The Czech Connection

The Czech Republic or Czechia was formerly part of the Czechoslovak state. In 1993 they peacefully divided and two independent states were founded: Czechia and Slovakia.

In this brief article we will be mainly looking at Czechia since 1993, but will include some Czechoslovakian facts and great players pre-independence.

Source Wikipedia

Czechia is famous for its historic architecture, castles and cities like Prague, spa towns, its beer culture, goulash dishes, music, glassmaking tradition, automotive industry, characters such as Alexander Dubcek, Vácklav Havel, Jaroslav Seifert, Milan Kundera and in sport, in jumbled order, Věra Čáslavska, Martina Navratilova, Jana Novotna, Ivan Lendl, Jarmila Kratichvílová, Dana Zátopkova, Jan Železný, Emil Zátopek, Roman Šebrle, Martina Sáblíkova, Tomáš Vokoun, Roman Čechmánek, just to name a few. Its national sports are ice-hockey and football in which it has a solid tradition.

As Czechoslovakia it participated in 8 World Cups (Runners-up in 1934 and 1962) and in 3 European Championships (Winners in 1976). As Czechia it has taken part in 1 World Cup in 2006 (1st round) and 8 European Championships (best result 2nd in 1996). Czechia are currently ranked 45th in the world by FIFA. The most capped player is Petr Čech (124) while the top scorer is Jan Koller with 55 goals.

At club level since 1993 the most successful sides are: AC Sparta Prague (14 league titles), Slavia Prague (8), Viktoria Plzeň (6), Slovan Liberec (3). The former two were the best also in the Czechoslovakia days with 21 and 13 titles respectively with Dukla Prague third with 11.

The best club performances in Europe have been Sparta Prague's European Cup semi-final (1992) and UEFA semi-final (1973) plus Slavia Prague's UEFA semi-final (1996).

Great Czech players throughout history include: Karel Pešek, František Plánička, Jaroslav Burgr, Antonín Puč, Josef Silný, Oldřich Nejedlý, Josef Bican, Ján Popluhar, Ladislav Novák, Karol Dobiaš, Anton Ondruš, Josef Masopust, Svatopluk Pluskal, Andrej Kvašňák, Ivo Viktor, Zdeněk Nehoda, Antonin Panenka, Marián Masný, Tomáš Skuhravý, Pavel Kuka, Karel Poborský, Vratislav Lokvenc, Patrik Berger, Vladimír Šmicer, Jan Koller, Pavel Nedved, Miroslav Kadlec, Tomáš Rosický, Jaroslav Plašil, Marek Jankulovski, Petr Čech, Milan Baroš to current day Patrik Schick and Tomáš Souček.

Many of these and more have played in Serie A and some with Lazio.

Julius Korosteleva - forward, he arrived from ŠK Bratislava in 1946 and played for Juventus, Atalanta, Reggina, Parma (five seasons) and Mantova. He played 233 games with 95 goals. He then became a coach in Italy with several clubs (including Juventus 1961-62). He won 1 cap for Czechoslovakia.

Čestmír Vycpálek - midfielder, he arrived from Slavia Prague in 1946 and played for Juventus, Palermo (five seasons) and Parma (six seasons). He played 421 league games and scored 61 goals. He won a B Championship with Palermo and C with Parma.

He then stayed on in Italy and coached Parma, Palermo, Siracusa, Marzotto, Juventina Palermo, Mazara, Juventus youth sector and Juventus. He won the Scudetto twice with Juventus (1972, 1973).

He was Zdeněk Zeman's uncle.

Josef Kaiml - midfielder, he arrived from Augusta (Germany) in 1951 and played one season for Triestina (9 appearances, 2 goals).

Labos Kubik - midfielder, he arrived in 1989 from Slavia Prague and played two seasons for Fiorentina. He played 50 league games with 8 goals (Juventus, Lazio, Milan, Atalanta, Pisa x2, Parma, Cesena), 9 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Napoli) and 10 in the UEFA Cup. He left for Metz, then Nurnberg, Petra Drnovice, Slavia Prague and ended his career in the States. He earned 39 caps for Czechoslovakia with 10 goals (including 1 at Italia 90) and 17 for Czechia with 3 goals (Lithuania, Malta twice). He was runner-up at Euro '96.

Tomás Skurahvý - forward, he arrived from Sparta Prague in 1990 and played for Genoa. He stayed five seasons playing 185 games with 67 goals. He left for Sporting Lisbon. He won 43 caps for Czechoslovakia with 14 goals and 6 for Czechia with 3 goals.

