{{Short description|Slovak footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Martin Valjent |image = |caption = |fullname = Martin Valjent<ref>{{cite web |url=http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpActa1?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=65516 |title=Acta del Partido celebrado el 14 de agosto de 2021, en Palma de Mallorca |trans-title=Minutes of the Match held on 14 August 2021, in Palma de Mallorca |publisher=Royal Spanish Football Federation|access-date=14 August 2021 |language=es}}</ref> |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|12|11|df=y}} |birth_place = Dubnica nad Váhom, Slovakia |height = 1.87 m |position = Centre-back |currentclub = Mallorca |clubnumber = 24 |youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Dubnica |years1 = 2012–2013 |clubs1 = Dubnica |caps1 = 14 |goals1 = 0 |years2 = 2013–2017 |clubs2 = Ternana |caps2 = 76 |goals2 = 2 |years3 = 2017–2019 |clubs3 = Chievo |caps3 = 0 |goals3 = 0 |years4 = 2017–2018 |clubs4 = → Ternana (loan) |caps4 = 38 |goals4 = 3 |years5 = 2018–2019 |clubs5 = → Mallorca (loan) |caps5 = 29 |goals5 = 0 |years6 = 2019– |clubs6 = Mallorca |caps6 = 230 |goals6 = 4 |nationalyears1 = 2013 |nationalteam1 = Slovakia U18 |nationalcaps1 = |nationalgoals1 = |nationalyears2 = 2014 |nationalteam2 = Slovakia U19 |nationalcaps2 = 14 |nationalgoals2 = 2 |nationalyears3 = 2015–2017 |nationalteam3 = Slovakia U21 |nationalcaps3 = 19 |nationalgoals3 = 2 |nationalyears4 = 2018– |nationalteam4 = Slovakia |nationalcaps4 = 15 |nationalgoals4 = 1 |pcupdate = 23 May 2026 |ntupdate = 22:40, 31 March 2026 (UTC) }}

'''Martin Valjent''' (born 11 December 1995) is a Slovak professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for La Liga club Mallorca and the Slovakia national team.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Player Profile {{!}} Martin Valjent|url=https://www.rcdmallorca.es/en/player/valjent|website=RCD Mallorca|access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref>

==Club career== At the age of 17 in summer 2013, Valjent joined Italian Serie B club Ternana Calcio.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sedemnásťročný Valjent ide z Dubnice do Talianska|url=https://sportnet.sme.sk/spravy/sedemnastrocny-valjent-ide-z-dubnice-do-talianska/|newspaper=Sme|publisher=Petit Press|access-date=31 August 2023|language=sk}}</ref>

In August 2018, Valjent moved to RCD Mallorca on loan, a prominent team in Segunda División.<ref>{{Cite web |title=El Mallorca logra la cesión de Martin Valjent|url=https://es.besoccer.com/noticia/el-mallorca-logra-la-cesion-de-martin-valjent-487640|website=BeSoccer|access-date=31 August 2023|language=es}}</ref> In February 2021, he extended his contract with Mallorca until 2025, emphasizing his dedication to the club.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Ján|last=Jesenka|title=Veľké rozhodnutie Martina Valjenta! Na Malorke to oznámili aj na veľkých bilbordoch|url=https://sport.aktuality.sk/futbal/clanok/segunda-division-martin-valjent-rcd-mallorca-slovensko-reprezentacia-2023050202203767198|website=Aktuality.sk|publisher=Ringier Axel Springier Slovakia|date=24 February 2021|access-date=31 August 2023|language=sk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Ricard|last=Cabot|title=El Mallorca ejecuta la opción de compra de Valjent|url=https://www.diariodemallorca.es/rcd-mallorca/2019/06/26/mallorca-ejecuta-opcion-compra-valjent-2865103.html|newspaper=Diario de Mallorca|date=26 June 2019|access-date=31 August 2023|language=es}}</ref> On 24 February 2024, Valjent played his 200th match for RCD Mallorca in a 2023–24 Copa del Rey match against Deportivo Alavés which ended in a 1–1 draw.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Miguel|last=Chacártegui|title=Martin Valjent, tras cumplir 200 partidos con el RCD Mallorca: "Me gustaría hacer algo grande en este club y entrar en la historia"|url=https://www.diariodemallorca.es/rcd-mallorca/2024/02/25/martin-valjent-cumplir-200-partidos-rcd-mallorca-98649998.html|newspaper=Diario de Mallorca|date=25 February 2024|access-date=6 March 2025|language=es}}</ref> In 2025, he extended his contract until 2029.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Martin Valjent renews his contract until 2029|url=https://www.rcdmallorca.es/en/news/martin-valjent-renueva-hasta-2029|website=RCD Mallorca|date=16 January 2025|access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref>

