A former executive at AC Sparta Praha has acquired a majority stake in Inter Bratislava, the two-time Slovak champion, with the stated ambition of returning the storied club to the nation’s top flight.
Sport.cz confirmed the investment, changing ownership for a club that has struggled to regain its former prominence over the last two decades.
The new owner, who served as commercial director and board member at Sparta Prague from 2008 to 2022, moves into the ownership role following his tenure as a majority shareholder in the International Sport Management (ISM) agency. In a statement released by the club, the investor outlined a clear timeline for the project.
“Our ambition is to build an economically stable, professionally managed club with a high-quality youth base and modern infrastructure,” he said. The goal is to establish the necessary conditions for a return to the Slovak first league within two to three years.
Inter Bratislava enjoyed its most successful era at the turn of the millennium, securing back-to-back league titles and domestic cup doubles in the 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 seasons. During that period, the club challenged European opposition, including French side Olympique Lyonnais in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.
However, the club’s fortunes shifted sharply in 2009, when the ownership entity and its league license were sold to Senica, nearly ending the club’s existence. A group of former players and officials, led by club president Jozef Barmoš, managed to preserve the brand, eventually restarting the senior team in the fifth division in 2010.
“Inter Bratislava is an inseparable part of my life,” said Barmoš. “I am proud that, through joint effort, we managed to save it, keep it alive, and gradually return it to the football map of Slovakia.”
The club has recently taken steps to solidify its operational footprint, returning to its traditional home at the Pasienky stadium in June 2024. The move was facilitated by an agreement with Slovan Bratislava, whose senior team relocated to the Tehelné pole stadium in 2019. While the Pasienky venue serves as a training base and home for Slovan’s reserve squad, Inter Bratislava is currently prioritizing long-term plans for a new, dedicated stadium.
The ownership structure remains inclusive of the club’s previous leadership. Following the acquisition, the remaining 20 percent of shares will be held by co-owners Ján Palenčár and Marcel Grega. Palenčár has been appointed as the club’s vice president, where he will oversee strategic development and partnership initiatives.
Inter Bratislava currently sits in seventh place in the second Slovak league. After 16 matches, the team has accumulated 24 points, recording six wins, six draws, and four defeats. The club currently trails the league leader, Šamorín, by 12 points and the second-placed Petržalka by nine points as the campaign continues.
The transition of majority ownership to the former Sparta Prague executive represents a strategic move to provide the financial stability required for a professional promotion push. According to club statements, the new management team intends to focus on the development of youth talent and the modernization of club operations to bridge the gap between the current seventh-place standing and the Slovak football elite.
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