Norbert Gyömbér

Norbert Gyömbér (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈnɔrberd ˈɟembeːr], Hungarian: [ˈnorbɛrd ˈɟømbeːr]; born 3 July 1992) is a Slovak professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or defensive midfielder for Serie A club Salernitana and the Slovakia national team.

Norbert Gyömbér
Gyömbér with Slovakia in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (1992-07-03) 3 July 1992 (age 31)
Place of birthRevúca, Czechoslovakia
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)Centre back, Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Salernitana
Number23
Youth career
1997–2006MFK Revúca
2006–2011Dukla Banská Bystrica
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2011–2013Dukla Banská Bystrica44(0)
2013–2015Catania26(1)
2015–2018Roma6(0)
2016–2017Pescara (loan)10(0)
2017Terek Grozny (loan)7(0)
2017–2018Bari (loan)28(1)
2018–2020Perugia54(1)
2020–Salernitana115(0)
International career
2011Slovakia U194(0)
2012–2013Slovakia U219(0)
2014–Slovakia39(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:48, 5 June 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:48, 5 June 2024 (UTC)

Club career

Dukla Banská Bystrica

Gyömbér with Banská Bystrica in 2012

Born in Revúca,[1] Gyömbér started playing football with club MFK Revúca, before moving to the youth team of Corgoň Liga club FK Dukla Banská Bystrica in 2006.[2] Norbert made his professional debut with Dukla Banská Bystrica on 1 October 2011 in a league match against MFK Ružomberok.[3] On 25 May 2012, Gyömbér was voted by Dukla Banská Bystrica's fans as player of the season, despite starting in just 18 league matches.[4] He was also named Revelation of the 2011–12 Corgoň Liga's season in July 2012, after his successful first season with FK Dukla Banská Bystrica.[5]

Catania

Calcio Catania officially agreed to the permanent transfer of midfielder Norbert Gyömbér from Dukla Banská Bystrica during the 2013 January transfer window, but the transfer was not officially be completed until 1 July 2013. The 20-year-old footballer signed a 4.5-year contract at the Stadio Angelo Massimino, but finished the 2012–13 season with the top-flight Slovakian side.[citation needed]

Roma

On 18 August 2015, Gyömbér joined Roma on a one-year loan,[6] in which the signing was made permanent on 21 June 2016 for €1.5 million.[7]

Pescara

On 15 August 2016, Gyömbér joined Pescara on a season-long loan.[8] He first appeared in a Cup match against Frosinone in August, however, after only 5 games, he fractured his tibula in a 49th minute of a match against Lazio in September.[citation needed]

Although between December 2016 and February 2017 he appeared in 6 of Pescara's 10 matches (out of 2 due to a minor injury), rumours have surfaced about disagreements with some of his teammates and consequently, he was removed from the squad by club's disciplinary action in mid-February.[9] However, according to Gyömbér, this rumour was "not true at all" and the real cause were disagreements with the coach of Pescara at the time, Massimo Oddo, who shortly after replaced by Zdeněk Zeman after a series of unsuccessful results, which Gyömbér claims to be one of the reasons for tensions. He revealed these claims in an interview on 21 March 2017, in a national team camp in Senec, Slovakia, prior to the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Malta.[10]

Terek Grozny

On 16 February 2017, he joined the Russian Premier League club FC Terek Grozny on loan until the end of 2016–17 season.[11][better source needed]

Perugia

On 14 August 2018, he signed a three-year contract with Serie B club Perugia.[12]

Salernitana

On 12 September 2020, he joined Salernitana on a three-year contract.[13]

International career

On 5 March 2014, Gyömbér debuted for the Slovak senior squad of the in a friendly match against Israel.[14] He was selected in Slovakia's squad for UEFA Euro 2016, making two appearances as Slovakia reached the round of 16.[citation needed]

Pavel Hapal era

After the arrival of the Czech native Pavel Hapal, Gyömbér lost his spot in the national team as early as November 2018, failing to regain it in March 2019.[15] He managed to make a national team comeback in October 2019 for a qualifier against Wales, when it was required to fill the role of a second centre back, as Denis Vavro had suffered a yellow card suspension.[16] He played for the national team after over a year and his gameplay was seen generally positively, mainly for his uncompromising play, as he was tackled angrily on numerous occasions. However, his gameplay caused him to be sanctioned with two yellow cards.[17]

Later appearances

In 2021 and 2022, Gyömbér only appeared in the national team on two occasions in the unsuccessful UEFA Nations League campaign. After the arrival of Francesco Calzona, Gyömbér was first nominated in March 2023 to kick-off UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying short after a 3-month injury-caused absence from club football.[18]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 25 May 2024[19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dukla Banská2011–12Slovak Super Liga18030210
2012–13Slovak Super Liga26030290
Total44060500
Catania2013–14Serie A18110191
2014–15Serie B801090
2015–16Lega Pro001010
Total26130291
Roma2015–16Serie A600060
Pescara (loan)2016–17Serie A10020120
Terek Grozny (loan)2016–17Russian Premier League700070
Bari (loan)2017–18Serie B29100291
Perugia2018–19Serie B31100311
2019–20Serie B26040300
Total57140611
Salernitana2020–21Serie B35020370
2021–22Serie A31020330
2022–23Serie A27010280
2023–24Serie A22030250
Total1150801230
Career total29332303163

Personal life

Gyömbér belongs to the Hungarian minority in Slovakia.[20]

Honours

Slovakia

Individual

References