Marek Hamšík

Marek Hamšík

Hamšík at Napoli in March 2015
Personal information
Full name	Marek Hamšík
Date of birth	(1987-07-27) 27 July 1987 (age 29)
Place of birth	Banská Bystrica, Czechoslovakia
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current team	Napoli
Number	17
Youth career
2001–2002	Jupie Podlavice
2002–2004	Slovan Bratislava
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2004	Slovan Bratislava	6	(1)
2004–2007	Brescia	65	(10)
2007–	Napoli	346	(91)
National team‡
2003–2004	Slovakia U17	6	(3)
2005–2006	Slovakia U19	6	(1)
2006–2007	Slovakia U21	2	(0)
2007–	Slovakia	96	(20)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 February 2017. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 27 March 2017

Marek Hamšík (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈmarek ˈɦamʃiːk]; born 27 July 1987) is a Slovak professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder and serves as the captain for Italian club Napoli, and the Slovakia national team, for which he is vice-captain.

After beginning his club career with Slovan Bratislava in 2004, he subsequently moved to Italian club Brescia later that year. In 2007, he was purchased by newly promoted Serie A club Napoli, where he has since become 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, a Supercoppa Italiana, UEFA Champions League qualification, and the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League semi-finals.

At international level, he represented Slovakia at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, helping his country to qualify for the tournament for the first time in their history, and subsequently led the national team to the round of 16 of the tournament with a victory over defending champions Italy in the final match of the group stage. He later also led his nation to qualify for UEFA Euro 2016, making their first ever appearance at the European Championships, and once again helped the national side to reach the second round of the competition.

For his performances, Hamšík has also won several individual awards: he is a six-time winner of the Slovak Footballer of the Year Award, and he was named Serie A Young Footballer of the Year in 2008. In 2011 and 2016, he was named to 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.