Tim Matavž (born 13 January 1989) is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as a striker for ND Gorica.[3]

Tim Matavž
Matavž with PSV in 2011
Personal information
Full name Tim Matavž[1]
Date of birth (1989-01-13) 13 January 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Šempeter pri Gorici, SFR Yugoslavia[2]
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
ND Gorica
Number 9
Youth career
1995–2004 Bilje
2004–2006 ND Gorica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 ND Gorica 30 (11)
2007–2011 Groningen 84 (34)
2008–2009FC Emmen (loan) 15 (5)
2011–2014 PSV 70 (24)
2014 Jong PSV 2 (0)
2014–2017 FC Augsburg 27 (3)
2016Genoa (loan) 7 (0)
2016–20171. FC Nürnberg (loan) 20 (5)
2017–2020 Vitesse 69 (32)
2020–2021 Al Wahda 19 (12)
2021–2022 Bursaspor 16 (2)
2022–2023 Omonia 10 (3)
2023–2024 HNK Gorica 39 (5)
2024– ND Gorica 6 (1)
International career
2006 Slovenia U18 3 (1)
2006 Slovenia U19 4 (0)
2007 Slovenia U20 1 (0)
2006–2010 Slovenia U21 20 (6)
2010–2020 Slovenia 39 (11)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 September 2024

Club career

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Matavž began his football career at the age of 6 playing for Bilje. In 2004, he moved to Gorica youth squads. He was promoted to their senior squad in the 2006–07 season and played a total of 30 matches in the Slovenian first division, scoring 11 goals in the process.[4]

On 30 August 2007, at the age of 18, he signed a five-year contract for Groningen.[5] On 26 September 2007 he scored four goals in KNVB Cup in a match against IJsselmeervogels,[6] but later moved to Emmen on loan and remained there until January 2009.

On 13 March 2009, Matavž scored his first goal in the Eredivisie in a 2–0 victory over Roda. Soon he began scoring for Groningen on regular basis in all competitions. On 24 February 2010 Matavž extended his contract with club until 2013.[7] On 6 February 2011, in a match against Willem II, Matavž scored his first hat-trick in the Eredivisie.[8]

On 2 February 2011, Groningen sporting director Hans Nijland said that Matavž had already agreed terms with Napoli and that he was looking forward to joining them.[9] However, Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven were also in talks with Groningen to buy him before the transfer window closed. On 31 August 2011, Matavž eventually signed a five-year contract with PSV.[10]

On 29 June 2017, Matavž returned to the Netherlands, to join Vitesse on a three-year deal.[11][12]

On 19 July 2020, Matavž joined Al Wahda on a two-year deal.[13]

International career

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On 9 October 2010, Matavž scored a hat-trick for Slovenia in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match against Faroe Islands.[14] At the age of 21, he became the youngest player ever to score three goals for Slovenia.[15] Overall, Matavž earned a total of 39 caps for the national team, scoring 11 goals.[16]

Personal life

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Matavž was born in Šempeter pri Gorici, Slovenia (then part of Yugoslavia).[17] He is the cousin of fellow footballer Etien Velikonja.[18] In June 2014, Matavž married his long-term partner Polona Faganelj.[19] He has two daughters, Tia (born 2012) and Ela (born 2015), and one son, Val (born 2017).[20] Beside Slovene, Matavž is also fluent in Dutch.[21]

In April 2024, several Slovenian media outlets reported that Matavž had been charged with domestic violence, and that the court allegedly imposed a restraining order, preventing him from contacting his wife and children.[22][23][24]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 16 June 2024[2]
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
ND Gorica 2006–07 Slovenian PrvaLiga 27 11 3 2 1[a] 0 31 13
2007–08 Slovenian PrvaLiga 3 0 0 0 2[b] 1 5 1
Total 30 11 3 2 3 1 0 0 36 14
Groningen 2007–08 Eredivisie 15 0 2 4 0 0 17 4
2008–09 Eredivisie 4 2 0 0 4[c] 1 8 3
2009–10 Eredivisie 32 13 3 2 2[c] 1 37 16
2010–11 Eredivisie 29 16 4 2 2[c] 2 35 20
2011–12 Eredivisie 4 3 0 0 4 3
Total 84 34 9 8 0 0 8 4 101 46
FC Emmen (loan) 2008–09 Eerste Divisie 15 5 1 0 16 5
PSV 2011–12 Eredivisie 28 11 5 4 9[d] 5 42 20
2012–13 Eredivisie 27 11 4 2 7[d] 7 0 0 38 20
2013–14 Eredivisie 15 2 1 0 6[e] 2 22 4
Total 70 24 10 6 22 14 0 0 102 44
FC Augsburg 2014–15 Bundesliga 16 3 1 0 17 3
2015–16 Bundesliga 11 0 2 0 4[d] 0 17 0
Total 27 3 3 0 4 0 0 0 34 3
Genoa (loan) 2015–16 Serie A 7 0 0 0 7 0
1. FC Nürnberg (loan) 2016–17 2. Bundesliga 20 5 1 0 21 5
Vitesse 2017–18 Eredivisie 30 14 1 0 5[d] 1 5[f] 2 41 17
2018–19 Eredivisie 14 6 0 0 4[d] 2 4[c] 3 22 11
2019–20 Eredivisie 25 12 2 1 27 13
Total 69 32 3 1 9 3 9 5 90 41
Al Wahda 2020–21 UAE Pro League 19 12 0 0 7[g] 1 1[h] 0 27 13
Bursaspor 2021–22 TFF First League 16 2 1 0 17 2
Omonia 2021–22 Cypriot First Division 6 2 5 0 11 2
2022–23 Cypriot First Division 4 1 0 0 1[d] 0 1[i] 0 6 1
Total 10 3 5 0 1 0 1 0 17 3
HNK Gorica 2022–23 Croatian Football League 15 0 0 0 15 0
2023–24 Croatian Football League 24 5 2 0 26 5
Total 39 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 41 5
Career total 406 136 38 17 46 19 19 9 509 181
  1. ^ Appearance in UEFA Champions League
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Cup
  3. ^ a b c d Appearances in Eredivisie European play-offs
  4. ^ a b c d e f Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Four appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League and two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ One appearance in Johan Cruyff Shield and four appearances and two goals in Eredivisie European play-offs
  7. ^ Appearances in AFC Champions League
  8. ^ Appearance in UAE League Cup
  9. ^ Appearance in Cypriot Super Cup