==International career== Valjent was first called up to the Slovakia national team by Ján Kozák sr. for fixtures against Netherlands and Morocco on 31 May and 4 June 2018 respectively. This was done due to Gyömbér and Štetina's injuries.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Z Kozákovej nominácie vypadli Gyömbér a Štetina, nahradia ich Mihalík a Valjent|url=https://sport.aktuality.sk/futbal/clanok/z-kozakovej-nominacie-vypadli-gyomber-a-stetina-nahradia-ich-mihalik-a-valjent-2023051000100935034|website=Aktuality.sk|date=25 May 2018|language=sk}}</ref> Valjent debuted during a match against Morocco in Geneva, replacing Tomáš Hubočan in the 79th minute.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Valjent v Taliansku vystriedal všetky pozície, ale neočakáva, že nahradí Pekaríka|url=https://sport.aktuality.sk/futbal/clanok/valjent-v-taliansku-vystriedal-vsetky-pozicie-ale-neocakava-ze-nahradi-pekarika-2023050907574990929|website=Aktuality.sk|date=4 September 2018|language=sk}}</ref>

Valjent's first competitive start came in a Euro 2020 qualifying fixture against Croatia on 6 September 2019 in Trnava, with Valjent playing as a right-back. Slovakia lost the game 4–0.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Slovenským futbalistom sa vzdialil postup na ME, s Chorvátmi vysoko prehrali|url=https://sport.sme.sk/c/22203212/online-slovensko-chorvatsko-euro-2020-me-futbal-live-nazivo.html|website=Sme|publisher=Petit Press|date=9 September 2019|language=sk}}</ref> It was that Valjent had a difficult task in defending Dejan Lovren at the side-line, as his preferred post is the one of a centre-back.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vavro pôsobil ako malý žiak. Azda zápas nevidel tréner Lazia|url=https://sport.sme.sk/c/22205973/hodnotenie-hracov-slovensko-chorvatsko-euro-2020.html|website=Sme|publisher=Petit Press|date=9 September 2019}}</ref> In October, Valjent returned to the national team in a friendly match against Paraguay on his preferred post. His performance was reported on very positively, receiving praise from RTVS' commentary expert Marián Zeman during the farewell game for Martin Škrtel, with whom he starred in the starting XI, as well as Hubočan and Adam Nemec. This game also coincided with a return to Tehelné pole after some ten years and ended in a 1–1 draw.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Slováci v príprave remizovali s Paraguajom, s reprezentáciou sa rozlúčila trojica hráčov|url=https://sport.sme.sk/c/22234465/online-slovensko-paraguaj-futbal-pripravny-zapas-live-nazivo.html|website=Sme|publisher=Petit Press|date=14 October 2019|language=sk}}</ref>

On 26 August 2020, Valjent was called up by the Slovak senior squad to take part in the two opening matches of the UEFA Nations League against the Czech Republic and Israel.<ref>{{cite news|first=Gabriel|last=Forteza|title=Martin Valjent convocado por Eslovaquia para la Nations League|trans-title=Martin Valjent called up by the Slovak squad|url=https://as.com/futbol/2020/08/26/segunda/1598435832_648920.html|newspaper=Diario AS|date=26 August 2020|access-date=27 August 2020|language=es}}</ref>

Slovak media intensively speculated about the possible reasons for Valjent's continued exclusion from the national team after 2022, in spite of his consistent performances in La Liga. The manager of the national team Francesco Calzona refused to elaborate on the absence of call-ups, although he praised Valjnet's professionalism and positive attitude in the national team.<ref>{{cite web |first=Pavol|last=Spál |title=Na Malorke je zbožňovaný líder, na Slovensku odsúvaný. Jeho prípad je záhadou |url=https://sportnet.sme.sk/spravy/futbal-martin-valjent-gol-reakcie-sevilla-mallorca-la-liga-2024-2025/|website=Sme|publisher=Petit Press|date=25 February 2025|access-date=1 March 2025|language=sk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Ondrej|last=Lauko|title=Bránil Messiho, Benzemu aj Bellinghama. Štyri dôvody, prečo Valjent nie je v nominácii na Euro |url=https://dennikn.sk/4019885/branil-messiho-benzemu-aj-bellinghama-styri-dovody-preco-valjent-nie-je-v-nominacii-na-euro/ |website=Denník N |language=sk|date=30 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Farkaš |first=Erik |title=Calzona vysvetľuje, prečo v nomináciách chýba Valjent. Agent to odmietol komentovať|url=https://sport.aktuality.sk/futbal/clanok/calzona-vysvetluje-preco-v-nominaciach-chyba-valjent-agent-to-odmietol-komentovat-2023110913035396485|website=Aktuality.sk|publisher=Ringier Axel Springier Slovakia|date=9 November 2023|access-date=1 March 2025|language=sk}}</ref>