Pavel Nedvěd - midfielder, he arrived from Sparta Prague in 1996. He played five seasons for Lazio with 208 appearances and 51 goals. He won a Scudetto, the Coppa Italia twice, the Italian Supercoppa twice, the Cup Winners Cup (he scored the winner) and the UEFA Super Cup. A fantastic player, he is considered one of Lazio's best midfielders ever.

Official SS Lazio photo

In 2001 he joined Juventus where he played 327 games with 65 goals. He won the Scudetto twice, the Italian Supercoppa twice and in 2003 was awarded the Ballon d'Or.

He won 91 caps for Czechia with 18 goals. He was runner-up in Euro 1996.

He is easily the most successful Czech to have played in Italy.

Václav Koloušek - midfielder, he arrived in 1997 from Dukla Přibram and played for Salernitana for three seasons and Fermana on loan in 2000 and then Salernitana again on loan (from Slovan Liberec) in 2003. He played 49 league games with 4 goals. He returned to Liberec, then Slavia Prague and Austria. He earned 5 caps for Czechia with 1 goal (Hungary).

Tomáš Řepka - defender, he arrived from Sparta Prague in 1998 and played three seasons for Fiorentina. He made 89 league appearances and won a Coppa Italia (2001). He left for West Ham United. He earned 1 cap for Czechoslovakia and 45 for Czechia with 1 goal.

Marek Jankulovski - defender/midfielder, he arrived from Banik Ostrava in 2000 and played for Napoli (2 seasons), Udinese (3) and Milan (6). He played 220 games with 31 goals. At Milan he won a Scudetto (2011), a Champions League (2007), a UEFA Super Cup (2007) and a Club World Cup (2007). In 2007 he was Czech player of the year. He earned 79 caps with 12 goals for Czechia.

Pavel Srníček - goalkeeper, he arrived in 2000 from Sheffield Wednesday (previously Banik Ostrava and Newcastle United) and played three seasons for Brescia and 6 months on loan at Cosenza. He played 41 league games. He left for Portsmouth. He won 49mcaps for Czechia and was runner-up in Euro '96. He died at 49 from a heart attack while jogging.

Martin Jiránek - defender, he arrived in 2001 from Slovan Liberec and played for Reggina for three seasons (winning promotion in 2002). He played 100 league games with 3 goals (Napoli, Vicenza, Cosenza). He left for Spartak Moscow. He won 31 caps for Czechia.

Source Lazio Wiki

Karel Poborský- midfielder, he arrived from Benfica (formerly Slavia Prague and Manchester United) in January 2001 and played for Lazio. He only stayed one and a half seasons, playing 53 games with 5 goals. He famously almost single-handedly took away the Scudetto from Inter scoring two goals in the memorable 5th of May 4-2 win. He left for Sparta Prague. He won 118 caps for Czechia with 8 goals and has been voted the 4th best player in their history. He was runner-up in Euro 1996.

Poborský was an excellent attacking midfielder, usually playing wide on the right. He was strong, dynamic, hardworking, athletic but also skilful. It was a pity he arrived in a difficult moment for Lazio in a period of uncertainty with the beginning of financial problems.

Martin Lejsal - goalkeeper, he arrived in 2002 from Svit Zlín and played a season with Reggina, one with Venezia and six months with Torino. He played 14 league games. He left for Brno, then Heerenveen (Holland) and Rostov (Russia).

David Limberský - midfielder, he arrived in 2003 from Viktoria Plzeň and played a season with Modena. He made 4 league appearances. He then went to Tottenham on loan but never played, Sparta Prague and then 13 years at Viktoria Plzeň (399 league games). He played 40 games for Czechia with 1 goal (Latvia).

Tomáš Ujfaluši - defender, he arrived from SV Hamburger in 2004 and played four seasons for Fiorentina. He played 149 games with 2 goals. He left for Atlético Madrid, then Galatasaray and Sparta Prague. He won 78 caps for Czechia with 2 goals (a brace against Yugoslavia).

Mario Lička - midfielder, he arrived in March 2005 from Baník Ostrava on loan and played a few months for Livorno. He played 4 league games. He then played for Slovácko, Southampton, Banik Ostrava, Brest and Slavia Prague. He won 3 caps for Czechia.

Zdendék Grygera - defender, he arrived in 2007 from Ajax (previously Sparta Prague) and played for Juventus for four seasons. He played 114 games with3 goals (Genoa, Genoa again, Inter). He left for Fulham.

