Slovakian defender Dávid Hancko is pleased with the Footballer of the Year award, as according to his own words at the beginning of his career he did not win many individual trophies. At the same time, however, he added at Monday’s gala evening that even more important to him is the eventual promotion to this year’s WC in the USA, Mexico and Canada. Hancko became the Prime Minister’s Footballer of the Year and as the 16th player in the era of independence.
With the national team, he is currently preparing in Senec for Thursday’s play-off match with Kosovo, the successful completion of which would make the “Sokols” moved into a direct fight for advancement to the championship against the more successful of the pair, Turkey – Romania. “Individual trophies are nice, but if you told me to give them up in exchange for going to the World Cup, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second. I would trade that for anything,” the Atletico Madrid defender said.
As part of the ceremony, the European champions from 1976 were also inducted into the Slovak Football Hall of Fame, as last year UEFA recognized the continental title from Belgrade alongside the Czech Republic and Slovaks. They made up the majority of the Czechoslovak national team at that time. “During the evening, the generation of legends that won the European Championship was also mentioned. I remember my father showing me videos and telling me about it. The coach also mentioned it, even today at training he talked about what a great team it was. I’m glad that we also have an excellent team in the national team. Although we haven’t achieved anything that big yet, I really like coming here and I’m really happy with the guys.” said Hancko, who met the European champions on Monday during training in Senec.
Last summer, Hancko transferred from Feyenoord Rotterdam to Atletico Madrid and did not get lost in the resounding club of one of the best competitions in the world. In 42 matches in all competitions, he scored three goals and three assists, two of which he scored in the Champions League.
“I think it is a big thing for Slovakia to have a player in Atletico Madrid. In the past we had great players in top clubs – Martin Škrtel in Liverpool, Marek Hamšík in Napoli, Milan Škriniar also has an excellent career. I used to watch them and today I have the opportunity to experience something similar. It’s incredible. Maybe we didn’t even expect that I would make a name for myself so quickly, but at the moment I have played the most minutes of any player in the club. To gain the coach’s trust in Atlético so quickly, where it is not easy for new players, is a big thing for me. I think the experience from Feyenoord and the Champions League helped me. The fact that I’m starting regularly and being in the starting line-up is amazing. Sometimes I even feel like it’s not real – like when I’m standing in the tunnel before a game and I realize where I am. I value even small successes even more, like when I win a fight with or score in the Champions League. I am very grateful for everything and I try to be fully aware of it and enjoy it,” described Hancko.
He succeeded Stanislav Lobotka as Footballer of the Year. The Napoli midfielder finished second in the poll and thus did not follow up on his triumphs from the previous two years. “I’m happy to be in the top three, as I said on the podium. I think that Dávid had an excellent season, either in the national team or in the club. Whether it was at Feyenoord or now at Atlético, he proved his quality everywhere. I personally wish him the best, because he is not only a great football player, but also a good person. In my opinion, he deserved this award. In such a survey, everyone has their own opinion and everyone prefers a different type of player,” Lobotka assessed, adding that the playoff is the most important for him at the moment: “However, for me, the most important thing is that we win on Thursday, and I believe that the number two will also shine with our score.”
