Ján Ďurica (born 10 December 1981) is a Slovak former professional footballer who played as a central defender. He worked as assistant manager of FC Petržalka.

Club career

Ďurica moved to FC Saturn Moscow Oblast after a highly successful UEFA Champions League campaign with FC Artmedia Bratislava. On 31 January 2009, Ďurica signed a three-year contract with Lokomotiv Moscow, who have paid around €3.5 million to overtake Celtic and Panathinaikos in the auction for the Slovakia national team. On 13 January 2010, it was confirmed that he would join Hannover 96 on loan until the end of the season. In January 2016, Ďurica signs a two-year contract with Süper Lig side Trabzonspor. He was released on 18 May 2018 after his contract expired. On 5 September 2018, Ďurica signed for Dukla Prague until the end of season. He announced his retirement from professional football after the club was relegated from Czech First League.

International career

On 9 July 2004, Ďurica made his Slovakia senior team debut against Japan at the 2004 Kirin Cup. He was selected for the Slovak squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, their first major tournament as an independent nation, playing all four matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Upon contributing to Slovakia's first appearance at a UEFA Euro 2016, Ďurica was one of the players who completed all of Slovakia's four matches of the tournament. Once the tournament ended, Ďurica hinted his desire to retire from international football after 2018 FIFA World Cup. However, as Slovakia failed to qualify, Ďurica retired on 14 November 2017, after a home friendly match against Norway (1–0 win), with a final statistic of 91 caps and 4 goals.

Career statistics

Club

International

Personal life

Born in Dunajská Streda, Ďurica belongs to the Hungarian minority in Slovakia through his mother. He also starred in Markíza show Let's Dance. On 4 November 2020, Ďurica found his football academy Mladé levy for children age six until eleven years old, expected to start January the following year. Ďurica was in relationship with Magdalena Šebestová until 2019. In 2022, he proposed to his girlfriend, Miss Universe 2013 finalist Diana Kačurová. On 1 January 2024, it was announced that Ďurica and Kačurová were expecting a child.

Honours

Artmedia Petržalka Lokomotiv Moscow Individual