AC Sparta Praha
Encyclopedia
AC Sparta Prague is a Czech
football club based in Prague. It is the most successful club in the Czech Republic and one of the most successful in Central Europe
, having reached the semifinals of the European Cup in 1992. Sparta was long the main source for the Czech Republic national football team
, however lately this has ceased to be the case, as the best Czech players almost all now play in higher-paying foreign leagues. There are a number of outstanding players who have played for the Sparta over the years. Sparta play at Prague
's Generali Arena (also known as Letná Stadium).
At the very beginning of the club's football history, the players used to wear black jerseys with a big "S" on the front. They then played for two years in black-and-white striped jerseys, which they returned to, wearing them as a reserve strip, for two years in 1996. In 1906, club president Dr. Petřík was in England where he saw the famous Arsenal play with their red jerseys and decided to bring one set to Praha. At that time, he did not realise he was setting up one of the club's greatest traditions. Together with the red jerseys, Sparta players wear white shorts and black socks.
Shortly after World War I, a team was put together that triggered off the famous period of the twenties and thirties referred to as "Iron Sparta". A football league in Czechoslovakia was established in the mid-twenties and the club collected title after title. To this day, the fans still recall the names of the players of that period with admiration: Peyer, Hojer, Perner, Káďa, Kolenatý, Červený. A few years later, some no less famous names appeared, such as Hochman, Burgr, Hajný, Šíma, Silný, Čtyřoký, Košťálek and in particular Oldřich Nejedlý, the top scorer at the 1934 World Cup. Shortly before this most famous era kicked off, Vlasta Burian, the man who later became the king of Czech comedians, played in goal for the club.
The milestones of the first golden period of the club's history are two Central European Cup titles, which in the twenties and the thirties enjoyed the same recognition as that of today's Champions League. Sparta's three titles are important milestones in the cup's history. After two triumphs in 1927 and 1935, the third came in 1964, at a time when the cup's importance was gradually falling behind that of other European cups.
In 1946, AC Sparta toured Great Britain opening with a 2 - 2 draw against Arsenal on 2 October.
in the 1960s brought back memories of the club's golden years.
There are still many people who recollect the era of Kvašňák, Jiří Tichý
and Václav Mašek
. Those were the days when Sparta hosted the biggest number of fans in its history, with the stadium at that time accommodating almost forty thousand. All three of the above-mentioned heroes were part of the national team that finished second at the 1962 FIFA World Cup
in Chile.
Nevertheless, the club didn't win another league title until the early eighties. Built around Chovanec, Berger, Hašek, Skuhravý, and Griga, the team regained its former status and won one title after another. In 1983/1984, the team got as far as the UEFA Cup quarterfinal. In the early nineties, this successful era was continued by the next generation of players, such as Siegl, Horňák, Němeček, Frýdek, Němec, Kouba.
, then Marseille
and got to the semi-final group. Playing Barcelona
, Dynamo Kyiv and Benfica, Sparta finished second. As opposed to today's system, only the group winner got to the final. Being second in the group, Sparta was unofficially Europe's third or fourth best team.
Sparta has been a regular participant in the UEFA Champions League, the most prestigious European competition, since 1997. The only exception was in 1998-99 when the club did not get past the qualification stage, losing to Dynamo Kyiv on penalties. Sparta did qualify during the next three years, however, and in the 1999/2000 and 2001/2002 it won through to the quarter-final stages. In 1999/2000, it actually won its initial group under the management of Ivan Hašek
, and was then third in the quarter-final group. In that group, Sparta came up against Barcelona which went on to reach the semi-finals. In the 2001/2002 season, Sparta was drawn against the eventual winners of both the European competitions during the course of its run. Feyenoord lost twice to Sparta in the champions league group stage and managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup which it went on to win. Sparta went on to meet Real Madrid
in the quarter final that year. Sparta did not qualify for the group stage in 2002-03, when it was beaten by the Belgian club Racing Genk
in the third round of qualifying. 2003-04 saw Sparta take on two Italian giants. Initially, the club beat Lazio
in the group stage, but after an initial draw Sparta failed to get into the quarter finals past Milan
. The group stage in 2004-05 did not work out at all well for Sparta. After drawing with Manchester United at the sold-out Toyota Arena in an even contest, the other matches were lost and the club finished last in the group.
