Stanislav Varga
Encyclopedia
Stanislav Varga is a former football player from Slovakia
and currently manager of ŠK Odeva Lipany
.
for £650,000 from Slovan Bratislava during the summer of 2000. Varga began his career at the Stadium of Light
with an impressive opening day display in Sunderland's 1–0 victory over Arsenal
, picking up the man of the match award. He scored his first Sunderland goal in a 2-0 win over West Ham in January 2001.
A regular in the international side with over fifty caps to his name, Varga has also captained his country on a number of occasions. He was first spotted by Peter Reid when playing for Slovakia
in a friendly game against Norway
before Euro 2000 and impressed the Black Cats' boss with the way he kept Tore André Flo
and Ole Gunnar Solskjær
out of the game.
He spent the end of 2001–02 on loan with West Bromwich Albion
. The towering centre back returned from a long-term injury to find himself out of the first team picture and his last game before going on loan ended when he was taken off at half-time at Old Trafford
, where Sunderland
lost 4–1. With Björklund
and Jody Craddock
ahead of him, Varga never really found his way back into the team, and was released in January 2003.
Less than a month later and Martin O'Neill
had snapped up the defender on a short-term deal. Despite only making one appearance for Celtic
in that time, he was rewarded with a two-year contract in July 2003. He was an ever-present in the side during the 2003–04 campaign and helped his new team-mates to domestic glory, winning the domestic double of Scottish Premier League and Scottish Cup. In the League, Varga helped Celtic concede only 25 goals, which allowed the club to set a new league record of 25 straight wins (32 games unbeaten from the start of the season) and 77 home league games without defeat. He also contributed 7 goals in all competitions. Successive titles evaded Celtic in the 2004–05 season as they threw away the SPL title on the final day of the season, but they did manage to take consolation in the Scottish Cup Final, beating Dundee United
1-0, with Alan Thompson bagging the only goal of the game after 8 minutes from a free-kick. Throughout this season Varga proved to be a rock in the Celtic defence. He even got up-field to score six times, including one in Celtic's 3–1 defeat to A.C. Milan
in the UEFA Champions League
Group Stage. During this time he, like Stilian Petrov before him, had his name abbreviated by the Celtic following, Stanislav would now simply be known as "Stan" Varga to the Hoops supporters and Scottish media.
On 31 August 2006 he returned to Sunderland under new manager Roy Keane
, a former colleague from Celtic, alongside Celtic's Ross Wallace
, for a combined fee of up to £1,100,000. He scored his first goal in his second spell at Sunderland in a 4-1 loss at Preston North End in October 2006.
His strong and powerful presence, ability in the air and no nonsense defending has made him a rising fan favourite at the Stadium of Light. Having to act as a substitute behind first choice centre half Nyron Nosworthy
, the Slovakian chose a one month loan deal to Burnley
on 4 January 2008 to regain match-fitness. He was named in the Championship
Team of the Week for his performance in Burnley's 1–0 win over Plymouth Argyle
, his first league game for the club.
Sunderland released Varga at the end of the 2007–08 season.
Sunderland:
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
and currently manager of ŠK Odeva Lipany
ŠK Odeva Lipany
ŠK Odeva Lipany is a Slovak football team, based in the town of Lipany. The club was founded in 1925. It plays its home matches on the Lipany stadium, with a capacity of 4 000 supporters, 900 of which can be seated.- External links :*...
.
Career
Varga, a tall and commanding centre-back, was recruited by Peter ReidPeter Reid
Peter Reid is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career...
for £650,000 from Slovan Bratislava during the summer of 2000. Varga began his career at the Stadium of Light
Stadium of Light
The Stadium of Light is an all-seater football stadium in Sunderland, England. With space for 49,000 spectators, the Stadium of Light has the fifth-largest capacity of any English football stadium. The stadium primarily hosts Sunderland A.F.C. matches...
with an impressive opening day display in Sunderland's 1–0 victory over Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, picking up the man of the match award. He scored his first Sunderland goal in a 2-0 win over West Ham in January 2001.
A regular in the international side with over fifty caps to his name, Varga has also captained his country on a number of occasions. He was first spotted by Peter Reid when playing for Slovakia
Slovakia national football team
The Slovakia national football team represents Slovakia in association football and is controlled by the Slovak Football Association , the governing body for football in Slovakia. Slovakia's home stadium is Štadión Pasienky and their head coach is Vladimír Weiss...
in a friendly game against Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
before Euro 2000 and impressed the Black Cats' boss with the way he kept Tore André Flo
Tore André Flo
Tore André Flo is a Norwegian football striker, who plays for the Norwegian club Sogndal. He initially retired after being released by the Milton Keynes Dons in 2009, but announced his comeback in March 2011. His brothers Jostein Flo and Jarle Flo, and cousin Håvard Flo are also professional...
and Ole Gunnar Solskjær
Ole Gunnar Solskjær
Ole Gunnar Solskjær is the manager of Norwegian first division side Molde. He is better known as a former footballer who spent most of his career playing for Manchester United. Often dubbed "the baby-faced assassin," he played 366 times for the Red Devils and scored 126 goals during a very...
out of the game.
