MŠK Žilina () is a Slovak football club based in the town of Žilina, that is playing in the Slovak 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 nicknamed Šošoni (after the Shoshone Native American tribe) and play their home games in the Štadión pod Dubňom. Žilina won their most recent title in 2016–17 season.
History
Early years The club was founded towards the end of 1908 under the Hungarian name Zsolnai 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.
Czechoslovak League In total, Žilina played 30 out of 47 seasonsCzechoslovakia 1945–1993 , Malcolm Hodgson – Zbynek Pawlas, Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation RSSSF in the Czechoslovak First League spanning from 1945 to 1993 and come 13th in all-time table.Czechoslovakia – All-Time Table 1925-2003 , Jiřν Slavνk, Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation RSSSF Their most successful was 1946–47 season, when they clinched 4th place.
Many consider 1961 a milestone in club's history. Firstly, the team reached the final of the National Cup, where they lost to Dukla Prague, the eventual Czechoslovak champion. Despite the defeat, for the first time in its history the club, then known as Dynamo Žilina, broke into Europe to contest in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. Notable 3–2 and 1–0 victories over Olympiacos moved them in quarter-finals, however the ambitious Slovak team was ultimately knocked out by the previous year's winner Fiorentina. Although Žilina grabbed a promising 3–2 victory at home, Fiorentina went through by winning the second leg 2–0.
Quarter-Finals
First leg
Second leg
Fiorentina won 4–3 on aggregate.
In the late 1960s the club was renamed TJ ZVL Žilina and participated in the Intertoto Cup for several years, winning the group in 1969 and coming 2nd a year later. In 1973–74 they reached the final of the Mitropa Cup but they were defeated by Tatabányai 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 the Mitropa Cup.
New era – Slovak League Following dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, MŠK Žilina has been playing in the Slovak First Football League for the total of 23 seasons with the exception of 1995–96 season after relegation to the Second Division.
In the autumn of 2000, former Czechoslovak defender Ladislav Jurkemik joined the club as a new manager. After his departure halfway through the 2001–02 season the club appointed Czech coach Leoš Kalvoda. During his short reign at the club he led them to win their first title. In the 2002–03 season, now under the management of Milan Lešický, the club succeeded in retaining the title.
Ladislav Jurkemik was reappointed as a manager during the 2003–04 season. He led the defending champions to 10 priceless consecutive victories to clinch the third successive title though narrowly on a goal difference. After Slovan Bratislava, MŠK Žilina became only the second club to win three Slovak 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.
They played in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup, reaching the group stages where they beat Aston Villa 2–1 at Villa Park.
Former Czechoslovakia and later Czech international Pavel 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 in 2010–11 UEFA Champions League group stage after eliminating Sparta 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 of 2013–14 UEFA Europa League.
League finishing positions
Events timeline 1909 – Founded as Zsolnai Testgyakorlók Köre 1910 – Renamed ZsTS Zsolna 1919 – Renamed SK Žilina 1948 – Renamed Sokol Slovena Žilina 1953 – Renamed Jiskra Slovena Žilina 1956 – Renamed DSO Dynamo Žilina 1961 – First European qualification, 1961–62 1963 – Renamed Jednota Žilina 1967 – Renamed TJ ZVL Žilina 1990 – Renamed ŠK Žilina 1995 – Renamed MŠK Žilina
Affiliated clubs The following clubs are currently affiliated with MŠK Žilina: Tatran Liptovský Mikuláš (2012–present) MŠK Námestovo (TBA–present) Baník Prievidza (2013–present) JUPIE Futbalová škola Mareka Hamšíka (2016–present) MŠK Žilina Africa FC (2018–present)
Supporters MŠK Žilina supporters are called Žilinskí Šošoni (Žilina Shoshones), North Brigade and Žilinskí Fanatici (Žilina Fanatics). Žilina supporters maintain friendly relations with fans of Polish Góral Żywiec.
Stadium
Štadión Pod Dubňom is their home stadium. It has a capacity of 10,280. It underwent a major renovation between 2006 and September 2009. Between 2014 and 2015 it was used as the home stadium of Slovakia.
Sponsorship source PeriodKit manufacturerShirt sponsor1993–94KappaMIRUPO1994–95HummelK&K1995–96Adidasnone1996–97ATAK Sportswear1997–98Mizuno1998–99Joma1999–01NIKE2001–04Tento2004–07Adidas2007–2025NIKEPRETO2026-RADOMA
Honours
Domestic Czechoslovakia Zväzové Majstrovstvá Slovenska (Slovak League) (1925–33) Winners (2): 1927–28, 1928–29 Czechoslovak Cup (1961–93) Runners-up (1): 1961–62 1.SNL (1st Slovak National football league) Winners (1): 1981–82 Slovakia Slovak First Football League (1993–present) Winners (7): 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2016–17 Runners-up (6): 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2014–15, 2019–20, 2024–25 3rd place (1): 2010–11
Slovak Cup Winners (2): 2011–12, 2025–26 Runners-up (4): 2010–11, 2012–13, 2018–19, 2020–21 Pribina Cup (Slovak Super Cup) Winners (4): 2003–04, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2010–11
European UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Quarter-final (1): 1961–62 Mitropa Cup Runners-up (2): 1974, 1983 UEFA Champions League Group stage (1): 2010-11 UEFA Europa League Group stage (1): 2008–09
Transfers MŠK have produced numerous players who have gone on to represent the Slovak national football team. Over the last period there has been a steady increase of young players leaving Žilina after a few years of first team football and moving on to play football in leagues of a higher standard, with the German Bundesliga (Double best scorer Marek Mintál to 1. FC Nürnberg in 2003, another forwards Stanislav Šesták to VfL Bochum in 2009 and Mário Breška to 1. FC Nürnberg in 2008, also right back Peter Pekarík to VfL Wolfsburg in 2009), Italian Serie A (Milan Škriniar to Sampdoria in 2016, Dávid Hancko to ACF Fiorentina in 2018), Spanish La Liga (Róbert Mazáň to Celta de Vigo in 2018), Turkish Süper Lig (William to Kayserispor in 2016), Dutch Eredivisie (Róbert Boženík to Feyenoord in 2020), Danish Superliga (Denis Vavro to F.C. Copenhagen in 2017, Dawid Kurminowski to AGK in 2021), Austrian Football Bundesliga (Admir Vladavić to Salzburg in 2009 and 2013–14 best goalscorer Matej Jelić to Rapid Wien in 2015), Polish Ekstraklasa (Ján Mucha to Legia Warsaw in 2005, Róbert Jež to Górnik Zabrze in 2010 and Vahan Bichakhchyan to Pogoń Szczecin in 2022). Russian Premier League (Tomáš Hubočan to Zenit in 2008). The top transfer was agreed in 2016 when 18 years old talented midfielder László Bénes joined German Mönchengladbach for a fee more than €5.0 million, which was the highest ever paid to a Slovak club.