==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|match played 23 May 2026}}<ref>{{Soccerway|martin-valijent/300706}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Dubnica |2012–13<ref name=":NFT">{{NFT|71336}}</ref> |2. liga |14||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||14||0 |- |rowspan="5"|Ternana |2013–14 |Serie B |6||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||6||0 |- |2014–15 |Serie B |35||0||2||0|| colspan="2" |—||37||0 |- |2015–16 |Serie B |25||2||2||0|| colspan="2" |—||27||2 |- |2016–17 |Serie B |33||0||2||0|| colspan="2" |—||35||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !76!!2!!6!!0!!0!!0!!82!!2 |- |Chievo |2018–19 |Serie A |0||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||0||0 |- |Ternana (loan) |2017–18 |Serie B |38||3||1||0|| colspan="2" |—||39||3 |- |Mallorca (loan) |2018–19 |Segunda División |29||0||2||0||4{{efn|Appearance(s) in Promotion Playoffs|name=pro}}||0||35||0 |- | rowspan="8" |Mallorca |2019–20 |La Liga |36||0||1||0|| colspan="2" |—||37||0 |- |2020–21 |Segunda División |33||1||1||0|| colspan="2" |—||34||1 |- |2021–22 |La Liga |36||0||3||0|| colspan="2" |—||39||0 |- |2022–23 |La Liga |30||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||32||0 |- |2023–24 |La Liga |28||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||32||0 |- |2024–25 |La Liga |31||3||1||0||1{{Efn|Appearance in Supercopa de España}}||0||33||3 |- |2025–26 |La Liga |36||0||2||0|| colspan="2" |—||38||0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !259!!4!!16!!0!!5!!0!!280!!4 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !386!!9!!22!!0!!5!!0!!413!!9 |}

{{notelist}}

=== International === {{updated|match played 31 March 2026}}<ref name=":NFT" />

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="6"|Slovakia |2018||1||0 |- |2019||2||0 |- |2020||5||0 |- |2021||1||0 |- |2022||4||0 |- |2026||2||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!15!!1 |}

:''Slovakia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Valjent goal.''<ref name="NFT"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of international goals scored by Valjent !scope=col|No. !scope=col|Date !scope=col|Venue !scope=col|Opponent !scope=col|Score !scope=col|Result !scope=col|Competition |- |align=center| 1 || 26 March 2026 || Tehelné pole, Bratislava, Slovakia || {{fb|KOS}} || align=center | 1–0 || align=center | 3–4 || 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.rcdmallorca.es/en/player/valjent Profile] at the RCD Mallorca website * [http://www.eurofotbal.cz/hraci/martin-valjent-44708/ Eurofotbal profile] {{in lang|cs}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20140914180349/http://www.futbalnet.sk/hraci/-/hrac/1250046 Futbalnet profile] {{in lang|sk}} (archived) * {{BDFutbol|20741}}

{{RCD Mallorca squad}} {{Slovakia squad UEFA Euro 2020}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valjent, Martin}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Dubnica nad Váhom Category:Footballers from the Trenčín Region Category:Slovak men's footballers Category:Men's association football central defenders Category:2. Liga (Slovakia) players Category:FK Spartak Dubnica nad Váhom players Category:Serie B players Category:Ternana Calcio players Category:AC ChievoVerona players Category:La Liga players Category:Segunda División players Category:RCD Mallorca players Category:Slovak expatriate men's footballers Category:Slovak expatriate sportspeople in Spain Category:Slovak expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain Category:Slovakia men's youth international footballers Category:Slovakia men's under-21 international footballers Category:Slovakia men's international footballers Category:UEFA Euro 2020 players Category:21st-century Slovak sportsmen