He spent the end of 2001–02 on loan with West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
. The towering centre back returned from a long-term injury to find himself out of the first team picture and his last game before going on loan ended when he was taken off at half-time at Old Trafford
Old Trafford (football)
Old Trafford is a football stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, and the home of Manchester United. With a capacity of 75,811, Old Trafford is the second-largest football stadium in England after Wembley, the third-largest in the United Kingdom and the eleventh-largest in Europe...
, where Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
lost 4–1. With Björklund
Joachim Björklund
Joachim Björklund is a former Swedish professional footballer. For many years he formed a successful central defensive partnership with Patrik Andersson for the Swedish national team. Björklund was selected for the UEFA Euro 1992, 1994 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000...
and Jody Craddock
Craddock
Craddock is the name of several people:*Bantz J. Craddock, a U.S. general*Barbara Craddock, a U.S. dancer and choreographer*Billy "Crash" Craddock, a country singer*Darren Craddock, English footballer*Fred Craddock, a Christian minister...
ahead of him, Varga never really found his way back into the team, and was released in January 2003.
Less than a month later and Martin O'Neill
Martin O'Neill
Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.Until resigning the post on 9 August 2010, he was manager of Aston Villa. Starting his career in his native Northern Ireland, O'Neill moved to England where he spent most of his playing career with Nottingham...
had snapped up the defender on a short-term deal. Despite only making one appearance for Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in that time, he was rewarded with a two-year contract in July 2003. He was an ever-present in the side during the 2003–04 campaign and helped his new team-mates to domestic glory, winning the domestic double of Scottish Premier League and Scottish Cup. In the League, Varga helped Celtic concede only 25 goals, which allowed the club to set a new league record of 25 straight wins (32 games unbeaten from the start of the season) and 77 home league games without defeat. He also contributed 7 goals in all competitions. Successive titles evaded Celtic in the 2004–05 season as they threw away the SPL title on the final day of the season, but they did manage to take consolation in the Scottish Cup Final, beating Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
1-0, with Alan Thompson bagging the only goal of the game after 8 minutes from a free-kick. Throughout this season Varga proved to be a rock in the Celtic defence. He even got up-field to score six times, including one in Celtic's 3–1 defeat to A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
Group Stage. During this time he, like Stilian Petrov before him, had his name abbreviated by the Celtic following, Stanislav would now simply be known as "Stan" Varga to the Hoops supporters and Scottish media.
On 31 August 2006 he returned to Sunderland under new manager Roy Keane
Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....
, a former colleague from Celtic, alongside Celtic's Ross Wallace
Ross Wallace
Ross Wallace is a Scottish footballer who plays for Burnley as a winger.-Celtic:Wallace was born in Dundee, Scotland and started his career with Celtic where he played as a left midfielder but under his former manager Gordon Strachan he played at left back for the reserves and eventually the first...
, for a combined fee of up to £1,100,000. He scored his first goal in his second spell at Sunderland in a 4-1 loss at Preston North End in October 2006.
His strong and powerful presence, ability in the air and no nonsense defending has made him a rising fan favourite at the Stadium of Light. Having to act as a substitute behind first choice centre half Nyron Nosworthy
Nyron Nosworthy
Nyron Paul Henry Nosworthy is an English football player who plays for Watford as a defender.-Gillingham:Born in Brixton, South London, Nosworthy - known since childhood by the nicknames "the clown","Ny" or "Nuggy" – began his career as a trainee at Gillingham. Where he became famed for running to...
, the Slovakian chose a one month loan deal to Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
on 4 January 2008 to regain match-fitness. He was named in the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
Team of the Week for his performance in Burnley's 1–0 win over Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, his first league game for the club.
Sunderland released Varga at the end of the 2007–08 season.
Honours
Celtic:- Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier LeagueThe Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
: Winners (2003–04, 2005–06) - Scottish CupScottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
: Winners (2003–04, 2004–05) - Scottish League CupScottish League CupThe Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
: Winners (2005–06)
Sunderland:
- Football League ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
: Winners (2006–07)
External links
- Sunderland AFC profile
- Stanislav Varga profile, detailed club and national team statistics, honours (palmares) and timeline