Marek Ujlaky (footballer, born 1974)

Marek Ujlaky
Ujlaky in 1995
Personal information
Date of birth (1974-03-26) 26 March 1974
Place of birth Zeleneč, Czechoslovakia
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position Midfielder
Youth career
Spartak Trnava
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–2000 Spartak Trnava 240 (55)
2000–2001 Drnovice 15 (1)
2001 → Spartak Trnava (loan) 16 (9)
2001 Slovan Bratislava 16 (2)
2002–2007 Spartak Trnava 127 (30)
2007 Senec 13 (3)
2008 ViOn Zlaté Moravce 23 (2)
2009 UFC Tadten 15 (3)
2009–2012 Horses Šúrovce
International career
1995–2001 Slovakia 40 (2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Marek Ujlaky (born 26 March 1974) is a Slovak former footballer who played as a midfielder and spent most of his career with Spartak Trnava. He is the second all-time top goal scorer in the club’s history.[1]

Born in Zeleneč, Czechoslovakia, Ujlaky began his senior career with Spartak Trnava in 1991 after being promoted from the academy. After his loan spell with Czech side 1. FK Drnovice in 2000, he returned to Spartak Trnava. Later in his career, he had short spells with Slovan Bratislava in 2001, FC Senec in 2007, Zlaté Moravce in 2007–2009, and lower-division clubs including UFC Tadten and FC Horses Šúrovce until his professional retirement in 2012.[2]

On the international stage, Ujlaky debuted for the Slovakia national team in 1992 and went on to earn 40 FIFA caps (plus 3 non-FIFA), scoring 2 goals, including one in a 4–1 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying win over Poland in 1995 and another in a 4–0 friendly against Belarus in 1996. His international career, which spanned from 1992 to 2001, included participation in several World Cup and European Championship qualifiers, though Slovakia did not qualify for major tournaments during his tenure.

Club career

1992–2000: First spell with Spartak Trnava

Ujlaky made his first league debut when he was just 17 years old, making an appearance in a Czechoslovak First League match in the autumn of 1991, were Trnava would lose 2–1 at home against Dynamo České Budějovice.[3] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 home loss to Tatran Presov in the spring of 1992.[3] In 1991/92 season, Ujlaky was Spartak's top scorer with 4 goals in his debut season.[3] He was most prolific in the 1995/96 season, when he netted 11 league goals across the season. In that season, Ujlaky scored 4 goals in a 5–2 home win against Tatran Presov, ending Tatran’s invincibility hopes.[4] He played in the 1996 Slovak Cup final, were Spartak would lose 2–1 against Chemlon Humenné.[5] In European competitions, Ujlaky appeared in 10 matches across the UEFA Cup and Intertoto Cup, where he scored 5 goals, including a brace against PAOK Thessaloniki[6] and two against Vllaznia Shkodër.[3] Following good performances in Europe, there would be reported interest from PAOK and Olympiakos Piraeus to sign him, however he would be convinced by the owners to stay at Trnava.[6] Later that season, Ujlaky would feature in a 4–0 league win against rivals Slovan Bratislava.[7]

2000–2001: Drnovice and loan spells

In 2000, Ujlaky joined Czech club 1. FK Drnovice for a reported fee of € 250,000.[8][9] He helped the team get its first three points in the league, scoring from a direct free kick in the 90th minute to beat Bohemians Praha 2–1.[10][11] Ujlaky was then loaned out back to Trnava, where in the Spring part of the season, he would be the 10th top goal scorer in the league, netting 9 goals in 16 appearances.[12] In January 2001, Ujlaky trialed at Swiss club FC Lugano.[8][13]

Slovan Bratislava

Following the relegation of Spartak Trnava at the end of the 2000–01 season, Ujlaky joined rivals ŠK Slovan Bratislava in July 2001, signing a 2 and a half year contract.[12][14] In the first half of the 2001–02 season, he played in 16 matches and scored 2 goals for Slovan, who finished 6th in the League.[15] Ujlaky later described the transfer as a "football adventure" in light of several offers that arose following Trnava's relegation. However, he noted that the fans did not hold this against him when he returned.[16]