Sparta, usually along with Slavia, has always been a base for the national team; Sparta players contributed to the biggest achievements of the Czechoslovak and Czech national teams. It all started in 1934, when Oldřich Nejedlý
was the top scorer at the World Cup in Rome; four years later, seven Sparta players were part of the national team at the World Cup in France. In 1962, Kvašňák and Tichý played for the "silver" team in Chile. In 1990 in Italy, where the national team got as far as the quarterfinal, the team's play was mainly created by Chovanec, Bílek, Hašek and other Sparta players, such as Skuhravý, who went on to became a star of the Italian league. Sparta players also contributed to the last big achievement of the already independent Czech Republic team in 1996. Kouba, Frýdek and Horňák returned to Letná from England with silver medals. On top of that, the team was coached by Dušan Uhrin, who had spent his best years at Sparta, and Pavel Novotný came to Sparta two years later. Sparta players also featured in more recent qualification and tournament games of the Czech national team. Miroslav Baranek
, Tomáš Votava
, Vratislav Lokvenc
, Milan Fukal
, Martin Hašek
, Libor Sionko
, Jiří Novotný
, Jaromír Blažek
and the outstanding talent of Tomáš Rosický
helped the team in its UEFA Euro 2000 campaign in Belgium
and the Netherlands
. The next era culminating in the bronze medal in the UEFA Euro 2004 in Portugal
saw Sparta players leaving their unmistakable mark in the national team successes. Zdeněk Grygera
, Tomáš Hübschman
, Jaromír Blažek, Karel Poborský
and academy products Petr Čech
and Tomáš Rosický helped Czech football to become recognised as being amongst the elite in Europe and most have played for elite European clubs. Currently Sparta is one of only two teams in the domestic league which supplies players to the national side. It goes without saying that the club also supplies players to the country's various youth teams.
Historical names:
. From the very beginning, the colours of Sparta were blue (symbolizing Europe
), red (symbolizing the royal city), and yellow (together with red, the official colours of Prague). In 1906, one of the members of the committee brought (from his trip to England
) jerseys of the London club Arsenal
. From that time, Sparta has typically played in their red (or, to be more precise, dark red or maroon
) colours. Another symbol of Sparta is the big "S" (Sparta); thus, Sparta and Slavia Prague are usually collectively called the Prague "S" and contest the Prague derby.
Czechoslovakia
Czech Republic
Bony Wilfried Miroslav Baranek
Jan Berger
Patrik Berger
Michal Bílek
Jaromír Blažek
Petr Čech
Milan Fukal
Petr Gabriel
Zdeněk Grygera
Ivan Hašek
Michal Horňák
Tomáš Hübschman
Jiří Jarošík
Michal Kadlec
Jan Koller
Radoslav Kováč
Vratislav Lokvenc
Pavel Nedvěd
Oldřich Nejedlý
Jiří Novotný
Karel Poborský
Zdeněk Pospěch
Tomáš Řepka
Tomáš Rosický
Horst Siegl
Libor Sionko
Tomáš Sivok
Tomáš Skuhravý
Zdeněk Svoboda
Jozef Chovanec
Juraj Kucka
Andrej Kvašňák
First Coach Martin Hašek
Assistant Coach Aleš Jindra
Goalkeeper Coach Jan Stejskal
Fitness Coach Pavel Rada
Team Manager David Simon
Doctor MUDr. Václav Čermák MUDr. Jiří Váchal MUDr. Petr Novák
Masseur Tomáš Stránský
Physiotherapist Vít Zelenka
Kitman David Matěka
Reserve Coach Zdeněk Svoboda
Reserve Assistant Coach Michal Horňák
Reserve Goalkeeper Coach Tomáš Poštulka
Reserve Team Manager Vladimír Kára
Reserve Doctor Jindřich Mach
Reserve Masseur Miroslav Kaftan
Reserve Kitman Radek Balog
Except Generali Arena in Letná district - Sparta use a new football center in Strahov Stadium
(the second largest stadium in the world) whose space was rebuilt to 8 football fields (6 fields of standard sizes and 2 futsal).
as one of their subjects.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
football club based in Prague. It is the most successful club in the Czech Republic and one of the most successful in Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
, having reached the semifinals of the European Cup in 1992. Sparta was long the main source for the Czech Republic national football team
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
, however lately this has ceased to be the case, as the best Czech players almost all now play in higher-paying foreign leagues. There are a number of outstanding players who have played for the Sparta over the years. Sparta play at Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
's Generali Arena (also known as Letná Stadium).
Early years
At the close of 1893, a small group of young people based around three brothers, Václav, Bohumil and Rudolf Rudl, had the idea of setting up a sports club. On 16 November, the founders' meeting approved the club's articles of association and one month later, on 17 December, the first annual general meeting took place. Soon after that, the Athletic Club Sparta came up with its tricolour, in which blue symbolises Europe, red is the symbol of the royal city, though the reason for the yellow is not known any more.At the very beginning of the club's football history, the players used to wear black jerseys with a big "S" on the front. They then played for two years in black-and-white striped jerseys, which they returned to, wearing them as a reserve strip, for two years in 1996. In 1906, club president Dr. Petřík was in England where he saw the famous Arsenal play with their red jerseys and decided to bring one set to Praha. At that time, he did not realise he was setting up one of the club's greatest traditions. Together with the red jerseys, Sparta players wear white shorts and black socks.