He won 65 caps for Czechia with 2 goals (Belarus, Slovakia).

Tomáš Zápotočný - defender, he arrived in 2007 from Slovan Liberec and played one season for Udinese. He played 21 league games and then left for Beşiktaş, Bursaspor and then back to his homeland. He played 4 times for Czechia.

Tomáš Sivok - defender, he arrived in January 2007 and played two half seasons for Udinese. He made 13 league appearances with 1 goal (Palermo) and the Friulani qualified for the UEFA Cup. He left for Sparta Prague on loan in January 2008, then seven years with Beşiktaş and two with Bursaspor. He earned 64 caps for Czechia with 5 goals (USA, Croatia, Montenegro, Turkey, Serbia).

Lukáš Jarolím- midfielder, he arrived from Slavia Prague in 2007 and played three seasons for Siena. He played 64 league games (all in A) with 1 goal (Catania). He left for Slavia Prague.

Source Lazio Wiki

Libor Kozák - forward, he arrived in 2008 from Opava and played for Lazio (two spells 2008-09, 2010-13), Brescia (on loan 2009-10), Bari (2017-18), Livorno (2018-19), Arezzo (2023-24).

His most successful spell was with Lazio between 2010-13. He played 77 games with 22 goals (his total was 80 games). In 2013 he was top Europa League scorer with 10 goals. He won the Coppa Italia twice (2009, 2013). The second win against Roma on May 26 will engrave his name in Lazio history forever. He then left for Aston Villa where a serious injury blocked his career.

He also played another 65 games in Serie B and C with 6 goals.

He won 9 caps for Czechia with 2 goals (Hungary and Italy).

Kozak was a tall forward at 1.92. He was obviously good in the air but also technical with a knack for goals. He was unlucky that an injury ruined his career. He is remembered fondly at Lazio and came back to a warm welcome at the Olimpico on the 10th anniversary of the epic derby cup triumph.

Source Lazio Wiki

David Rozehnal - defender, he arrived in January 2008 from Newcastle United (previously Sigma Olomouc, Club Brugge and PSG) to Lazio.

He stayed one and a half seasons and played 43 games. In 2009 he won a Coppa Italia (Sampdoria on penalties). He left for SV Hamburger, then Lille and Oostende.

He earned 60 caps for Czechia with 1 goal (Belgium).

Rozehnal had a good spell at Lazio culminating in the cup triumph in which he took and scored the 3rd penalty.

Zdeněk Zlámal- goalkeeper, he arrived in January 2009 to Udinese. He never played and after six months left for Cadiz on loan, then Slavia Prague. In January 2011 he returned to Italy and joined Bari in Serie A but never played and after six months left for Sigma Olomouc, with Bari relegated. He later played in Turkey and Scotland. He won 1 cap for Czechia (Malta)

Roman Macek - midfielder, he arrived at 16 from Trinity Zlín in 2013 to Juventus' youth academy. In 2017 he was loaned to Bari (B) where he played 16 games and in 2017-18 to Cremonese (B) where he played 8 games with 1 goal (Venezia).

Ondřej Čelůstka - defender, he arrived in January 2010 from Slavia Prague and played for Palermo on loan for six months. He made 1 league appearance and then returned to Slavia Prague. His clubs then included Trabzonspor, Sunderland and Nürnberg. He won 33 caps for Czechia with 3 goals (Canada, Kosovo, Albania).

Matěj Vydra - forward, he arrived from Baník Ostrava in 2010 and played one season for Udinese. He played 2 league games and 1 in Coppa Italia and the Zebrette qualified for the Champions League. He left for Club Brugge on loan and then went to England and played for Watford, WBA, Reading, Derby County and Burnley before joining Viktoria Plzeň. He has 46 caps for Czechia with 7 goals (Armenia x2, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Israel and Ukraine).

Kamil Vacek - midfielder, he arrived from Sparta Prague in 2011 and played two seasons for Chievo. He played 31 league games with 1 goal (winner against Lecce) and 4 games in Coppa Italia. He returned to Sparta Prague, then Mladá Boleslav, Piast Gliwice (Poland), Maccabi Haifa, Śląsk Breslavia, Odense (Denmark), Bohemians 1905 and Pardubice. He won 9 caps for Czechia.

