Miroslav Stoch
A Slovak winger whose spectacular, physics-defying goals, including a Puskás Award winner, made him a viral sensation of his era.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Slovak professional footballer·Birthday: October 19·Millennials
Biography
Miroslav Stoch's legacy in football is crystallized in a single, breathtaking moment: a scissor-kick volley for Fenerbahçe in 2012 that won FIFA's Puskás Award for the year's best goal. That strike encapsulated his career—a blend of technical audacity and a flair for the spectacular. A product of Chelsea's academy, the speedy winger found his true home not in London but in the passionate atmospheres of Turkish and Dutch football. At Fenerbahçe, he became a cult hero, his left foot capable of delivering both pinpoint crosses and thunderous long-range strikes. Later, at Slavia Prague, he evolved into a veteran leader, guiding the club to domestic titles. For the Slovak national team, he was a key creative outlet during their historic run to the 2010 World Cup knockout stage. Stoch's story is not one of relentless trophies, but of a player whose supreme talent for the extraordinary left an indelible mark on the fans who witnessed it.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Miroslav was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Miroslav Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Miroslav's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the FIFA Puskás Award in 2012 for his volley for Fenerbahçe against Gençlerbirliği.
- Won the Turkish Süper Lig title with Fenerbahçe in the 2013-14 season.
- Helped Slovakia qualify for and reach the round of 16 in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
- Won multiple Czech First League titles with Slavia Prague later in his career.
Did You Know?
He won Chelsea's Academy Player of the Year award in 2009 but only made a handful of first-team appearances.
He is a passionate guitarist and has posted videos of himself playing music online.
After retiring, he briefly worked as a sports director at his boyhood club, MFK Nitra.
“Sometimes you just have to try the spectacular.”