Shortly after World War I, a team was put together that triggered off the famous period of the twenties and thirties referred to as "Iron Sparta". A football league in Czechoslovakia was established in the mid-twenties and the club collected title after title. To this day, the fans still recall the names of the players of that period with admiration: Peyer, Hojer, Perner, Káďa, Kolenatý, Červený. A few years later, some no less famous names appeared, such as Hochman, Burgr, Hajný, Šíma, Silný, Čtyřoký, Košťálek and in particular Oldřich Nejedlý, the top scorer at the 1934 World Cup. Shortly before this most famous era kicked off, Vlasta Burian, the man who later became the king of Czech comedians, played in goal for the club.
The milestones of the first golden period of the club's history are two Central European Cup titles, which in the twenties and the thirties enjoyed the same recognition as that of today's Champions League. Sparta's three titles are important milestones in the cup's history. After two triumphs in 1927 and 1935, the third came in 1964, at a time when the cup's importance was gradually falling behind that of other European cups.
In 1946, AC Sparta toured Great Britain opening with a 2 - 2 draw against Arsenal on 2 October.
The Golden Years
Golden periods alternated with years when Sparta fans only nostalgically remembered the "good old times". After substantial changes driven by the socialist regime, bringing frequent changes of the club's name rather than achievements to be proud of, the title in 1954 was the last one before a long period of misery. Only the great era of the team around Andrej KvašňákAndrej Kvašnák
Andrej Kvašňák was a Slovak football player. Born in Košice, he played for Czechoslovakia, for which he played 47 matches and scored 13 goals....
in the 1960s brought back memories of the club's golden years.
There are still many people who recollect the era of Kvašňák, Jiří Tichý
Jirí Tichý
Jiří Tichý is a former Czech football player.During his club career he played for CH Bratislava and Sparta Prague. Tichý won three championship titles with Sparta. He earned 19 caps for the Czechoslovakia national football team, and was part of the second-placed team at the 1962 FIFA World...
and Václav Mašek
Václav Mašek
Václav Mašek is a Czech football player. He was a member of the Czechoslovakia national football team, for which he played 16 matches and scored 5 goals....
. Those were the days when Sparta hosted the biggest number of fans in its history, with the stadium at that time accommodating almost forty thousand. All three of the above-mentioned heroes were part of the national team that finished second at the 1962 FIFA World Cup
1962 FIFA World Cup
The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June. It was won by Brazil, who retained the championship by beating Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final...
in Chile.
Relegation and comeback
Up until 1975, Sparta was the only club that had never been relegated to the second division. In this year however, due to a number of circumstances, the team dropped to division two. The club only spent one year in this division, with the crucial matches for the club's comeback to the elite being sold out.Nevertheless, the club didn't win another league title until the early eighties. Built around Chovanec, Berger, Hašek, Skuhravý, and Griga, the team regained its former status and won one title after another. In 1983/1984, the team got as far as the UEFA Cup quarterfinal. In the early nineties, this successful era was continued by the next generation of players, such as Siegl, Horňák, Němeček, Frýdek, Němec, Kouba.
1990s to present
Sparta has accomplished a number of considerable achievements internationally. Historians still say the most glorious were the two Central European Cup titles in the period of "Iron Sparta". From a contemporary fan's point of view, the biggest achievement is probably Sparta's performance in "year zero" of the Champions League in 1991-92. Sparta defeated RangersRangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, then Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
and got to the semi-final group. Playing Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, Dynamo Kyiv and Benfica, Sparta finished second. As opposed to today's system, only the group winner got to the final. Being second in the group, Sparta was unofficially Europe's third or fourth best team.
Sparta has been a regular participant in the UEFA Champions League, the most prestigious European competition, since 1997. The only exception was in 1998-99 when the club did not get past the qualification stage, losing to Dynamo Kyiv on penalties. Sparta did qualify during the next three years, however, and in the 1999/2000 and 2001/2002 it won through to the quarter-final stages. In 1999/2000, it actually won its initial group under the management of Ivan Hašek
Ivan Hašek
Ivan Hašek is a retired Czech footballer who played as a central midfielder.He spent 11 years of his career with Sparta Prague, appearing in more than 300 official games with the club, and later acting as its manager....
, and was then third in the quarter-final group. In that group, Sparta came up against Barcelona which went on to reach the semi-finals. In the 2001/2002 season, Sparta was drawn against the eventual winners of both the European competitions during the course of its run. Feyenoord lost twice to Sparta in the champions league group stage and managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup which it went on to win. Sparta went on to meet Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
in the quarter final that year. Sparta did not qualify for the group stage in 2002-03, when it was beaten by the Belgian club Racing Genk
K.R.C. Genk
Koninklijke Racing Club Genk , usually referred to as Racing Genk or simply Genk, is a Belgian professional football club based in the city of Genk in Belgian Limburg. Racing Genk plays in the Belgian Pro League and they have won 3 Belgian champion titles in 1998–99, in 2001–02 and in 2010–11 as...
in the third round of qualifying. 2003-04 saw Sparta take on two Italian giants. Initially, the club beat Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
in the group stage, but after an initial draw Sparta failed to get into the quarter finals past Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
. The group stage in 2004-05 did not work out at all well for Sparta. After drawing with Manchester United at the sold-out Toyota Arena in an even contest, the other matches were lost and the club finished last in the group.