Stefan Simič - defender, he arrived in 2012 from Slavia Prague and joined the Genoa and then Milan youth sectors. In 2024-15 he spent a year with Varese in Serie B playing 20 games. He then returned to Milan but did not play and was then loaned to Mouscron in Belgium. In 2017-18 he spent a season with Crotone in Serie A with 10 appearances. He returned to Milan and played 1 game in the Europa League and in January 2019 was loaned to Frosinone in A but never played. He then joined Hajduk Split for four seasons, Eibar, Karmiotissa (Cyprus) and now Omonia(Cyprus). He has 2 caps for Czechia.

Daniel Pudi - midfielder, he arrived on loan from Granada in January 2012 and played six months for Cesena in Serie A. He made 7 league appearances and then left for Watford and then Sheffield Wednesday. He has 36 caps for Czechia with 2 goals (Cyprus, Slovakia).

Jacub Jankto - midfielder, he arrived from Slavia Prague in 2014 to Udinese's youth academy. He was then loaned to Ascoli (B) for a year, then joined Udinese for two and Sampdoria for three. In 2021 he left for Getafe then Sparta Prague on loan. In 2023 he returned to Italy and joined Cagliari for two seasons. He has played 222 games in Italy with 26 goals.

He has 45 caps for Czechia with 4 goals (Lithuania on debut, Poland, Montenegro, Estonia).

Jaroslav Plašil - midfielder, he arrived in 2013 from Bordeaux (previously Monaco and Osauna) and played a season on loan with Catania in A. He played 28 league games with 1 goal (Chievo) but the Etnei were relegated. He then returned to Bordeaux. He earned 103 caps for Czechia with 7 goals (Bulgaria, Germany, Turkey, Poland, Spain, Scotland, Malta). He also has French citizenship.

Michael Rabušic - forward, he arrived in February 2014 from Slovan Liberec and played four months for Verona in A and then four months with Perugia on loan in B and five months with Crotone on loan in B. He made 24 league appearances and then returned to Slovan Liberec. He has 4 caps for Czechia.

Josef Hušbauer - midfielder, he arrived in 2015 from Sparta Prague and played five months for Cagliari on loan. He made league appearances and 1 in Coppa Italia. He then returned to Sparta Prague. He won 21 caps for Czechia with 1 goal (Finland).

Patrik Schick - forward, he arrived in 2016 from Sparta Prague (via Bohemians on loan) to Sampdoria where he did well in his one season (35 games with 13 goals) and then Roma for two seasons where he was less successful (58 games with 5 goals). He left for RB Leipzig for one season and from 2020 has been at Bayer Leverkusen with good results (including a Bundesliga and 81 goals). He has 46 caps for Czechia with 24 goals.

Ladisav Krejčí - midfielder, he arrived in 2016 from Sparta Prague and played for Bologna for four seasons. He played 84 games with 3 goals (2 in A, Pescara and Lazio and 1 in Coppa Italia, Trapani). He then left for Sparta Prague, Hradec Králové and now Teplice. He has won 41 caps for Czechia with 5 goals (Turkey, Iceland, Serbia, Poland, Armenia).

Antonín Barák - midfielder, he arrived from Slavia Prague in 2017 to Udinese. He played three seasons in Friuli, then Lecce on loan for a season, in 2020 he signed for Verona for two seasons and then Fiorentina from 2022-24. In 2024 he joined Kasimpaşa on loan but is now back in Florence. He has played 226 games in Italy with 40 goals.

He has 44 caps for Czechia with 11 goals (Denmark, San Marino x2, Azerbaigian, Qatar, Estonia, Belarus, Kuwait, Norway, Malta, North Macedonia).

Aleš Matějů - defender, he arrived from Brighton in 2018 and played four seasons with Brescia (1 in A and 2 in B), then Venezia (A), Palermo (B) and Spezia (B). He has played 179 games with 1 goal (playing for Spezia against Bari). He has 15 caps for Czechia.

Lukaš Vorlický - midfielder, he arrived in 2020 from Brno and joined Atalanta U19s. In 2022-23 he was in the first squad and played 3 games. He then went to Slavia Prague.

David Zima - defender, he arrived in 2021 from Slavia Prague and played three seasons for Torino. He made 37 appearances with 2 goals (both in Coppa Italia, Cittadella, Frosinone). He then returned to Slavia Prague. He has 24 caps for Czechia with 1 goal (Norway).

There are currently only two Czech players in Serie A

• Martin Vitík- Bologna (2025-)

• Antonín Barák- Fiorentina (2017-)

Lazio have had two Czech managers: Walter Alt (1934-35 and 1935-36, until April) and Zdeněk Zeman (1994-1997, until February).