Slovakiaâs third largest city of Zilina is home to its second most successful football club since independence in 1993. MSK Zilina won six titles in ten years between 2002 and 2012, reaching the group stages of the Champions League and former UEFA Cup on one occasion each. please log in to view this image The Yellow-Greens also made three cup finals in a row, winning one, in the double year of 2012. But MSK, then just SK Zilina, were twice Slovak champions in the 1920s, when only Czech teams were allowed to compete in the Czechoslovak league. Never able to assert their authority as compatriots Slovan Bratislava and Spartak Trnava could over the big teams from Prague, Zilina became a big player in the independent Slovak league. To their advantage has been the all-seater Stadión pod Dubnom, built in 1941 after Slovakia had gained a limited amount of autonomy. Recently, with the rebuilding of the main stadiums in Bratislava and Trnava, Zilina has become the de facto home for the Slovak national side. please log in to view this image The ground is also being used for AS TrencÃnâs home tie with Hull in the Europa League â 2014-15 is the first time since 2006-07 that Zilina havenât been involved in Europe. The stadium stands the other side of the train station, in a riverside sports complex that also includes the Garmin Aréna for ice hockey, equally popular and successful here. Bearings The nearest international airport to Zilina is 9km (5.5 miles) north-east of the capital of Bratislava. There is currently no direct public transport to Zilina. Trolleybus No.61 runs past the Slovan stadium, through town to Bratislavaâs train station. Buses run every 15-20min and take 25min to reach the station, tickets â¬0.90, valid 60min. A taxi should cost around â¬15 â Airport Taxi Bratislava (+421 903 718 787) is as good as any. Most firms also quote a price (â¬45-50) to and from Vienna Airport. A dozen Blaguss buses a day run from Vienna Airport to Bratislava SNP Bridge (â¬7.20, â¬12 return, 45min journey time) in town. please log in to view this image Zilina is 200km from Bratislava. From Bratislavaâs main station, hlavná stanica, a train (every 2hrs, 2hr 15-45min) costs â¬9. Zilina is compact and walkable, the stadium near the station. Public transport consists of buses and trolleybuses, a short journey â¬0.55, a longer one â¬0.65. For a local taxi, call +421 41 290 1993. Bed The Zilina Tourist Information Office has a hotel database. Near the stadium, the Holiday Inn is the best hotel in town, with a gym, pool, jacuzzi and tennis court. Its Aquarium Bar by the lobby is handy pre- and post-match. please log in to view this image Also signposted are the four-star Best Western Plus Palace Hotel Polom by the station and the Hotel Dubná Skala nearby. In the town centre, the Astoria is a three-star cheapie with smallish rooms but a pretty exterior and ideal location. Nearby Hotel Slovan is in the same rating and price bracket. Displaying its opening date of 1910 on its stylish façade, the Hotel Grand Zilina offers sauna and watery relaxation. There are also budget rooms at the GMK Centrum, by Zilinaâs main square, with its own restaurant. please log in to view this image Beer Affordable Czech and Slovak beer abounds. On the main square of Mariánske námestie, your first port of call should be the Guinness Pub. Genuinely pub-like, with scarf evidence of Chelseaâs visit in 2010, otherwise decked out in old Slovak beer ads, the GP also features a terrace overlooking the square and a restaurant upstairs. Football on TV, too. please log in to view this image ust off the main square, Gladiator (Sladkovicova 164/3) is another pub-like venue with an excellent choice of beers (Edelweiss, Starobrno, two types of Zlaty Bazant) and TV football. The Zina Sport Bar (MR Stefánika 988/12) pumps out loud music but otherwise lacks atmosphere. Nearer the station, the courtyard Fan Café (Narodná 18) is a simple basement bar with mounted Slovak shirts surrounding the TV focused on football action. Opposite the station, the Krcma u Zilinca is an age-old Zilina fansâ pub, yellow-and-green on the outside, brown and smoky on the inside. Old photos of Zilina complement the MSK scarves. For after-hours entertainment, live-music clubs include the recommended SMERR. http://liberoguide.com/zilina/
Would've loved to have gone, but off to Budapest for a week next month. How many we taking to Slovakia?
Ticket office reckon about 700, they've already sold out an entire plane full (200) and are filling a second, and loads are making their own way there too. Watch out for gypos, slovakia has a massive problem with them and they're a menace. They can apparently be identified by a darker skin colour and black hair, as well as being scruffy stinking bastards. If you're on an ipad or something and gypos come near run for your frigging life. Whilst trying to do a bit of research on the dirty buggers I came across this http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ay-dog-problem-inviting-gypsies-eat-them.html I don't know what's worse, the gypos or the mayor
I'm staying in the Holiday Inn, hoping the team are staying there as well. Give them a few inspirational words over breakfast
My father in law (Czech) wanted me to have a switch blade in the car when I was going to drive to the Tatra mountains in eastern Slovakia (to fight off gypsies). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2688663/Shameless-Slovak-mother-11-gets-handouts-430-WEEK-says-wont-job-stay-UK-forever.html
Will we see the traditional cavalcade of cars sounding their klaxons and letting off firecrackers at 3am outside their hotel, or is that just Latin countries?
What do Charlie Chaplin, David Essex, Louise Doughty, Django Reinhardt, Elvis and many others have in common? http://www.imninalu.net/famousGypsies.htm
We're in Bratislava tomorrow night, Zilin Thursday night. If anyone else is in Bratislava tomorrow we will be in a bar in the old town somewhere, look for where people in City shirts are fighting off scruffy stinking bastards
not in brat, we are in vienna,taking the train up to zilina ,if i see a couple of sleeping tigers ,i know you had a good night.
