Marek Rodák is a free agent after his Fulham contact was not renewed.
Due to their summer custodian searches, Birmingham City and Derby County might have an additional interest in this year’s European Championship.
Following Marek Rodák’s release from Fulham, the two teams—who switched places at the end of the previous season with the Blues going down to League One and the Rams getting promoted back to the Championship—may have to compete for his services.
The 27-year-old is supporting Martin Dúbravka of Newcastle United, who has been linked to a move to Celtic, as a backup player for Slovakia, but his performance in a major international tournament may be what makes a move for him happen.
After two years with the Midlands team, Birmingham’s John Ruddy has not yet agreed to a new contract, and Neil Etheridge left St. Andrew’s after his contract ran out.
Derby finds itself in a similar situation as third-choice Scott Loach and League One Golden Glove winner Joe Wildsmith both go as free agents this summer, leaving Paul Warne with only Josh Vickers to choose from.
What Marek Rodák can bring to Birmingham City and Derby County
Despite watching on from the sideline for the majority of the 2023/24 campaign, Rodák has played a major part in
The history of Fulham since signing with the Cottagers in 2013 at the age of sixteen.
The Slovakian custodian has two Championship promotions under his belt from his now-former employers. In the 2017–18 season, he assisted Warne, the prospective future manager, to a League One play-off victory with Rotherham United.
With Birmingham hoping to return straight to the Championship in their first season in the third division in almost thirty years, this experience could be crucial for both teams.Derby, on the other side, will be trying to hold on after their most recent promotion.
Throughout his career, Rodák has contributed at both ends of the table. He preserved six clean sheets after being relegated with Rotherham upon rejoining the Millers in 2018–19.
The 6′ 4″ Slovakian could be a dominant presence in the box for either team, but especially for the Rams, who finished last season with the greatest defensive record in League One after giving up just 37 goals.
Although Birmingham wants to reduce the average age of their goalkeeping staff this season, he still has plenty of years left to develop and establish himself as the best player at both teams at the age of 27. Neil Etheridge, 34, and John Ruddy, 37, were both utilised by the Blues in the Championship the previous year.
| Marek Rodák 2023/24 Stats (FotMob) | |
| Appearances | 5 |
| Saves | 9 |
| Clean Sheets | 1 |
| Errors Leading to Goals | 0 |
| Penalties Saved | 1 |
Marek Rodák has his own decision to make following Euro 2024
Euro 2024 gives Rodák time to make the correct move for the next stage of his career. He has only played for one club permanently throughout his time as a footballer so far, but he has had the chance to play in all of England’s top four divisions.
Still, the Birmingham project might convince him. Despite being demoted on the last day of the Championship in May, Blues’ American owners are driven and will stop at nothing to eventually return the team to the Premier League.
In contrast to previous managers Chris Davies, who left Bolton Wanderers, Portsmouth, and Sunderland languishing in the third division for several years, Davies is looking to make an immediate impression in the Midlands.
Derby is constructing their own project in the interim. According to CEO Stephen Pearce, who stated in March that the Rams are “not there to make up the numbers, we want to compete, and we will make sure there is a competitive wage bill and squad to do that,” the team will begin the new season back in the Championship with the intention of making an impact on the division after administration destroyed the team three years prior.
With the chance to add to his 22 Slovakian caps since the tournament’s beginning, Rodák has a difficult decision this summer that might spark interest from other sectors.
That might include other nations in Europe, but if Rodák wishes to remain in the United Kingdom, then clubs other than Birmingham and Derby might be interested in his abilities.
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