Mad Mak is (officially) back
PAOK announce the return of Róbert Mak to Toumba, on a one-season loan from Zenit Saint Petersburg with an option to buy.
Born on 8 March 1991 in Bratislava, Slovakia, Róbert Mak was introduced to professional football in England and made a name for himself in Germany. At the age of 15, in 2006, he joined the youth system of Manchester City FC. Two years later, he signed his first professional contract with the Citizens and played for their B side.
His English adventure was over before he made it to the Premier League. He moved to the German Bundesliga in 2010 signing for 1.FC Nürnberg. He enjoyed time on the pitch right from the start and completed his first season in Germany’s top flight league with 22 appearances, establishing himself as a dependable option on the right flank of the attack.
He remained in Germanyfor four seasons, however the team’s relation in Zweite Liga coincided with the expiration of his contract, so the Slovakian opted for a change of scenery. Legia Warszawa came calling, but he chose Toumba, convinced by PAOK’s offer and the opportunity to feature in European competition.
He remained in Thessaloniki for two seasons and established himself on European level. In 2014-15, he played in 35 games, scoring 8 goals and serving 5 assists. But more was to come…
Igor Tudor saw in him a modern false nine. So he removed him from the flanks and brought him in the box to spear-head the attack. Not only did this move prove right, but it also changed the course of his career. In his fullest season yet, he featured in 46 encounters and was PAOK’s top scorer with 20 goals in Greece and Europe. He also became a regular in the national team of Slovakia and participated in the UEFA Euro 2016 finals.
His performances attracted the interest of various European clubs, with RSC Anderlecht and Zenit Saint Petersburg making it to the… final stretch. The Russian team secured his signature. Mak started strongly his spell in Russia and was excellent in the first half of last season, gaining the “player of the season” accolade by Zenit fans. He had 6 goals and 5 assists in 27 encounters. The coaching change at Zenit paved the way for Mak’s return to PAOK.
Welcome home, Robbie!
