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Martin Dúbravka

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Martin Dúbravka (born 15 January 1989) is a Slovak professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Newcastle United and the Slovakia national team.

Martin Dúbravka
Dúbravka with Newcastle United in 2018
Personal information
Full name Martin Dúbravka[1]
Date of birth (1989-01-15) 15 January 1989 (age 35)[2]
Place of birth Žilina, Czechoslovakia
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Newcastle United
Number 1
Youth career
Žilina
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2014 Žilina 97 (0)
2014–2016 Esbjerg 66 (0)
2016–2017 Slovan Liberec 28 (0)
2017–2018 Sparta Prague 11 (0)
2018 → Newcastle United (loan) 12 (0)
2018– Newcastle United 140 (0)
2022–2023 → Manchester United (loan) 0 (0)
International career‡
2009–2010 Slovakia U21 10 (0)
2014– Slovakia 49 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:34, 15 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:59, 8 September 2024 (UTC)

After playing in the top flights of Slovak, Danish and Czech football, Dúbravka joined English club Newcastle United in January 2018, initially on loan. He won the club's Player of the Year award in the 2019–20 season. He spent part of the 2022–23 season on loan at Manchester United, playing twice in their EFL Cup-winning campaign.

Dúbravka represented Slovakia at under-21 level, before making his senior international debut in May 2014. He started all of Slovakia's matches at both UEFA Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.

Early life

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As a child, Dúbravka enjoyed playing ice hockey as well as football, and could have moved into the former sport if it was not for a leg injury he sustained when he was five years old.[4]

Club career

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Dúbravka playing for Žilina in 2010

Žilina

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In the 2009–10 Slovak Superliga, Dúbravka played 26 Slovak Superliga games, finishing as a league champion. He became a first choice after the transfer of Dušan Perniš in January 2010. He qualified with Žilina to the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League and played all 6 group games. He kept a clean sheet in the play-off round against Sparta Prague.[5]

Esbjerg

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On 30 January 2014, he signed a 3½-year deal with the Danish Superliga club Esbjerg.[6]

Czech Republic

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Dúbravka joined Slovan Liberec of the Czech First League in July 2016 on a one-year contract.[7][5] He joined Sparta Prague in June 2017, signing a three-year contract.[5]

Newcastle United

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In January 2018, Newcastle United showed interest in Dúbravka, initially offering Sparta Prague a loan for €500,000, with an option to sign in the summer for €4.5 million. He finally joined the Premier League side on 31 January 2018, the final day of the winter transfer window on a half-year loan, due to expire at the end of 2017–18 season. According to iSport.cz, he joined the club for €2 million, with an option to sign in the summer for €4 million.[8] He made his debut on 11 February, playing a pivotal role and keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win against Manchester United.[9]

After a very successful loan spell, he signed permanently for Newcastle on 30 May 2018 for an undisclosed fee of around €5 million.[10] On 17 February 2019 in Durham, Dúbravka was recognised as the 2018 Player of the Year by the North East Football Writers' Association, joining the likes of Alan Shearer, Kevin Keegan, and Shay Given. He became the seventh goalkeeper to win the award, over its thirty-nine seasons. Dúbravka stated that he was happy to win the award because "amazing players have won this trophy before".[11] FourFourTwo ranked Dúbravka as the twentieth best player of the Premier League, in the 2018–19 season. He was the highest ranked goalkeeper, ahead of highly valued goalkeepers such as Alisson Becker (Liverpool) and David de Gea (Manchester United).[12]

While Dúbravka was ever present for Newcastle for the next two seasons, he was mostly replaced in the FA Cup and EFL Cup, by either Karl Darlow or Freddie Woodman. His performances during the 2019–20 season saw him win the club's Player of the Year award.[13] In August 2020, Dúbravka injured his ankle in a training session prior to the start of the 2020–21 season.[14] Darlow played in his absence and he returned to the bench for the club's last match of the year, a 0–0 draw with Liverpool.[15] On 9 January 2021, Dúbravka started his first match of the season, in a FA Cup extra-time loss to Arsenal.[16] On 27 February, Dúbravka started his first league match of the season in a 1–1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.[17] Afterwards, he went on to make twelve more appearances in goal as Newcastle, despite having been in a relegation battle for much of the season, finished in twelfth place.[18]

