FK Púchov

Early years

The first football club in Púchov was founded in 1920. The first football match took place in Púchov in 1921, when Púchov won against a team from Pruské 2–1. However, the most successful years did not come until after World War II. In 1950 and 1963, Púchov fought its way into the 2. Liga, later spending several years in the 3. Liga. Between the years 1974–1986, the team played under the name TJ Gumárne 1. mája Púchov in the Czechoslovak second league. After the establishment of independent Slovakia, Púchov played in the 2nd league, in the 1997/98 season it took 3rd place with a 10-point gap behind the advancing Nitra and Dubnica, and 4th place a year later. The 1999/00 season was the most successful for Púchov football in its 80-year history – the football club (under the name ŠK Matador) triumphed in the 18-member II. league with a two-point gap over NCHZ Nováky, thus becoming a participant in the highest competition for the upcoming season.

2002–2003: Golden years

After winning the 2002–03 Slovak Cup, the only major trophy in the history of the club, Púchov managed to draw a first leg UEFA Cup game against an FC Barcelona side containing Víctor Valdés, Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernández, Luis Enrique, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Marc Overmars and Patrick Kluivert. Milan Jambor scored the late equalizer. Mário Breška, who had scored the winning goal in the extra-time of the 2003 Slovak Cup final against SK Slovan Bratislava, provided the assist that stunned…

Slovak Cup (1961–) Winners (1): 2002–03 Runners-up (1): 2001–02 Slovak First Football League (1993–) Runners-up (1): 2001–02 Slovak second division (1993–) Winners (1): 1999–00