Record transfers RankPlayerToFeeYear1. László Bénes Mönchengladbach€5.5 million*20162. Róbert Boženík Feyenoord€4.6 million*20203. Dávid Hancko ACF Fiorentina€4.5 million*20184. Tomáš Hubočan Zenit€3.8 million20085. Tobiáš Pališčák Viktoria Plzeň€3.0 million20266. Jakub Kiwior Spezia€2.0 million*2021 Mário Sauer Toulouse FC€2.0 million*2025 Adrián Kaprálik Holstein Kiel€2.0 million*20257. Samuel Gidi FC Cincinnati€1.7 million*20258. Nikolas Špalek Brescia€1.5 million2018 Denis Vavro FC Copenhagen€1.5 million*2017 Samuel Mráz Empoli F.C.€1.5 million2018 Ľubomír Belko Viking FK€1.5 million20269. Róbert Mazáň Celta de Vigo€1.2 million*2018 Milan Škriniar Sampdoria€1.2 million*201610. Peter Pekarík VfL Wolfsburg€1.0 million*2009 Peter Štyvar Bristol City F.C.€1.0 million*2009 Dawid Kurminowski Aarhus GF€1.0 million*2021 Timotej Jambor FC Rapid București€1.0 million2024 Ján Bernát Westerlo€1.0 million2022 *-unofficial fee
Players Current squad
For recent transfers, see List of Slovak football transfers summer 2026.
Out on loan
Reserve team
Staff
Results
League and Cup history
Slovak League only (1993–present) {|class="wikitable" ! style="color:#FBE100; background:#00502E;"| Season ! style="color:#FBE100; background:#00502E;"| Division (Name) ! style="color:#FBE100; background:#00502E;"| Pos./Teams ! style="color:#FBE100; background:#00502E;"| Pl. ! style="color:#FBE100; background:#00502E;"| W ! style="color:#FBE100; background:#00502E;"| D ! style="color:#FBE100; background:#00502E;"| L ! style="color:#FBE100; background:#00502E;"| GS ! style="color:#FBE100; background:#00502E;"| GA ! style="color:#FBE100; background:#00502E;"| P ! style="color:#FBE100; background:#00502E;"|Slovak Cup ! style="color:#FBE100; background:#00502E;" colspan=2|Europe ! style="color:#FBE100; background:#00502E;"|Top Scorer (Goals) |- |align=center|1993–94 |align=center|1st (Mars Superliga) |align=center|5/(12) |align=center|32 |align=center|11 |align=center|11 |align=center|10 |align=center|50 |align=center|42 |align=center|33 |align=center|3.R |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| Ivan Šefčík (13) Ľubomír Zuziak (13) |- |align=center|1994–95 |align=center|1st(Mars Superliga) |align=center bgcolor=red|12/(12) |align=center|32 |align=center|9 |align=center|3 |align=center|20 |align=center|37 |align=center|53 |align=center|30 |align=center|1.R |align=center| |align=center| |align=center|
|align=center|1995–96 |align=center|2nd (1.Liga) |align=center bgcolor=green|2/(16) (P) |align=center|30 |align=center|17 |align=center|5 |align=center|8 |align=center|57 |align=center|27 |align=center|56 |align=center|2.R |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1996–97 |align=center|1st (Mars Superliga) |align=center|9/(16) |align=center|30 |align=center|11 |align=center|4 |align=center|15 |align=center|30 |align=center|34 |align=center|37 |align=center|2.R |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1997–98 |align=center|1st (Mars Superliga) |align=center|7/(16) |align=center|30 |align=center|11 |align=center|9 |align=center|10 |align=center|23 |align=center|25 |align=center|42 |align=center|1.R |align=center|UI |align=center| Group stage (9), 4th |align=center| Ladislav Meszároš (5) |- |align=center|1998–99 |align=center|1st (Mars Superliga) |align=center|6/(16) |align=center|30 |align=center|15 |align=center|3 |align=center|12 |align=center|36 |align=center|42 |align=center|48 |align=center|2.R |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| Marek Mintál (11) |- |align=center|1999–00 |align=center|1st (Mars Superliga) |align=center|8/(16) |align=center|30 |align=center|12