2002–2007: Return to Spartak Trnava

In 2002, after his unsuccessful spell with Slovan, Ujlaky rejoined FC Spartak Trnava.[17][18] He scored the second goal of a 4–0 away win against Slovan Bratislava.[17][18] He would help the club get promoted the following season.[19][20] In April 2006, Ujlaky was injured in a match against FC Nitra after a tackle from Peter Dobiáš.[21][22] The incident, which occurred in the 78th minute, required immediate surgery, which sidelined him for the remainder of the 2005–06 season, with full recovery not being expected until August or September 2006 after months of rehabilitation.[23]

Later career

Following his recovery, Ujlaky joined FC Senec ahead of the 2007–08 season.[24] After a few months at Senec, it was rumored that he would be returning to Trnava again.[25] He then transferred to ViOn Zlaté Moravce in 2008.[26] In 2009, Ujlaky briefly played abroad with Austrian club UFC Tadten, making 15 appearances and scoring 3 goals in regional leagues. Later that year, he returned to Slovakia to join FC Horses Šúrovce in the lower divisions, where he continued playing until retiring in 2012.[27]

Post-retirement

After retiring from professional football, Ujlaky played with amateur side ŠK Slávia Zeleneč in the Slovak 6th league.[28][29] He scored ten goals in the fall part of the season, helping Zelenč have the second best offense in the competition.[30] He finished his active career in 2019 with a farewell match, where he left the pitch on a bicycle gifted by Slávia Zeleneč.[31] Prior to his full retirement, Ujlaky briefly pursued coaching roles, serving as an assistant to the youth team categories of his former club Spartak Trnava between 2012 to 2013.[32][33] In 2012, he became the manager of the newly re-established club OŠK Šurovnce.[27]

International career

Ujlaky made his debut for the Slovak national team on February 22, 1995, in a 5–0 friendly defeat to Brazil.[34][35] Ujlaky scored his first international goal for Slovakia on 11 October 1995, in a UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying match against Poland at the Tehelné pole in Bratislava. Coming on as a substitute, he scored the third goal in the 78th minute, helping Slovakia win 4–1.[36][37]

During his career, he played in the qualifiers for Euro 96, the 1998 World Cup, and Euro 2000. From 1995 to 2001, he played 40 matches for the national team, scoring two goals.[35]

Personal life

Ujlaky has a son, also named Marek, who is also a footballer.[38][39] He currently plays for Spartak Trnava, graduating from the club’s academy and debuting in 2021.[38]

