10 Of The Greatest Czech Footballers In History

Who is the best Czech footballer of all time?

The Czech Republic, which was formed in 1992 after the breakup of Czechoslovakia, has had little success in the World Cup, qualifying only once in 2006, but they have already made the final of the European Championships in 1996 and a semi-final in 2004.

The former Czechoslovakia national team, which was mostly made up of players from what is now the Czech Republic, had even more success, reaching two World Cup finals and winning the European Championship in 1976. The Czech Republic has clearly been a recruiting ground for some very naturally gifted footballers.

While nurturing and producing phenomenon talents is one of the important prerequisites of a footballing nation, Czech, as a football country has often done a good job in producing brilliant footballers that dazzled fans of the game with their talents.

Up until 1989, footballers from communist countries were rare to come by in Western Europe, however, each country had its own rules over which footballers were permitted to move abroad. But in the Czech case, players were only allowed to play in Western countries only after they must have racked up a decent number of caps for the national team.

Czech football aficionados are familiar with one of the country’s football cult-hero Antonin Panenka. Which of the nation’s football legends are you familiar with as a lover of the game?

10 Greatest Czech Footballer Of All Time

Patrick Berger  ( 1994–2001, Caps: 42 Goals: 8 )

Berger is unequivocally one of the quintessential Czech finest imports of the 90s. The flowing hair Prague born is well renowned among fans for his explosive left foot throughout his illustrious football career most especially at Anfield and Signal Iduna Park, where he churned like a million star and helped Ottmar Hitzfeld’s Dortmund side to the Bundesliga title.

Berger was so good that he garnered hero’s status among Liverpool’s faithful who in turn came up with a song that connotes everything fascinating about the Prague born. “He’s got long hair and he’s strong as an ox, and he scores great goals from the edge of the box, his name is Berger whoa whoa, Patrick Berger”.

The ex-Bundesliga champions didn’t only show flashes of brilliance at the club level, he also did a brilliant job for the Czech national team at the European Championship in England where he was a part of a formidable team that took the tournament by the scruff of the neck.

Milan Baros  ( 2001–2012, Caps: 93 Goals: 41 )

Baros, one of Liverpool’s defiant heroic sides that defies the odds in Europe’s club competition greatest come-back in Instanbul were they shocked a great Milan side comprises of legendary defender Paolo Maldini et al.

The ex-Liverpool forward is a player whose peak on the world stage was short yet significant for how he interpreted his role with the deftness of his left foot and his sheer composure in front of goal.

The long-haired striker will be remembered for almost dragging Czech to European Championship success in 2004 with his brilliant performances and goal contributions at the tournament.

Jan Koller  ( 1999–2009, Caps: 9, Goals: 55 )

The world of football has over the years seen tall strikers captives football aficionados with their talents across Europe with aplomb. The ex-Dortmund forward may not be the prettiest of players but is arguably one of his generation’s deadliest forward who wracked teams with both his head and foot.

Koller was one of the most terrifying forward in those days due to his physique, and how domineering he can be against defenders who played against him both at the international and club level.

For Koller’s sheer deftness in front of goal, it is safe to say he’s no doubt Borussia Dortmund‘s legend having scored 73 goals in 167 games for the Signal Iduna Park side plus a whopping 55 goals for Czech at the international scene.

Marek Jankulovski  ( 2000–2009, Caps: 78, Goals: 12 )

Jankulovski is arguably one of AC Milan’s most efficient and finest defenders in the history of the Rossoneri for his sheer quality, leadership, dedication, and undiluted strength.

The Czech legend is well known for his wicked and defense troubling crosses to the opponent’s box throughout his illustrious career for both the national team and Milan where he had the best of his club football career.

The Champions League winner racked up 77 caps for Czech before he called it quit with an international assignment in a team that had arguably the finest talents in the modern era of Czech’s football history.

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Tomas Rosicky (2000–201, Caps: 105 Goals: 23)

Rosicky may not be one of the most prolific goal-scorer, but when he does it with sheer deftness and brilliance got fans jumped off their seat with the loudest voice in celebrating his goal.

The ex-Arsenal midfielder was extremely good that he won Czech’s Footballer of the Year award thrice in an illustrious football career that summed up his greatness for his nation and the clubs he donned their jerseys.

Racking up 105 caps and 23 goals can be argued to be a great achievement for a player who is injury prone, however, when fit he’s no doubt a beauty to watch for his quality play and creativity on the ball.

Karel Poborsky  (1994–2006, Caps: 118, Goals: 8 )

Poborsky alongside his closest friend Pavel Nedved was a key member of their golden generation squad that dazzled fans and made some even jumped off their seat while watching them in action.

While memories and emotions associated with the ex-Manchester United and Benfica midfielder’s time at the highest level still evoke memories of a failed stint at Old Trafford, however, his time with the Portuguese giant and Czech inked his name in the country’s football folklore.