- 1997/98 — 3rd place in the group stage (Borussia DortmundBorussia DortmundBallspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
, ParmaParma F.C.Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
, GalatasarayGalatasarayGalatasaray Spor Kulübü is a Turkish sports club based in Istanbul, most notable for its football section, also known as Galatasaray S.K.. It also fields teams in Athletics, Basketball, Wheelchair basketball, Volleyball, Water polo, Swimming, Rowing, Sailing, Judo, Bridge, Equestrian, Handball,...
) - 1998/99 — knocked-out in the qualification round by Dynamo Kyiv
- 1999/00 — 1st place in the group stage (BordeauxFC Girondins de BordeauxFootball Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
, Willem II, Spartak MoscowFC Spartak MoscowFC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...
), 3rd place in the second round group (BarcelonaFC BarcelonaFutbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, Porto, Hertha Berlin) - 2000/01 — 4th place in the group stage (ArsenalArsenal F.C.Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, LazioS.S. LazioSocietà Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
, Shakhtar Donetsk) - 2001/02 — 2nd place in the group stage (Bayern MunichFC Bayern MunichFC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
, Feyenoord, Spartak MoscowFC Spartak MoscowFC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...
), 3rd place in the second round group (Real MadridReal Madrid C.F.Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, PanathinaikosPanathinaikos FCPanathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
, Porto) - 2002/03 — knocked-out in the 3rd qualification round by Racing GenkK.R.C. GenkKoninklijke Racing Club Genk , usually referred to as Racing Genk or simply Genk, is a Belgian professional football club based in the city of Genk in Belgian Limburg. Racing Genk plays in the Belgian Pro League and they have won 3 Belgian champion titles in 1998–99, in 2001–02 and in 2010–11 as...
- 2003/04 — 2nd place in the group stage (ChelseaChelsea F.C.Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, LazioS.S. LazioSocietà Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
, BeşiktaşBesiktas J.K.Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü , or simply Beşiktaş , is a Turkish sports club. The club's football team is one of the major teams in Turkey. The professional sports club, founded in 1903, is based in the Beşiktaş district in Istanbul, Turkey...
), knocked-out in the eight-finals by MilanA.C. MilanAssociazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others... - 2004/05 — 4th place in the group stage (Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, LyonOlympique LyonnaisOlympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
, Fenerbahçe) - 2005/06 — 4th place in the group stage (ArsenalArsenal F.C.Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, Ajax, ThunFC ThunFC Thun 1898 is a Swiss football team from the Bernese Oberland town of Thun. The club currently plays in the Swiss Super League after being promoted in the 2009/10 season. The club plays at the Arena Thun which accommodates a total of 10,300 supporters, both seated and standing...
) - 2007/08 — knocked-out in the 3rd qualification round by ArsenalArsenal F.C.Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
- 2008/09 — knocked-out in the 3rd qualification round by PanathinaikosPanathinaikos FCPanathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
- 2009/10 — knocked-out in the 3rd qualification round by PanathinaikosPanathinaikos FCPanathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
- 2010/11 — knocked-out in the play-off round round by ŽilinaMŠK ŽilinaMŠK Žilina is a Slovak football club, based in the town of Žilina. They play in the Slovak Superliga and are one of the most successful clubs in this competition, having won five championships since the league's inception in 1993. The club and their supporters alike are nicknamed Šošoni...
Sparta, usually along with Slavia, has always been a base for the national team; Sparta players contributed to the biggest achievements of the Czechoslovak and Czech national teams. It all started in 1934, when Oldřich Nejedlý
Oldrich Nejedlý
Oldřich Nejedlý was a Czech footballer, who spent his entire career at Sparta Prague as an inside-forward. He is also a former member of the Czechoslovakian national team.-Club career:...
was the top scorer at the World Cup in Rome; four years later, seven Sparta players were part of the national team at the World Cup in France. In 1962, Kvašňák and Tichý played for the "silver" team in Chile. In 1990 in Italy, where the national team got as far as the quarterfinal, the team's play was mainly created by Chovanec, Bílek, Hašek and other Sparta players, such as Skuhravý, who went on to became a star of the Italian league. Sparta players also contributed to the last big achievement of the already independent Czech Republic team in 1996. Kouba, Frýdek and Horňák returned to Letná from England with silver medals. On top of that, the team was coached by Dušan Uhrin, who had spent his best years at Sparta, and Pavel Novotný came to Sparta two years later. Sparta players also featured in more recent qualification and tournament games of the Czech national team. Miroslav Baranek
Miroslav Baranek
Miroslav Baranek is a Czech football player, who currently plays for ASK Kottingbrunn in Austrian regional division.-Honours:* Champion of Czech Republic: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005....
