Chris Marustik
{{short description|Welsh footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Chris Marustik
| image =
| fullname = Christopher Marustik{{Hugman|13269|accessdate=16 April 2020}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1961|8|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Swansea, Wales
| death_date = {{death date and age|2015|8|12|1961|8|10|df=y}}
| death_place = Morriston, Swansea, Wales
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1978–1985
| years2 = 1985–1987
| years3 = 1987–1988
| years4 = 1988–1989
| clubs1 = Swansea City
| clubs2 = Cardiff City
| clubs3 = Barry Town
| clubs4 = Newport County
| caps1 = 152
| caps2 = 43
| caps3 =
| caps4 =
| goals1 = 11
| goals2 = 1
| goals3 =
| goals4 =
| nationalyears1 = 1982
| nationalteam1 = Wales
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 0
}}
Christopher Marustik (10 August 1961 – 12 August 2015) was a Welsh professional footballer and Wales international.
Club career
{{more citations needed section|date=August 2015}}
The son of a Czech immigrant, Marustik began his career at his hometown side Swansea City, making his way through the club's youth system. He made his professional debut for the club in August 1978 at the age of 17 in a 2–2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in the second round of the League Cup.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Ex-Swan-battles-drink-problem/article-549018-detail/article.html|title=Ex-swan battles drink problem thisissouthwales.co.uk|date=15 December 2008|accessdate=4 March 2009}}
He was forced to wait seven months before he made his league debut against Peterborough United. Marustik went on to become a regular in the Swansea lineup before leaving the club in October 1985 in a swap deal with Swansea's local rivals Cardiff City which saw Roger Gibbins move in the opposite direction. He made his debut against Gillingham before scoring his first, and what would later turn out to be his only, goal for the club on his home debut in a 3–2 win over Wigan Athletic. His time at Ninian Park was hampered by injuries and, after two years at the club,{{Cite book | title = The Who's Who of Cardiff City | first = Dean | last = Hayes | publisher = Breedon Books | year = 2006 | page=130 | location=Derby | isbn= 1-85983-462-0}} he left to play non-league football for Barry Town and Newport County before moving to Australia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.swanseacity.com/page/PastPlayers/0,,10354~1265664,00.html|title=Past players|publisher=swanseacity.com|accessdate=21 December 2009}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
International career
Marustik made his debut for Wales on 24 March 1982 in a 1–1 draw with Spain and went on to play in the next five matches for Wales, making his final appearance on 22 September of the same year in a 1–0 win over Norway.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesw/wal-intres80.html|title=Wales - International results 1980-1989|website=RSSSF|accessdate=4 April 2009}}
Personal life and death
In December 2008, Marustik was arrested for drunk driving after testing nearly four times over the legal limit. During the court hearing he admitted to suffering from alcohol addiction. He was later banned from driving for three years. He has three daughters: Danielle, Isobelle and Natasha.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/cwmrhydyceirw/Ex-Swan-s-road-ban-follows-confession/article-566021-detail/article.html|title=Ex-swans road ban follows confession|publisher=thisissouthwales.co.uk|date=23 December 2008|accessdate=4 April 2009}}
Marustik died on 12 August 2015, aged 54, following a short illness {{Cite web|url=http://www.swanseacity.com/news/article/swansea-city-mourns-loss-of-former-defender-chris-marustik-2615404.aspx|title=Swans mourn loss of Chris Marustik|publisher=Swansea CityFootball Club|date=13 August 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33905620|title=BBC Sport - Chris Marustik: Former Wales and Swansea defender dies|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=14 August 2015}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marustik, Chris}}
Category:Welsh men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Swansea
Category:British people of Czech descent
Category:Welsh people of Czech descent
Category:Wales men's international footballers
Category:Wales men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Swansea City A.F.C. players
Category:Cardiff City F.C. players
Category:Newport County A.F.C. players
Category:Barry Town United F.C. players