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FOOTBALL EUROPE: Vittek honoured in Slovakia

/noticias.info/ by Rastislav Hribik
from Bratislava

Róbert Vittek is the toast of Slovakia after the nation's Player of the Year award proved to be a cracking birthday treat for his wife.

Mintál double
The 24-year-old forward picked up his first Player of the Year award on Wednesday to complete a remarkable hat-trick for his German club, 1. FC Nürnberg. With team-mate Marek Mintál winning the prize in 2004 and 2005, Nürnberg players have held a monopoly of the title for three years.

High marks
A jury of 36 - 20 coaches and 16 journalists - voted as the award was handed out for the 14th time, with Vittek emerging as the clear winner with 347 points out of a possible 360. FC Zenit St Petersburg defender Martin Škrtel finished second with 279 points while Rosenborg BK midfielder Marek Sapara finished third with 190 points.

Birthday treat
"It was a pleasure for me and the best posible gift for my wife, who celebrates her birthday today," said Róbert Vittek during ceremony in Bratislava's Crowne Plaza Hotel. "Also I would like to wish a good luck to my injured team-mate Marek Mintál. He needs it so much these days."

Excellent season
Vittek finished fourth in the 2005 poll but came into his own last season with 18 goals in the 2005/06 Bundesliga campaign, including hat-tricks in two consecutive games back in March. Just two goals in 14 Bundesliga games in 2006/07 has represented a slight disappointment by comparison.

German sojourn
Having begun his career with his hometown side ŠK Slovan Bratislava back in the 1999/00 season, Vittek has now been in Germany for three years, having joined Nürnberg midway through the 2003/04 campaign, and has been a regular for the national team since 2001.

International experience
A knee injury suffered in a friendly game against Malta in August put him out of action for five weeks, but he returned to score for Slovakia in their 5-1 UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying win against Wales in Cardiff on 7 October and remains an important player for new coach Ján Kocian.

Russian offer
In June, FC Lokomotiv Moskva offered Nürnberg €10m to bring Vittek to the Russian capital, but the player elected to stay in the Bundesliga, signing a contract until 2010. "We are happy Róbert agreed to stay with us," said in Nürnberg sporting director Martin Bader. notas_de_prensa_archivo