, Tomáš Votava
Tomáš Votava
Tomáš Votava is a Czech former footballer who played as a defender. In his native country he won five league titles with Sparta Prague, before moving to 1860 Munich in 1999. His time in Munich was marred by injury, and he only managed 49 league games in four years, leaving for in 2003...
, Vratislav Lokvenc
Vratislav Lokvenc
Vratislav Lokvenc is a former Czech football striker who last played for FC Ingolstadt 04.- Career :Before joining Salzburg, Lokvenc played for Hradec Králové , Sparta Prague , Kaiserslautern , and VfL Bochum of the German Bundesliga...
, Milan Fukal
Milan Fukal
Milan Fukal is a Czech footballer, since 2011 playing for FC Hradec Králové.The defender began his career with FK Jablonec...
, Martin Hašek
Martin Hašek
Martin Hašek is a former Czech football midfielder, and a current coach.-Football career:During his extensive playing career, Hašek played professionally for SKP Union Cheb, FC Slovan Liberec, Sparta Prague, FK Austria Wien, SK Sturm Graz, FC Dynamo Moscow, 1. FK Příbram and FC Přední Kopanina,...
, Libor Sionko
Libor Sionko
Libor Sionko is a Czech footballer currently playing for Sparta Prague.- Early career :He previously played for Austria Vienna, Grazer AK, Sparta Prague, Banik Ostrava and Rangers. Playing successfully for Sparta in the Czech League and UEFA Champions League, where Sparta in two occasions , got...
, Jiří Novotný
Jirí Novotný (footballer)
Jiří Novotný is a Czech football defender. He played for Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic, for both he played total 33 matches and scored 2 goals.Novotný was a participant in the 2000 UEFA European Championship....
, Jaromír Blažek
Jaromír Blažek
Jaromír Blažek is a Czech football goalkeeper who currently plays for Sparta Prague in the Gambrinus liga. He is married with two children - Jakub and Aneta.- Club career :...
and the outstanding talent of Tomáš Rosický
Tomáš Rosický
Tomáš Rosický is a Czech footballer who plays for Arsenal and captains the Czech national team. He has a brother named Jiří who is also a footballer...
helped the team in its UEFA Euro 2000 campaign in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The next era culminating in the bronze medal in the UEFA Euro 2004 in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
saw Sparta players leaving their unmistakable mark in the national team successes. Zdeněk Grygera
Zdenek Grygera
Zdeněk Grygera is a Czech football player who is currently playing for English club Fulham. He is usually a right back or centre back but can play anywhere in defence.-Early career:...
, Tomáš Hübschman
Tomáš Hübschman
Tomáš Hübschman is a Czech football player who plays for Shakhtar Donetsk.-Sparta Prague:Before joining Shakhtar in the summer of 2004, Hübschman played for AC Sparta Prague having started playing for the club's youth at the age of 5 and signing his first professional contract in 1998...
, Jaromír Blažek, Karel Poborský
Karel Poborský
Karel Poborský is a former Czech footballer. A right winger, Poborský is the all-time leader in appearances for the Czech national team, and was most noted for his technical ability.-Club career:...
and academy products Petr Čech
Petr Cech
Petr Čech is a Czech footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Czech Republic as a goalkeeper. Čech previously played for Viktoria Plzeň, Chmel Blšany, Sparta Prague, and Rennes. He was voted into the all-star team of Euro 2004 after helping his country reach the semi-finals...
and Tomáš Rosický helped Czech football to become recognised as being amongst the elite in Europe and most have played for elite European clubs. Currently Sparta is one of only two teams in the domestic league which supplies players to the national side. It goes without saying that the club also supplies players to the country's various youth teams.
Historical names:
- 1893 — Athletic Club Královské Vinohrady
- 1894 — Athletic Club Sparta
- 1948 — Athletic Club Sparta Bubeneč
- 1949 — Sokol Bratrství Sparta
- 1951 — Sparta ČKD Sokolovo
- 1953 — TJ Spartak Praha Sokolovo
- 1965 — TJ Sparta ČKD Praha
- 1990 — TJ Sparta Praha
- 1991 — AC Sparta Praha
- 1993 — AC Sparta Praha fotbal, a.s.
Club symbols
The name Sparta was inspired by the fighting spirit and courage of the people from the ancient city of SpartaSparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
. From the very beginning, the colours of Sparta were blue (symbolizing Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
), red (symbolizing the royal city), and yellow (together with red, the official colours of Prague). In 1906, one of the members of the committee brought (from his trip to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) jerseys of the London club Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. From that time, Sparta has typically played in their red (or, to be more precise, dark red or maroon
Maroon (color)
Maroon is a dark red color.-Etymology:Maroon is derived from French marron .The first recorded use of maroon as a color name in English was in 1789.-Maroon :...
) colours. Another symbol of Sparta is the big "S" (Sparta); thus, Sparta and Slavia Prague are usually collectively called the Prague "S" and contest the Prague derby.