International

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Scores and results list Slovenia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Matavž goal.[25]
List of international goals scored by Tim Matavž
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 8 October 2010 Stožice Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia   Faroe Islands 1–0 5–1 UEFA Euro 2012 qualification
2 2–0
3 3–0
4 3 June 2011 Svangaskarð, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands   Faroe Islands 1–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2012 qualification
5 2 September 2011 Stožice Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia   Estonia 1–1 1–2 UEFA Euro 2012 qualification
6 15 November 2011 Stožice Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia   United States 1–1 2–3 Friendly
7 2–3
8 12 October 2012 Ljudski vrt, Maribor, Slovenia   Cyprus 1–0 2–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 2–0
10 31 May 2013 Schüco Arena, Bielefeld, Germany   Turkey 2–0 2–0 Friendly
11 19 November 2019 Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland   Poland 1–1 2–3 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Honours

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PSV

Omonia

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 4 June 2010. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "T. Matavž". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  3. ^ Tim Matavž at WorldFootball.net
  4. ^ "Tim Matavž – Nogometna zveza Slovenije" (in Slovenian). Football Association of Slovenia. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Sloveens talent Matavz naar FC Groningen" (in Dutch). De Pers. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
  6. ^ Bohorič, Jure (26 September 2007). "Štirje goli Tima Matavža" (in Slovenian). Nogomania. Retrieved 20 June 2020.[dead link]
  7. ^ "Matavz langer bij FC Groningen" (in Dutch). FC Groningen. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  8. ^ "Neverjetni Matavž tokrat trikrat" [Incredible Matavz scored three times] (in Slovenian). Nogomania. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  9. ^ [1], Tim Matavz agrees move to Napoli, 2 February 2011
  10. ^ Š. Ro. (31 August 2011). "Uradno: Tim Matavž se seli v PSV". Delo (in Slovenian). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Matavz wechselt zu Vitesse Arnhem". kicker Online (in German). 29 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Tim Matavž signs a three-year contract". SBV Vitesse. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  13. ^ To. G. (20 July 2020). "Tim Matavž z Nizozemske v Dubaj" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  14. ^ Plestenjak, Rok (9 October 2010). "Tim Matavž: To je bil super večer (video)" [Tim Matavz: It was a great evening] (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  15. ^ Viškovič, Rok (10 October 2010). "Matavž v elitni družbi najmlajši" [Matavz is the youngest in elite company] (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Appearances for Slovenia National Team". RSSSF. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Tim Matavž je več kot izkoristil ponujeno priložnost na tekmi proti Ferskim otokom". Dnevnik (in Slovenian). 9 October 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  18. ^ Rožman, Andraž (16 June 2009). "Bratranca z golgeterskimi geni". Dnevnik (in Slovenian). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  19. ^ T. H. (15 June 2014). "Foto: Nogometaš Tim Matavž se je poročil s svojo Polono" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  20. ^ M. T. (29 October 2017). "Kakšno veselje! Očka, slovenski nogometaš, bo zdaj imel moško družbo". slovenskenovice.si (in Slovenian). Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  21. ^ Okorn, Jože (9 February 2011). "Tim Matavž: Goli me niso spremenili". Dnevnik (in Slovenian). Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  22. ^ "Bivši reprezentant v postopku zaradi družinskega nasilja". Sportklub (in Slovenian). 25 April 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  23. ^ "Nogometaš Tim Matavž nasilen do žene?". Dnevnik (in Slovenian). 25 April 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  24. ^ "Obtožbe o družinskem nasilju in prepoved približevanja? Tim Matavž je zašel v velike težave" (in Slovenian). Nogomania. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  25. ^ "Tim Matavž, international footballer". eu-football.info. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
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