MŠK Žilina (Slovak pronunciation:[ˈemˈeʂˈkaːˈʐilina])[wrong stress] is a Slovakfootball club based in the town ofŽilina, that is playing in theSlovak First Football League. Since the league inception in 1993, the club has won 7 titles and comes second in All-time table that makes them one of the most successful teams in the competition.The club and their supporters alike are nicknamedŠošoni (after theShoshone Native American tribe) and play their home games in theŠtadión pod Dubňom. Žilina won their most recent title in 2016–17 season.
The club was founded towards the end of 1908 under the Hungarian nameZsolnai Testgyakorlók Köre, and was officially registered on 20 June 1909. The club won its first Slovak championship (Zväzové majstrovstvá Slovenska) in 1928 followed by another in 1929.[citation needed]
In total, Žilina played 30 out of 47 seasons[1] in theCzechoslovak First League spanning from 1945 to 1993 and come 13th in all-time table.[2] Their most successful was 1946–47 season, when they clinched 4th place.[citation needed]
Many consider 1961 a milestone in club's history. Firstly, the team reached the final of the National Cup, where they lost toDukla Prague, the eventual Czechoslovak champion. Despite the defeat, for the first time in its history the club, then known asDynamo Žilina, broke into Europe to contest in theUEFA Cup Winners' Cup. Notable 3–2 and 1–0 victories overOlympiacos moved them in quarter-finals, however the ambitious Slovak team was ultimately knocked out by the previous year's winnerFiorentina. Although Žilina grabbed a promising 3–2 victory at home, Fiorentina went through by winning the second leg 2–0.[citation needed]
In the late 1960s the club was renamedTJ ZVL Žilina and participated in theIntertoto Cup for several years, winning the group in 1969 and coming 2nd a year later. In 1973–74 they reached the final of theMitropa Cup but they were defeated byTatabányai Bányász 5–2 on aggregate. Between 1972 and 1974, they finished 5th in the First Division of the Czechoslovak League for three years running, followed by relegation to the Second Division in the 1978–79 season. The club bounced back four years later and finished second in theMitropa Cup.[citation needed]
Following dissolution ofCzechoslovakia in 1993, MŠK Žilina has been playing in theSlovak First Football League for the total of 23 seasons with the exception of 1995–96 season after relegation to the Second Division.[citation needed]
In the autumn of 2000, former Czechoslovakian defenderLadislav Jurkemik joined the club as a new manager. After his departure halfway through the 2001–02 season the club appointed Czech coachLeoš Kalvoda. During his short reign at the club he led them to win their first title. In the2002–03 season, now under the management of Milan Lešický, the club succeeded in retaining the title.[citation needed]
Ladislav Jurkemik was reappointed as a manager during the2003–04 season. He led the defending champions to 10 priceless consecutive victories to clinch the third successive title though narrowly on a goal difference.AfterSlovan Bratislava, MŠK Žilina became only the second club to win three Slovakian titles.The team's performances in next two seasons faded while they lacked the quality they had been famous for during their winning campaigns. In pursuit of silverware numerous players were signed over next two years. In the span of only fourteen months, three managers; the reputable Karol Pecze, his successor Milan Nemec and eventually Marijan Vlak were in charge over the team. Since the results and performances never met the expectations, Vlak ended his reign immediately at the end of 2005–06 season after they failed to reach UEFA Cup spot only to finish fourth.[citation needed]
Former Czechoslovakia and later Czech internationalPavel Hapal was appointed new manager before 2009–10 campaign. In his first season, he led the team to win a league title, their fifth in nine years. Arguably the greatest success in their history came by making a debut in2010–11 UEFA Champions League group stage after eliminatingSparta Prague in play-off round. In the following season they completed their first ever double, while the 2012–13 season saw the team finishing 7th – their worst league position since 2000. However, as a defeated finalists of the Slovak Cup the club secured a place to contest in the 1st qualifying round of2013–14 UEFA Europa League.[citation needed]
Štadión Pod Dubňom is their home stadium. It has a capacity of 10,280.[8] It underwent a major renovation between 2006 and September 2009. Between 2014 and 2015 it was used as the home stadium ofSlovakia.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.