Denis Vavro: Who is Wolfsburg’s defensive rock?
Having impressed at the heart of Wolfsburg's defence in his first season in German football, bundesliga.com takes a closer look at Slovakia international Denis Vavro.
Data accurate as of 21 March 2025
Age: 28 (born 10 April 1996)
Club: Wolfsburg (on loan from Copenhagen)
Position: Centre-back
Country: Slovakia (28 caps, two goals)
Key stats
Vavro came through the ranks of MSK Zilina in his native Slovakia, the same side that provided the Wolves with left-back Peter Pekarik in 2009, and Borussia Mönchengladbach with Laszlo Benes in 2016. He left Zilina for Copenhagen in 2019 with a league title under his belt, before moving onto Italian giants Lazio shortly after in 2019.
Silverware followed soon after his arrival in Rome, with Lazio winning the Italian Supercup in 2020; Vavro, however, was not part of the squad as a result of a ligament injury. He had made 17 appearances in all competitions in his debut season in Italy, before Spanish side SD Huesca came calling. His first minutes for them came against Barcelona and former Dortmund danger man Ousmane Dembele, as well as Lionel Messi – the game ended in a 4-1 defeat, and was Vavro’s first appearance of 11 in LaLiga before returning on loan to Copenhagen the following season.
His return to the Danish capital saw him link up with current teammate Kamil Grabara, as well as soon-to-be Borussia Mönchengladbach defender Kevin Diks, as they stormed to Danish Superliga glory in the 2021/22 season. Having made his return to Copenhagen permanent, Vavro picked up another league winners medal and a Danish Cup in the following season, before joining Wolfsburg on a temporary basis ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Plays a bit like: Milan Škriniar
Vavro has a similar defensive style to his compatriot Škriniar, with both of them relishing physical battles and providing the backline with strong leadership. Standing at 6'3", Vavro is also powerhouse in the air. But it's not just his physical attributes that allow him to stand out, the Slovakian reads the game excellently and is always quick to make clearances, much like his fellow countrymen. His composure on the ball likwise provides a great foundation for a well-oiled defence.
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Did you know?
When Vavro won his first Danish league title with Copenhagen in 2022, current Augsburg boss Jess Thorup was his coach. He also played alongside the former Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain star Škriniar in the youth ranks of MSK Zilina.
What they’re saying
“He takes a lot of responsibility defensively and is enterprising when we have the ball, where he is also really good”. Current Augsburg manager, Jess Thorup
“We’re delighted that Denis Vavro has joined Wolfsburg. He’s an internationally proven defender and has gained experience both with Copenhagen in the Champions League and more recently as a starter for the Slovakian national team at the European Championship.” Wolfsburg sporting director, Sebastian Schindzielorz
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