Sieben years on, SVW’s Nummer eins endures a tough gang of Zeit
Jiri Pavlenka, the 34‑year‑old Czech keeper, left Werder Bremen after seven seasons and has spent the last year as the first‑choice goalkeeper at PAOK Saloniki, but his future remains uncertain as his contract expires this summer.
Seven years of service at the Weser
Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey’s photo captures Pavlenka standing between the posts for Werder Bremen for Sieben years, a period the club describes as a success story between the green‑white side and the Czech keeper. In the summer of 2017, SVW paid a three‑million‑Euro fee to Slavia Prague to bring the 1.96‑metre tall goalkeeper to the Osterdeich, where he immediately claimed the Nummer eins spot.
During his tenure Pavlenka made 221 league appearances, conceding 345 goals and keeping a clean sheet in 41 matches. He also endured the bitter Gang of relegation, helping Werder achieve an immediate return to the Bundesliga and staying for two further seasons before losing his starting place to Michael Zetterer in the 2023/24 campaign.
Injuries and the move to Greece
After the first seven matches of the 2023/24 season, Pavlenka suffered an adductor injury that saw him drop to the bench. With his contract due to expire at the end of the season, the logical separation followed.
Three months later he signed a three‑year deal with PAOK Saloniki, initially sharing duties before becoming the regular starter at the end of his first Greek season. The 2025/26 season saw him back as the primary keeper in both the league and European qualifying rounds, until a shoulder injury after the international break sidelined him once more.
His market value has fallen to around 700,000 Euro, down from twelve million Euro at the end of 2019 when he was in his prime. Rumours of a 2018 interest from FC Barcelona, potentially as a backup to Marc‑André ter Stegen, never materialised, and the Czech keeper remained loyal to Werder for many years.
Now, with his PAOK contract ending in the coming summer, it is unclear where the veteran will continue his career. Large clubs appear out of reach, and Pavlenka’s next move remains an open question as the goalkeeper looks to decide his future in the coming months.