References

  1. ^ a.s, Petit Press. "Syn legendy bol kapitánom, pomohol mu aj trnavský zvyk. Čo upokojí fanúšikov Spartaka?". MY Trnava (in Slovak). Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  2. ^ [email protected]. "Marek Ujlaky sa rozlúči s hráčskou kariérou, v Zelenči mu chystajú poďakovanie". Trnavský Hlas. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d spartak (26 March 2024). "Marek Ujlaky oslavuje päťdesiatku". FC Spartak Trnava (in Slovak). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  4. ^ a.s, Petit Press. "Spartak Trnava - Tatran Prešov 5:2 (3:0)". SME.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  5. ^ a.s, Petit Press. "Chemlon Humenné - Spartak Trnava 1:2 (0:1)". SME.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  6. ^ a b [email protected]. "Marek Ujlaky strelil PAOK-u pred osemnástimi rokmi dva góly, chcel ho kúpiť aj Olympiakos". Trnavský Hlas. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  7. ^ a.s, Petit Press. "Spartak Trnava - Slovan Bratislava 4:0 (3:0)". SME.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  8. ^ a b "Slovák Ujlaky už trénuje v Luganu". iDNES.cz. 18 January 2001. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  9. ^ "Drnovice nakupují na Slovensku". iDNES.cz. 10 May 2000. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  10. ^ a.s, Petit Press. "Slovenskou hviezdou v Česku č. 1 bol Marek Ujlaky". Korzár (in Slovak). Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  11. ^ "S Drnovicemi už to bude jen lepší, doufá záložník". iDNES.cz. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  12. ^ a b "Ujlaky přestoupil z Drnovic do Slovanu". iDNES.cz. 19 June 2001. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  13. ^ a.s, Petit Press. "Ujlaky na skúšku do Lugana". SME.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  14. ^ "Futbal: Ujlaky podpísal so Slovanom dvojročnú zmluvu s opciou na rok". sportnet.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  15. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Marek Ujlaky (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  16. ^ Šport.sk (5 June 2023). "Savvidis nie je ani zďaleka prvý! Zoznam hráčov, ktorí prijali pálivú ponuku Slovana či Spartaka". Šport.sk. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  17. ^ a b a.s, Petit Press. "Kapitán Ujlaky čakal od Slovana väčší odpor". SME.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  18. ^ a b "Kapitán Ujlaky čakal od Slovana väčší odpor". sportnet.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  19. ^ "História". FC Spartak Trnava (in Slovak). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  20. ^ "Spartak Trnava - profil futbalového klubu". sportnet.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  21. ^ Zeman, Michal (6 April 2006). "Ujlaky cíti len bolesť, nie hnev". Pravda (in Slovak). Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  22. ^ "Ujlaky ťažko znáša dlhú odmlku, návrat v auguste-septembri". Profutbal (in Slovak). 3 June 2006. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  23. ^ a.s, Petit Press. "Tlačovka Spartaka sa niesla v duchu obvinení". MY Trnava (in Slovak). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  24. ^ "Ujlaky v Senci na hosťovaní do konca jesennej časti". sportnet.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  25. ^ "Ujlaky sa možno vráti do Trnavy, Kuna situáciu nekomentuje". sportnet.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  26. ^ "Ujlaky je vo ViOne". sportnet.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  27. ^ a b [email protected]. "Marek Ujlaky je novým trénerom Šúroviec". Trnavský Hlas. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  28. ^ [email protected]. "Bývalí spartakovci Timko a Ujlaky prestupujú do Zelenča". Trnavský Hlas. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  29. ^ "Rozlúčka Mareka Ujlakyho s futbalovou kariérou - Oficiálna stránka obce Zeleneč". www.zelenec.sk. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  30. ^ "10 bývalých futbalových hviezd, ktoré žiaria v nižších ligách". Šport7.sk (in Slovak). 2 December 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  31. ^ [email protected]. "Pred Ujlakym sa sklonil aj Poór, vyčistil mu kopačky". Trnavský Hlas. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  32. ^ [email protected]. "Futbal, 6. liga: Piešťany utiekli Zavaru, Ujlaky sa lúčil s fanúšikmi v Zelenči na bicykli". Trnavský Hlas. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  33. ^ [email protected]. "VIDEO: Juniorka Spartaka sa pripravuje pod trénerom Ekhardtom". Trnavský Hlas. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  34. ^ "Repre Slovensko vysledky 1995". Športweb.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  35. ^ a b "Marek Ujlaky". old.futbalsfz.sk. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  36. ^ UEFA.com. "History: Slovakia 4-1 Poland | UEFA EURO 1996". UEFA.com. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  37. ^ FutbalovýSvet (1 June 2016). "VIDEO Neúspešná cesta Slovenska na EURO 1996". Futbalový svet (in Slovak). Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  38. ^ a b Mriška, Ivan (12 April 2021). "Otec mal slzy na kraji. Syn legendy má za sebou premiéru vo Fortuna lige". Sme (in Slovak). Petit Press. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  39. ^ "Trnava je hrdá na ďalšieho odchovanca: Syn legendy už žiari v reprezentačnom drese". Športky.sk (in Slovak). 17 October 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2026.

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