Domestic
Czechoslovakia
- Czechoslovak First LeagueCzechoslovak First LeagueThe Czechoslovak First League was the premier football league in the Czechoslovakia from 1925 to 1993, with the exception of World War II. Czechoslovakia was occupied by German forces who formed Gauliga Sudetenland and Gauliga Böhmen und Mähren leagues on occupied territories...
: 1912, 1919, 1922, 1925-26Czechoslovak First League 1925-26-League standings:-References:*...
, 1926-27Czechoslovak First League 1927-League standings:-References:*...
, 1931-32Czechoslovak First League 1931-32-League standings:-References:*...
, 1935-36Czechoslovak First League 1935-36-League standings:-References:*...
, 1937-38Czechoslovak First League 1937-38-League standings:-References:*...
, 1938-39Czechoslovak First League 1938-39Statistics of Czechoslovak First League in the 1938/1939 season. After the German invasion of March 1939, Slovak teams were stripped out the table and contested a separate national tournament.-Bohemia and Moravia:-Slovakia:-References:*...
, 1943-44Czechoslovak First League 1943-44-Bohemia and Moravia:-Slovakia:-References:*...
, 1945-46Czechoslovak First League 1945-46-Group A:-Group B:-Championship playoff:*Sparta Prague 4-2 Slavia Prague*Slavia Prague 0-5 Sparta Prague-References:*...
, 1947-48Czechoslovak First League 1947-48-League standings:-References:*...
, 1952Czechoslovak First League 1952-Overview:It was contested by 14 teams, and Sparta CKD Sokolovo won the championship.-League standings:-References:*...
, 1954Czechoslovak First League 1954-Overview:It was contested by 12 teams, and Spartak Praha Sokolovo won the championship.-League standings:-References:*...
, 1964-65Czechoslovak First League 1964-65-League standings:-References:*...
, 1966-67Czechoslovak First League 1966-67-League standings:-References:*...
, 1983-84Czechoslovak First League 1983-84-League standings:-References:*...
, 1984-85Czechoslovak First League 1984-85-League standings:-References:*...
, 1986-87Czechoslovak First League 1986-87-League standings:-References:*...
, 1987-88Czechoslovak First League 1987-88-League standings:-References:*...
, 1988-89Czechoslovak First League 1988-89-League standings:-References:*...
, 1989-90Czechoslovak First League 1989-90-League standings:-References:*...
, 1990-91Czechoslovak First League 1990-91-League standings:-References:*...
, 1992-93Czechoslovak First League 1992-93-Overview:It was contested by 16 teams, and Sparta Prague won the championship. This was the last league championship of a unified Czechoslovakia.-League standings:-References:*... - Czechoslovak Football Cup: 1909, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1992
Czech Republic
- Gambrinus ligaGambrinus LigaThe Gambrinus liga is a Czech professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Czech football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Czech 2. Liga. Seasons run from August to May,...
: 1993-94, 1994-95, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2004-05, 2006-07, 2009-102009–10 Gambrinus ligaGambrinus liga 2009–10 was the seventeenth season of the Czech Republic's top-tier football. It started on 24 July 2009 and ended on 15 May 2010... - Czech Football Cup: 1996, 2004, 20062005–06 Czech Republic Football CupThe 2005–06 Czech Republic Football Cup was the thirteenth season of the annual football knock-out tournament of the Czech Republic. It began on 24 July 2005 with the Preliminary Round and concluded with the final on 19 May 2006...
, 20072006–07 Czech Republic Football CupThe 2006–07 Czech Republic Football Cup was the fourteenth season of the annual football knock-out tournament of the Czech Republic. It began on 22 July 2006 with the Preliminary Round and concluded with the final on 24 May 2007...
, 2008 - Czech Republic Football SupercupCzech Republic Football SupercupThe Czech Republic Football Supercup is an annual football match between the winners of the Gambrinus liga and the Czech Cup, organised by the Czech Football Association. It is currently sponsored by Synot Tip and is therefore officially known as the Synot Tip Supercup.The match is held at the...
: 2010
International
- Mitropa CupMitropa CupThe Mitropa Cup, officially called the La Coupe de l'Europe Centrale was one of the first really international major European football cups for club sides...
: 1927, 1935, 1964 - Pequeña Copa del Mundo de ClubesPequeña Copa del Mundo de ClubesPequeña Copa del Mundo was an association football tournament held in Venezuela between 1952 and 1957, with a single revival in 1963 and in 1965. It was usually played by eight participants, half from Europe and half from South America. On the European side, the Latin Cup may have initially been...
: 1969
Former notable players
Raymond BraineRaymond Braine
Raymond Ernest Michel Braine was one of the most talented and respected Belgian football strikers. He was also the first Belgian professional player, when he obtained a transfer to Sparta Prague in 1930....
Bony Wilfried Miroslav Baranek
Miroslav Baranek
Miroslav Baranek is a Czech football player, who currently plays for ASK Kottingbrunn in Austrian regional division.-Honours:* Champion of Czech Republic: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005....
