in 2014.
They started again in the fifth tier, winning fifth, fourth and third tier titles en route to the 2. liga, where they find themselves today, having started there in 2018. The club are yet to finish any higher than 8th, but the club are at least back to where they were prior to the glory years of the early 2000s. Who’s to say they won’t be shocking a footballing institution on the big stage once more?
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