Loan to Manchester United

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Dúbravka lost his place in the starting line-up to Nick Pope after the England international signed from Burnley.[19] On 1 September 2022, he joined Manchester United on a season-long loan from Newcastle.[20] On 3 September 2022, it was confirmed that he would wear the number 31 shirt last worn by Nemanja Matić.[21] He made his debut in Man United's 4–2 win over Aston Villa in the EFL Cup third round on 10 November 2022.[22] Newcastle recalled Dúbravka from the loan on 1 January 2023. He made two appearances, both in the 2022–23 EFL Cup, keeping one clean sheet.[23]

Return to Newcastle

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Dúbravka played in Newcastle's 2–1 FA Cup third round defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.[24] He made his first Premier League appearance since the last day of the previous season on 18 February 2023, replacing Elliot Anderson after Nick Pope was sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area in the 2–0 home defeat to Liverpool.[25] Dúbravka was cup-tied for the 2023 EFL Cup final on 26 February, having played for Newcastle's opponents in the third and fourth rounds,[26] which Manchester United won 2–0.[27] He later confirmed that he did receive a winning medal for the final due to his time in Manchester.[28][29]

International career

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Early international career

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Dúbravka made ten appearances for the Slovakia under-21 team.[30] On 23 May 2014, he made his debut for the Slovakia national football team in a 2–0 win over Montenegro.[31]

In January 2017, Dúbravka played his first full game for the national team, having played 45 minutes in both of his previous matches.[clarification needed] Although Dúbravka was benched against Uganda (3–1 loss), he played in an unofficial friendly match against Sweden in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Slovakia lost the game 6–0 despite only trailing 1–0 at half time. This match also marked the first time Dúbravka conceded in the national team and he was also Slovak captain for the game, being the most experienced with international football.[32][33]

2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

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On 10 June 2017, Dúbravka made his competitive debut in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lithuania (2–1 win), when the preferred goalkeeper in the qualification, Matúš Kozáčik, did not play due to an injury.[citation needed] However, Dúbravka achieved his first competitive clean sheet on 1 September in a home qualifier against Slovenia.

After Kozáčik's return to the squad, Dúbravka remained the preferred choice for the remaining matches against England, Scotland and Malta.[34] In the match against Scotland, Dúbravka made a series of saves before he was finally beaten by an own goal from Martin Škrtel.[35]

UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024

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Dúbravka missed all the national team fixtures of 2020 due to injuries ruling him out of play during the autumn of the year. He returned to the national team in March 2021, in a 0–0 draw with Cyprus and made notable saves in the second half preventing and upset loss and received some praise for them, while the team received overall criticisms for the upset result and the performance labelled as "boring".[36][37]

Dúbravka was named in Slovakia's final squad for UEFA Euro 2020,[38] where he played in all three group matches. Going into the match against Spain on 23 June, Slovakia needed a draw to advance to the knockout stage. Dúbravka started well, saving a penalty from Álvaro Morata in the twelfth minute. After a shot from Pablo Sarabia hit the crossbar, he tried to tip the ball away and instead punched the ball into his own net. By doing so, he became the first goalkeeper in European Championship history to save a penalty and score an own goal in the same match. Dúbravka went on to concede four goals as Spain won the match 5–0.[39]

In June 2024, Dúbravka was selected for Slovakia's squad for UEFA Euro 2024, appearing at his second UEFA European Championship. He played in all four of the team's matches, keeping a clean sheet in the opening Group E match as Slovakia beat Belgium 1–0 in Frankfurt.[40]

Style of play

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Dúbravka is a third-generation goalkeeper: his father and grandfather also played in the position.[41] Dúbravka has been dubbed the "quintessential sweeper-keeper" due to his "outstanding footwork" and he believes "in modern football the keeper's almost like a libero. You need to play with the ball, not just kick it long".[41]

Louise Taylor of The Guardian cited Dúbravka the "reluctant keeper" after he admitted his favourite position to play is right wing; he sometimes plays as an outfielder in training and coaching staff have suggested that he switch to a midfield role.[41]