Jan Berger
Jan Berger (footballer born 1955)
Jan Berger is a Czech former football midfielder and was most recently the manager of Slavoj Vyšehrad.-International career:...
Patrik Berger
Patrik Berger
Patrik Berger is a retired Czech footballer. He has played in Czech Republic, Germany, and England. He is best remembered for his time at Liverpool....
Michal Bílek
Michal Bílek
Michal Bílek is a retired Czech football right midfielder, and a current coach of the Czech Republic national football team.-Club career:...
Jaromír Blažek
Jaromír Blažek
Jaromír Blažek is a Czech football goalkeeper who currently plays for Sparta Prague in the Gambrinus liga. He is married with two children - Jakub and Aneta.- Club career :...
Petr Čech
Petr Cech
Petr Čech is a Czech footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Czech Republic as a goalkeeper. Čech previously played for Viktoria Plzeň, Chmel Blšany, Sparta Prague, and Rennes. He was voted into the all-star team of Euro 2004 after helping his country reach the semi-finals...
Milan Fukal
Milan Fukal
Milan Fukal is a Czech footballer, since 2011 playing for FC Hradec Králové.The defender began his career with FK Jablonec...
Petr Gabriel
Petr Gabriel
Petr Gabriel is a Czech former football player. He played for the Czech Republic, for which he took part in eight matches and participated at the Euro 2000. On 11 June 2000, Gabriel gave away a penalty in the 89th minute of his national team's game against the Netherlands...
Zdeněk Grygera
Zdenek Grygera
Zdeněk Grygera is a Czech football player who is currently playing for English club Fulham. He is usually a right back or centre back but can play anywhere in defence.-Early career:...
Ivan Hašek
Ivan Hašek
Ivan Hašek is a retired Czech footballer who played as a central midfielder.He spent 11 years of his career with Sparta Prague, appearing in more than 300 official games with the club, and later acting as its manager....
Michal Horňák
Michal Hornák
Michal Horňák is a Czech football player. He played for the Czech Republic, for which he played 38 matches and scored 1 goal....
Tomáš Hübschman
Tomáš Hübschman
Tomáš Hübschman is a Czech football player who plays for Shakhtar Donetsk.-Sparta Prague:Before joining Shakhtar in the summer of 2004, Hübschman played for AC Sparta Prague having started playing for the club's youth at the age of 5 and signing his first professional contract in 1998...
Jiří Jarošík
Jirí Jarošík
Jiří Jarošík is a Czech footballer who is currently playing for AC Sparta Prague. He played Czech national team, where he played 23 matches. He is a defender and midfielder.-Early career:...
Michal Kadlec
Michal Kadlec
Michal Kadlec is a Czech footballer who plays as a left back for Bayer Leverkusen. His father Miroslav was a former Czechoslovakia footballer who played eight years in the Bundesliga in Germany, due to which Michal spent his childhood there.Kadlec started his professional career in 1. FC Slovácko...
Jan Koller
Jan Koller
Jan Koller is Czech footballer currently playing in AFK Smetanova Lhota.As an international player he played as a striker for the Czech Republic national team. He is the all-time leading goal scorer for either the Czech Republic or the former Czechoslovakia, with 55 goals in 91 caps...
Radoslav Kováč
Radoslav Kovác
Radoslav Kováč is a Czech footballer who plays for FC Basel. He plays midfield and defence. He previously played for Sigma Olomouc Sparta Prague and Spartak Moscow...
Vratislav Lokvenc
Vratislav Lokvenc
Vratislav Lokvenc is a former Czech football striker who last played for FC Ingolstadt 04.- Career :Before joining Salzburg, Lokvenc played for Hradec Králové , Sparta Prague , Kaiserslautern , and VfL Bochum of the German Bundesliga...
Pavel Nedvěd
Pavel Nedved
Pavel Nedvěd is a retired Czech football midfielder. He is one of the most successful Czech players to emerge from the newly formed Czech Republic, winning numerous accolades with Lazio and Juventus, including the last ever Cup Winners' Cup...
Oldřich Nejedlý
Oldrich Nejedlý
Oldřich Nejedlý was a Czech footballer, who spent his entire career at Sparta Prague as an inside-forward. He is also a former member of the Czechoslovakian national team.-Club career:...
Jiří Novotný
Jirí Novotný (footballer)
Jiří Novotný is a Czech football defender. He played for Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic, for both he played total 33 matches and scored 2 goals.Novotný was a participant in the 2000 UEFA European Championship....
Karel Poborský
Karel Poborský
Karel Poborský is a former Czech footballer. A right winger, Poborský is the all-time leader in appearances for the Czech national team, and was most noted for his technical ability.-Club career:...
Zdeněk Pospěch
Zdenek Pospech
Zdeněk Pospěch is a Czech footballer who plays for Mainz 05 in the German Bundesliga. He normally plays as a defender in a right back position, but can also play on the right side of midfield....
