Peter Pokorný (footballer)

Peter Pokorný (born 8 August 2001) is a Slovak professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Polish club Śląsk Wrocław.

Club career
Pokorný started playing football with AS Trenčín, before moving to the academy of Red Bull Salzburg. In 2018 he signed with FC Liefering, the feeder team of FC Red Bull Salzburg.

Pokorný made his debut for Liefering on 3 August 2018, before being replaced by Nikola Stošić in the 63rd minute.

On 16 June 2021, Pokorný signed a three-year deal with Spanish side Real Sociedad, being placed initially into the B team under manager Xabi Alonso.

After one season, however, in July 2022, Pokorný departed to Hungarian Nemzeti Bajnokság I to feature for Fehérvár FC on a one-year loan deal.

On 9 August 2023, he joined Polish Ekstraklasa side Śląsk Wrocław on a two-year deal, with an extension option for another year.

International career
Pokorný was first recognised as an alternate broader squad member for the senior Slovak national team on 28 September 2021 ahead of two 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Russia and Croatia. Pokorný then first penetrated into the national team nomination in November 2022 by Francesco Calzona being listed as a part of a 27-man squad for two friendly fixtures against Montenegro and Marek Hamšík's retirement game against Chile. While he was available on the bench for both of the fixtures, he was not fielded in either of them. Subsequently, in December 2022, Pokorný was shortlisted in a nomination for senior national team prospective players' training camp at NTC Senec.

Personal life
Other than native Slovak, Pokorný also speaks English, German and Spanish.