Peter Pekarík


Peter Pekarík is a Slovak football defender who plays for Hertha BSC and the Slovakia national team.

Club career

Žilina

Pekarík, born in Žilina, began playing football at the youth section of his local club. His Corgoň Liga debut came for ZŤS Dubnica. In his first season, he played 27 matches and came back to MŠK Žilina in the summer of 2005. He won the Corgoň Liga in the 2006–07 season, playing 35 matches.

Wolfsburg

He impressed with great performances in the first half of the 2008–09 season and signed a four-and-a-half-year contract for German side VfL Wolfsburg in January 2009.
On 31 January 2009, matchday 18, he debuted in the Bundesliga in a 1–1 draw against the 1. FC Köln. At half time, coach Felix Magath substituted him for Cristian Zaccardo. Except for one game, he played in the second half of the season in all games and won with Wolfsburg for the first time in club history the German championship. However, at the end of the season he was substituted more often and lost his place in the starting eleven.

Kayserispor

In August 2011, Pekarík joined Turkish first division side Kayserispor for the 2011–12 season on loan.

Hertha BSC

After a year in Turkey, Pekarík returned to Germany, signing for Hertha BSC.
On 31 March 2017, in his eighth season in Germany, Pekarík scored his first Bundesliga goal in a 1–3 loss against Hoffenheim. At the moment it was his 151st Bundesliga match.

International career

Pekarík made his national team debut against United Arab Emirates on 10 December 2006. He scored his first international goal in a 7–0 home victory over San Marino. He was a part of the Slovakia national football team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016.

Career statistics

Club statistics

International

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.6 June 2009Tehelné pole, Bratislava, Slovakia
2–0
7–0
World Cup 2010 Qualifying
2.27 March 2015Štadión pod Dubňom, Žilina, Slovakia
3–0
3–0
Euro 2016 qualifier

Honours

MŠK Žilina
VfL Wolfsburg
Hertha BSC