Róbert Boženík (source: stokecityfc.com)
It has been a busy start to life in England for Róbert Boženík.
In late July, the Slovakia international signed a three-year deal with Stoke City after leaving Boavista on a free transfer. The move marks the latest step in a career that has already taken him from MŠK Žilina to Feyenoord, Fortuna Düsseldorf and Boavista.
Shortly after the transfer was announced, Boženík appeared on the VAR podcast, where he revealed that multiple clubs had expressed interest in him this summer – including a lucrative proposal from Lokomotiv Moscow, which, he says, would have quadrupled his wages in Portugal.
“I’m a principled person and I have certain values in life,” he said. “I’m responsible for my family and my parents. The money would not have made me happy – and it was not worth destroying other people’s lives with my choice.”
He admitted the decision might have been different under other circumstances. “Before the war, their league had a certain prestige. But now there was no chance. Even if it was an unbelievable amount of money, that train doesn’t leave the station.”
At Boavista, Boženík scored 20 goals and provided five assists in 95 appearances, having initially joined on loan from Feyenoord in 2022. His single season in Germany’s second tier with Fortuna Düsseldorf added another style of football to his CV – something Stoke will hope pays off in England’s most physically demanding league.
Boženík has been impressed by Steven Schumacher and his staff since arriving. “I had really good impressions from the owner of the club, the sporting director and also the manager. I felt a lot of trust and that was very important to me.”
“I have seen the job the manager has done with other strikers who are now playing at the highest level, and the small details he spoke about excited me for this challenge and played a big part in why I wanted to join the Potters.”
Stoke City compete in the second tier of English football and are one of the country’s oldest clubs.
The Potters opened their Championship campaign on 9 August against Derby County. Boženík is now focused on integrating quickly, telling supporters they can expect “hard work for the team” and an unwavering search for goals.”
