Dávid Hancko


Dávid Hancko is a Slovak professional footballer who plays for Czech First League club Sparta Prague on loan from Serie A club Fiorentina. He also plays for Slovakia as a defender.

Club career

MŠK Žilina

Hancko made his professional Fortuna Liga debut for MŠK Žilina against ŽP Šport Podrbezová on 12 March 2016. He also played in 45 fixtures, scoring 11 goals, in the reserves team, between 2014 and 2018.
He was included by UEFA on its list of most promising talents for 2018.

Fiorentina

On 14 June 2018, it was announced that Hancko had signed a five-year contract with Fiorentina. He played in multiple friendly pre-season fixtures, but made his competitive debut on 22 September 2018, after being benched for four matches, during a 3–0 home victory over S.P.A.L., substituting Cristiano Biraghi at half time. His performance was generally well received, receiving an average mark of 7.0/10 by the Sofascore internet portal.
During January 2019 transfer window, it was reported that Zenit Saint Peterburg were looking to sign Hancko on a half-season loan, for €500,000, with an option to buy for €20 million. At this point, Hancko had only started as a substitute in two Serie A games, but was important for the national team in October and November fixtures of UEFA Nations League. Nonetheless, Fiorentina did not agree to the terms of the deal.
In the season, Hancko was in the starting eleven of games against Juventus, playing the entire match, oand Napoli, the top two teams in the league table, despite not being fielded in other, minor matches.

International career

Hancko was initially called up to Slovakia's senior national team on 2 October 2018 by the coach Ján Kozák, shortly after his debut in Serie A, for matches against Czech Republic and a friendly against Sweden later in October. Hancko was fielded in the match against Czech Republic, in the 80th minute, substituting left-back Tomáš Hubočan. He also played a game under Štefan Tarkovič on 16 October 2018, who managed the team on caretaker basis, against Sweden, since Kozák resigned on 14 October 2018.
After the international retirement of Tomáš Hubočan in February 2019, Hancko was nominated as the preferred choice as a left-back, playing the entirety of a qualifying match against Hungary on 21 March 2019. As in previous matches, Hancko presented himself with a quite offensive football, at times playing in the line with attacking midfielders.

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.11 June 2019Bakcell Arena, Baku, Azerbaijan5–15–1UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Honours

Club

Sparta Prague