Tomáš Řepka
Tomáš Repka
Tomáš Řepka is a professional Czech football defender who is currently playing for Sparta Prague.- Career :Řepka started his career at Banik Ostrava, where he played from 1990 to 1995. He then joined Sparta Prague, where he spent almost three years, before moving to Fiorentina in Italy...
Tomáš Rosický
Tomáš Rosický
Tomáš Rosický is a Czech footballer who plays for Arsenal and captains the Czech national team. He has a brother named Jiří who is also a footballer...
Horst Siegl
Horst Siegl
Horst Siegl is a Czech former football striker. He played for Czechoslovakia and later Czech Republic, for both he played total 23 matches and scored 7 goals...
Libor Sionko
Libor Sionko
Libor Sionko is a Czech footballer currently playing for Sparta Prague.- Early career :He previously played for Austria Vienna, Grazer AK, Sparta Prague, Banik Ostrava and Rangers. Playing successfully for Sparta in the Czech League and UEFA Champions League, where Sparta in two occasions , got...
Tomáš Sivok
Tomáš Sivok
Tomáš Sivok is a Czech footballer who currently plays for Beşiktaş. He made his debut for the Czech national team on September 3, 2005. His primary position is holding midfielder but he can play in defense.-Career:...
Tomáš Skuhravý
Tomáš Skuhravý
Tomáš Skuhravý is a Czech former football player.At club level, he mostly played in the Italian Serie A in the early 1990s with Genoa, being signed from Sparta Prague, forming a prolific partnership with Uruguayan Carlos Aguilera...
Zdeněk Svoboda
Zdenek Svoboda
Zdeněk Svoboda is a former professional footballer who most recently played for Sliema Wanderers during the 2006/07 season in the Maltese Football League.-Playing career:...
Jozef Chovanec
Jozef Chovanec
Jozef Chovanec is a former Czechoslovak football player and later a football manager.- Playing career :...
Juraj Kucka
Juraj Kucka
Juraj Kucka is a Slovak football midfielder who currently plays for the Italian Serie A club Genoa and the Slovakia national football team.-Club career:...
Andrej Kvašňák
Andrej Kvašnák
Andrej Kvašňák was a Slovak football player. Born in Košice, he played for Czechoslovakia, for which he played 47 matches and scored 13 goals....
Current squad
Reserve squad
Out on loan
Staff
Manager Jozef ChovanecJozef Chovanec
Jozef Chovanec is a former Czechoslovak football player and later a football manager.- Playing career :...
First Coach Martin Hašek
Martin Hašek
Martin Hašek is a former Czech football midfielder, and a current coach.-Football career:During his extensive playing career, Hašek played professionally for SKP Union Cheb, FC Slovan Liberec, Sparta Prague, FK Austria Wien, SK Sturm Graz, FC Dynamo Moscow, 1. FK Příbram and FC Přední Kopanina,...
Assistant Coach Aleš Jindra
Aleš Jindra
Aleš Jindra is the former coach of Liga I champions CFR Cluj and former player.Before moving to Romania, he was the assistant coach of the Czech 2. Liga team FK Baník Sokolov.-External links:...
Goalkeeper Coach Jan Stejskal
Jan Stejskal
Jan Stejskal is a retired Czech football goalkeeper. He played for Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic, for both he played a total of 31 matches, participating in the 1990 FIFA World Cup....
Fitness Coach Pavel Rada
Team Manager David Simon
Doctor MUDr. Václav Čermák MUDr. Jiří Váchal MUDr. Petr Novák
Masseur Tomáš Stránský
Physiotherapist Vít Zelenka
Kitman David Matěka
Reserve Coach Zdeněk Svoboda
Zdenek Svoboda
Zdeněk Svoboda is a former professional footballer who most recently played for Sliema Wanderers during the 2006/07 season in the Maltese Football League.-Playing career:...
Reserve Assistant Coach Michal Horňák
Michal Hornák
Michal Horňák is a Czech football player. He played for the Czech Republic, for which he played 38 matches and scored 1 goal....
Reserve Goalkeeper Coach Tomáš Poštulka
Tomáš Poštulka
Tomáš Poštulka is a Czech football goalkeeper. He is one of the most successful Czech goalkeepers - and together with Petr Čech and Jaromír Blažek the most seasoned Czech goalkeeper in European Cups...
Reserve Team Manager Vladimír Kára
Reserve Doctor Jindřich Mach
Reserve Masseur Miroslav Kaftan
Reserve Kitman Radek Balog
Training camp
Strahov Stadium
The Great Strahov Stadium is a stadium in the Strahov district of Prague, Czech Republic. The stadium is the largest in the world, and is the second largest sports facility worldwide after the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, seating around 220,000....
(the second largest stadium in the world) whose space was rebuilt to 8 football fields (6 fields of standard sizes and 2 futsal).
Popular culture
The Czech films Proč? (Why?), Horem pádem (Up and Down) and Non Plus Ultras take the culture of Sparta fandomFandom
Fandom is a term used to refer to a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of sympathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest...
as one of their subjects.