Poborsky may not be as successful as some of their legends, but his contributions to Czech with 108 caps and 8 goals still look fresh in the mind of their fans especially his legendary scooped lob over Portugal’s goalie Vitor Baia at the 1996 Euro.

Petr Cech (2002–2016, Caps: 124 )

It will be hypocritical not to dub Cech the greatest goalkeeper in Czech football history for his consistency and goalkeeping statistics such as racking up 100 Premier League clean sheets in fewer appearances (180) plus the highest number of clean sheets (24) in a season.

Records are meant to be broken, however, Cech’s record as the most capped player in the history of his nation still stands with 124 games which obviously ranks him among the living legends of the Czech Republic.

Cech didn’t only ink his name as one the finest in the history of his nation, he also did that with captivating performances at the club level where he won quite a number of trophies.

Antonin Panenka (1973–1982, Caps: 59, Goals: 17)

Call him Czech greatest football player of all time you won’t be wrong, for his audacious penalty kick in the European Championship in 1976 and how he defined the now famous “Penenka’s Penalty” among footballers across the globe.

Panenka was a skillful attacking midfielder who was renowned for his quality passing and free-kick rather than his pace or work ethic on the pitch. In 230 games for his darling Bohemian Panenka scored an impressive 76 goals in a communist era where the transfer system was strict for Czech players who had not served their time at home.

The 72-year-old retired footballer played as an attacking midfielder for six different clubs, the majority of which were from Austria. However, he spent the majority of his career – 14 years from 1967 to 1981 – with the Czechoslovakian club, Bohemians Praha. Panenka is a former member of Bohemians Praha and is currently the club’s chairman.

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Pavel Nedved (1994–2006, Caps: 91, Goals: 18)

In a way “La Furia Ceca” (The Czech Fury) nurtured in Sparta Prague, signed by Lazio in 1996 after an impressive European Championship can be argued to be the quintessential Czech finest of his generation.

Nedved’s career can be argued to follow in the steps of the nation’s most iconic player Josef Masopust, even though it’s impossible to compare both players from a purely different era owing to their talents and contributions to the national team and their respective clubs.

The blonde-haired midfielder’s versatility was quite instrumental in helping him play across the midfield throughout his career which transcends to trophies and a Ballon D’or award in 2003 for his sheer breathtaking performances as Europe’s best player.

Josef Masopust (1954–1966, Caps: 63, Goals: 10)

Masopust was Czech’s first recipient Ballon d’Or winner and a World Cup runner-up with his nation during a communist era that restricted Czech players from going outside the country to play except for those who had served well at home.

The Dukla midfielder was immensely skillful, intelligent, and prodigiously industrious in his midfield role that he was dubbed the “Knight”, even the great Pele joked he was so good that he should have been born in Brazil.

Masopust’s genius skills were keenly felt at the World Cup where he dazzled with his breathtaking passing that accurately penetrate the opponent’s defense which further gives credence to how great a player he was for Czech.

Honorable Mentions:

• Vladimir Smicer
• Frantisek Planicka
• Jaroslav Plasil
• Tomas Ujfalusi

FAQ

Is Czech good at football

Take, for example, AC Sparta Prague, which was founded in 1893 and is the most successful Czech football team, having won the Czechoslovak First League / Czech First League more than 30 times since 1925 and the Czech Cup more than fifteen times since 1963.

Who is the best team in the Czech Republic?

Sparta Prague has won the championship 12 times, the most of any Czech club. Slavia Prague (reigning champions), Slovan Liberec, Bank Ostrava, and Viktoria Plze have also been crowned champions.

Why did Czechoslovakia break up?

Many Slovaks believed the state was too focused on Prague, and many Czechs believed they were subsidizing Slovakia. There was no popular majority for independence in either country. Following the 1992 elections, the Czech and Slovak prime ministers, Vaclav Klaus and Vladimir Meciar agreed to the split.

On January 1, 1993, Czechoslovakia was divided into Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The separation was peaceful and was the result of the country’s nationalist sentiment.

What is the most popular sport in Czech Republic?

Ice hockey

Football and ice hockey are the two most popular sports in the Czech Republic, capturing the attention of both the media and fans. Basketball, volleyball, team handball, Czech handball, athletics, floorball, and other sports with professional leagues and structures are among the many others.

Who is the most successful football team in Czech Republic?

Sparta Prague

Having won more than half of the league titles, Sparta Prague is the most successful team in Czech First League history. Other clubs who have won the title are Slavia Prague, Slovan Liberec, Baník Ostrava and Viktoria Plzeň.

What is the Czech Republic’s most popular food?

The most traditional Czech dish is roast pork with dumplings and cabbage (peené vepové s knedlky a se zelm, colloquially vepo-knedlo-zelo).

How much do Czech footballers make?

In Czechia average base salary is €18,000/year, and top players get €120,000. Sparta Prague players that play regularly get €120,000/year, and top players get around €300,000/year (3-4 players )

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