view Brezovan's match-by-match record
 
Peter BREZOVAN

A former Slovakian under-21 international goalkeeper, Brezovan signed on a year's loan from Czech side 1.FC Brno in July 2006 - new manager Dennis Wise allegedly calling in a favour from an agent to ensure that he got his man. It soon became clear as to why Wise had done so, as Brezovan had an amazing debut - saving two penalties and making other brilliant stops to single-handedly protect the Town's 1-0 lead at fellow promotion favourites Hartlepool on the opening day of the season.

The giant keeper's excellent form continued over the coming weeks - as Swindon won their opening six games without ever really being convincing, he was often called upon to make vital stops. Seemingly unbeatable at times, there were only two criticisms of Brezovan's play - one being his erratic kicking, and the other a tendency to rush out of his goal too quickly - it was the latter that contributed to the Town's first defeat of the season at Wrexham, when Brezovan brought down the onrushing Chris Llewellyn, and was sent the wrong way from the resultant penalty, earning himself a booking in the process. Nevertheless, the keeper's form earned him the adulation of the fans, who voted him as the PFA Fans' Player of the Month for September - and manager Wise confirmed that bigger clubs had already been alerted by his performances.

Unfortunately, Brezovan's season was to come to an abrupt end in mid-October, when with the Town 2-0 up at home to Grimsby, he fell awkwardly after claiming a corner, and badly broke his left arm. Fearing that Brezovan had played his last game for the Town, fans were quickly reassured that the loan deal included an agreed price to buy the player - and when Wise left for Leeds later that month, it was also confirmed that Swindon had the first option, so there was no danger of any other club hijacking the deal. Despite new manager Paul Sturrock never having seen him play live, the deal was done at the end of March - Brezovan signing a two year deal for an undisclosed fee.

With deputy Phil Smith named as the Supporter's Club Player of the Year in his absence, Brezovan started the 2007/08 campaign as second choice - Sturrock remaining loyal to the keeper who had so far served him so well. With Brezovan restricted to cup matches, he looked shaky in his first few appearances, but despite this, the bigger clubs were beginning to circle - and Brezovan was allowed to join Everton for a three day trial in September. When injury ruled Smith out in October, Brezovan regained the first team slot, and he slowly regained some of the form that had made him his name the previous season.

Despite this, when new boss Maurice Malpas took over, he somewhat harshly blamed Brezovan for a goal conceded at Nottingham Forest in February, handing the recovered Smith another opportunity, which he failed to take convincingly - a month later, Brezovan was back between the sticks, and he remained there for the rest of the season. With Swansea and Tottenham the latest clubs being linked with his signature, Brezovan himself admitted that though he was enjoying his time at the County Ground, he was uncertain where his future lay.

Despite this, Brezovan remained at the club, and continued in goal for the opening of the 2008/09 season, until he missed a through ball to allow an easy final goal for Colchester in a 3-1 defeat at the end of August. Relegated to tbe bench, it was just the beginning of an awful period for both of the Town's goalkeepers - Brezovan returned to action in October, two awful blunders by Phil Smith giving him the jersey back, but on his return, Brezovan made a blunder of his own allowing a tame shot to squirm through his arms and into the net during a Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie at Hereford. Malpas kept faith with him though, and when the Town registered back-to-back home victories at the end of October, it seemed like the shirt might be Brezovan's to keep - until an ankle injury forced him out of the side the following weekend.

It was Boxing Day before Brezovan returned to action - after Danny Wilson had been appointed as the Town's new manager, Brezovan was handed the starting place again immediately - Wilson perhaps remembering that debut at Hartlepool, where he had been manager. Brezovan soon stated that he may stay at the club into the new season if he was playing, and both Wilson and Brezovan alluded to the lack of confidence caused by the constant chopping and changing earlier in the season. Though his performances did improve, Brezovan still seemed to be lacking the dominance that he had displayed earlier in his Town career, and when he took some of the blame for a 3-2 defeat at Colchester in March, he was benched again for that weekend's trip to Leeds. Phil Smith took his opportunity and played all of the remaining ten games - winning a new contract offer - whereas Brezovan didn't play again, and was released at the end of the season.

PLAYING RECORD:

Season LEAGUE FA CUP LEAGUE CUP OTHER TOTAL
Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls
'08/'09 21 - (+1) - 1 - 1 - 23 (+1) -
'07/'08 31 - 4 - 1 - 2 - 38 -
'06/'07 14 - - - - - - - 14 -
TOTAL 66 - 4 (+1) - 2 - 3 - 75 (+1) -


TRANSFER INFORMATION:

DATE IN/OUT TRANSFER DETAIL
15 JUL 2006 IN 1.FC Brno
(loan)
29 MAR 2007 IN 1.FC Brno
Undisclosed fee (believed to be around Ł60,000)
5 MAY 2009 OUT (released)
» Brighton and Hove Albion


 SLOVAKIA
U-21 international apps



date of birth
9 December 1979


             
             
             
             
             
           

usual positions
goalkeeper

youth career
MŠK Iskra Petržalka 
PS Bratislava 

senior career
FKM Vinohrady Bratislava
ŠKP 
Slovan Breclav 
1.HFK Olomouc 
1.FC Brno 
FK Inter Bratislava (loan) 
SWINDON TOWN (loan)
SWINDON TOWN
Brighton & Hove Albion
Portsmouth
Tranmere Rovers
Southport (loan)