Personal life

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Dúbravka lives with his girlfriend Lucia, and his dog.[42] In March 2021, the couple welcomed their son, Viliam.[43]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 1 October 2024[44]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Žilina 2009–10 Slovak Super Liga 26 0 0 0 — 0 0 — 26 0
2010–11 Slovak Super Liga 24 0 1 0 — 12[a] 0 1[b] 0 38 0
2011–12 Slovak Super Liga 8 0 0 0 — 2[c] 0 — 10 0
2012–13 Slovak Super Liga 26 0 5 0 — 2[a] 0 — 33 0
2013–14 Slovak Super Liga 13 0 0 0 — 6[c] 0 — 19 0
Total 97 0 6 0 — 22 0 1 0 126 0
Esbjerg fB 2013–14[45] Danish Superliga 15 0 0 0 — 2[c] 0 — 17 0
2014–15[46] Danish Superliga 33 0 3 0 — 4[c] 0 — 40 0
2015–16[47] Danish Superliga 18 0 0 0 — — — 18 0
Total 66 0 3 0 — 6 0 — 75 0
Slovan Liberec 2016–17[48] Czech First League 28 0 0 0 — 9[c] 0 — 37 0
Sparta Prague 2017–18[49] Czech First League 11 0 2 0 — 2[c] 0 — 15 0
Newcastle United (loan) 2017–18[49] Premier League 12 0 0 0 0 0 — — 12 0
Newcastle United 2018–19[50] Premier League 38 0 0 0 0 0 — — 38 0
2019–20[51] Premier League 38 0 1 0 0 0 — — 39 0
2020–21[52] Premier League 13 0 1 0 0 0 — — 14 0
2021–22[53] Premier League 26 0 1 0 0 0 — — 27 0
2022–23[54] Premier League 2 0 1 0 — — — 3 0
2023–24[55] Premier League 23 0 4 0 2 0 1[a] 0 — 30 0
2024–25[56] Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 — — 1 0
Total 152 0 8 0 3 0 1 0 — 164 0
Manchester United (loan) 2022–23[54] Premier League 0 0 — 2 0 0 0 — 2 0
Career total 354 0 19 0 5 0 40 0 1 0 419 0
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  2. ^ Appearance in Slovak Super Cup
  3. ^ a b c d e f Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

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As of match played 8 September 2024[57]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Slovakia 2014 1 0
2016 1 0
2017 7 0
2018 7 0
2019 8 0
2021 6 0
2022 2 0
2023 9 0
2024 8 0
Total 49 0

