Tim Matavž

Club career Matavž began his football career at the age of 6 playing for Bilje. In 2004, he moved to the Gorica youth squads. He was promoted to their senior squad in the 2006–07 season and played a total of 30 matches in the Slovenian first division, scoring 11 goals in the process.

On 30 August 2007, at the age of 18, he signed a five-year contract for Groningen. On 26 September 2007 he scored four goals in KNVB Cup in a match against IJsselmeervogels, but he later moved to Emmen on loan and remained there until January 2009.

On 13 March 2009, Matavž scored his first goal in the Eredivisie in a 2–0 victory over Roda. Soon he began scoring for Groningen on a regular basis in all competitions. On 24 February 2010 Matavž extended his contract with the club until 2013. On 6 February 2011, in a match against Willem II, Matavž scored his first hat-trick in the Eredivisie.

On 2 February 2011, Groningen sporting director Hans Nijland said that Matavž had already agreed terms with Napoli and that he was looking forward to joining them. However, Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven were also in talks with Groningen to buy him before the transfer window closed. On 31 August 2011, Matavž eventually signed a five-year contract with PSV.

On 29 June 2017, Matavž returned to the Netherlands, to join Vitesse on a three-year deal.

On 19 July 2020, Matavž joined Al Wahda on a two-year deal.

International career On 9 October 2010, Matavž scored a hat-trick for Slovenia in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match against Faroe Islands. At the age of 21, he became the youngest player ever to score three goals for Slovenia. Overall, Matavž earned a total of 39 caps for the national team, scoring 11 goals.

Personal life Matavž was born in Šempeter pri Gorici, Slovenia (then part of Yugoslavia). He is the cousin of fellow footballer Etien Velikonja. In June 2014, Matavž married his long-term partner Polona Faganelj. He has two daughters, Tia (born 2012) and Ela (born 2015), and one son, Val (born 2017). Beside Slovene, Matavž is also fluent in Dutch.

In April 2024, several Slovenian media outlets reported that Matavž had been charged with domestic violence, and that the court allegedly imposed a restraining order, preventing him from contacting his wife and children.

Career statistics Club

2007–08 Slovenian PrvaLiga

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2007–08 Eredivisie

2008–09 Eredivisie

2009–10 Eredivisie

2012–13 Eredivisie

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2014–15 Bundesliga

2015–16 Bundesliga

2018–19 Eredivisie

Honours PSV KNVB Cup: 2011–12 Johan Cruijff Shield: 2012

Omonia Cypriot Cup: 2021–22