Honours

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Žilina

Manchester United

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Martin Dúbravka". ESPN. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Martin Dubravka: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  4. ^ Edwards, Luke (13 April 2018). "Exclusive Martin Dubravka interview: From hyperactive ice-hockey goalkeeper to Newcastle cult hero – via a freak machete injury". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "Další nováček ve Spartě, z Liberce přichází brankář Dúbravka". Mladá fronta Dnes. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Esbjerg bring in Dúbravka from Žilina". UEFA. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Liberec ulovil brankáře Dúbravku. Zachytá si už proti vídeňské Admiře?". Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech). 28 July 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Newcastle a Sparta sa dohodli, Dúbravka mieri do Premier League!". Aktuality.sk (in Slovak). 31 January 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  9. ^ "Newcastle 1–0 Manchester United". BBC Sport. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Martin Dubravka: Newcastle United complete permanent deal for Slovakia keeper". BBC Sport. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  11. ^ a b King, Dan (18 February 2019). "Dúbravka receives North East Football Writers' Association player of the year award". Newcastle United Football Club. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  12. ^ "The 50 best players in the Premier League – The magazine FourFourTwo have ranked what they..." Marca. Madrid. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Martin Dúbravka is Newcastle United's 2019/20 player of the year". Newcastle United F.C. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Newcastle duo Martin Dubravka and Dwight Gayle set to miss Premier League opener". Sky Sports. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  15. ^ Rindl, Josef (30 December 2020). "Newcastle United 0–0 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Arsenal 2–0 Newcastle United (AET)". BBC Sport. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  17. ^ Bysouth, Alex (27 February 2021). "Newcastle United 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  18. ^ Bradshaw, Joe (21 May 2021). "Fulham 0–2 Newcastle United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  19. ^ "England international Nick Pope joins Newcastle United". Newcastle United F.C. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Transfer news: Dubravka joins on loan". Manchester United. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  21. ^ Bostock, Adam (3 September 2022). "Antony and Dubravka shirt numbers revealed". Manchester United.
  22. ^ Stone, Simon (10 November 2022). "Carabao Cup: Man Utd 4–2 Aston Villa: Hosts earn win after frantic second half". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  23. ^ "Dubravka recalled from loan". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  24. ^ Drury, Sam (7 January 2023). "Windass double for Sheff Wed knocks out Newcastle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  25. ^ McNulty, Phil (18 February 2023). "Clinical Liverpool punish 10-man Newcastle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  26. ^ Spellman, Damian (31 January 2023). "Newcastle trophy drought: a look back at the Magpies' long wait for silverware". The Independent. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  27. ^ McNulty, Phil (26 February 2023). "Manchester United 2–0 Newcastle United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  28. ^ Martin Hardy (18 December 2023). "Martin Dubravka: I got a Carabao Cup winner's medal - it was weird". The Times. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  29. ^ a b Caulkin, George (18 December 2023). "Martin Dubravka on 'winning' the Carabao Cup with Manchester United". The Athletic. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  30. ^ "M. Dúbravka". BeSoccer. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  31. ^ "Slovensko vyhralo nad Čiernou Horou 2–0, Kozákovi chýbala atmosféra". Sme (in Slovak). 23 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  32. ^ "Prípravný futbalový zápas: Slovensko prehralo s Ugandou 1:3". Sportinak (in Slovak). 8 January 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  33. ^ "Slováci prehrali so Švédskom 0:6. To je niečo strašné, hovorí Kozák". Sportinak (in Slovak). 12 January 2017. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  34. ^ "Odchytal životný zápas. Zákroky by som menil za bodík, želal si Dúbravka". Pravda (in Slovak). 6 October 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  35. ^ English, Tom (6 October 2017). "Scotland still in it after dramatic late win over Slovakia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  36. ^ Berzedi, Juraj (24 March 2021). "Duda zaujal a potom zhasol. Nahradiť Hamšíka? Nemožné (hodnotenie)". Sme (in Slovak).
  37. ^ "Kvalifikácia MS 2022: Slovensko po bezduchom výkone v nudnom zápase iba remizovalo s Cyprom". Šport.sk (in Slovak). Ringier Axel Springier Slovakia. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  38. ^ "Konečná nominácia na Euro 2020, tréner Tarkovič: za menami si stojím!". Slovak Football Association (in Slovak). 2 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  39. ^ Bysouth, Alex (23 June 2021). "Slovakia 0–5 Spain". BBC Sport.
  40. ^ "Martin Dúbravka | Player Profile". UEFA. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  41. ^ a b c Taylor, Louise (23 February 2018). "Reluctant keeper Martin Dubravka makes right impression at Newcastle". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  42. ^ King, Dan (23 March 2020). "Dúbravka has a canine companion as he recovers from knee injury". Newcastle United F.C. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  43. ^ "Martin Dúbravka sa stal otcom syna Viliama: Najlepší moment v mojom živote". Šport.sk. Aktuality.sk. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  44. ^ Martin Dúbravka at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  45. ^ "Games played by Martin Dúbravka in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  46. ^ "Games played by Martin Dúbravka in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  47. ^ "Games played by Martin Dúbravka in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  48. ^ "Games played by Martin Dúbravka in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  49. ^ a b "Games played by Martin Dúbravka in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  50. ^ "Games played by Martin Dúbravka in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  51. ^ "Games played by Martin Dúbravka in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  52. ^ "Games played by Martin Dúbravka in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  53. ^ "Games played by Martin Dúbravka in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  54. ^ a b "Games played by Martin Dúbravka in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  55. ^ "Games played by Martin Dúbravka in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  56. ^ "Games played by Martin Dúbravka in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  57. ^ "Martin Dúbravka". National Football Teams. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
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