FK Viktoria Žižkov
Encyclopedia
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
clubs in the Czech Republic
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....
. It plays in the Gambrinus liga
Gambrinus Liga
The 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,...
, the top level of football in the country.
The team was founded by a group of students in 1903 in the town of Žižkov
Žižkov
Žižkov is a cadastral district of Prague, Czech Republic. Most of Žižkov lies in the municipal and administrative district of Prague 3, except for very small parts which are in Prague 8 and Prague 10. Prior to 1922, Žižkov was an independent city....
(since 1922 part of 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...
). Viktoria's main successes fall into the period between the world wars — until 1948 it was the third most successful Czechoslovak
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
club, winning the Czechoslovak championship in 1928 and finishing as runners-up in 1929. After the second world war and the beginning of communism in 1948 it descended to the lower leagues where it remained until 1993 when it was promoted again to the highest league as a result of the Slovak clubs walking away to form their own league. Viktoria was very successful between 1993 and 2003, competing in four European cups and finishing 3rd in the league on two occasions (2002, 2003). In total Žižkov has won the national knock out cup on 9 occasions (1913, 1914, 1916, 1921, 1929, 1933, 1940, 1994 and 2001) and finished as runners-up in 1919, 1920 and 1995.
In 2002 Viktoria Žižkov knocked Scottish team Rangers
Rangers 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...
out of the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
, going through on the away goals rule after extra time at Ibrox.
In 2004, after a string of poor results and a corruption scandal, the team was relegated again to the second league
Czech 2. Liga
The 2. liga or Druhá liga is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in the Czech Republic. The top two teams are promoted to the Gambrinus liga.-Structure:There are 16 clubs in the Czech 2. Liga...
. In 2007 the team successfully made it back to the Gambrinus liga, finishing the season as runaway champions of the 2nd league. After finishing mid-table in their first season back in the top flight, in 2009 they were relegated back to the second league
Czech 2. Liga
The 2. liga or Druhá liga is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in the Czech Republic. The top two teams are promoted to the Gambrinus liga.-Structure:There are 16 clubs in the Czech 2. Liga...
after struggling all season, bouncing back to the top flight by again gaining promotion from the 2nd league, this time as Runners-up, two seasons later (2011).
2010/2011 season
Žižkov gained promotion from the 2nd league by finishing as runners-up to FK Dukla PragueFK Dukla Prague
FK Dukla Prague is a Czech association football club located in Prague-Dejvice, Czech Republic. It currently plays in the Gambrinus liga.- History :It was founded in 1959 as FK Dukla Dejvice and in 2001 as FK Dukla Prague...
. The main strength of their promotion push turned out to be away performances, which were by far the best in the league. Some poor early season home performances threatened to unship the promotion push but these picked up in the latter part of the season, a 1-0 win over MFK Karviná
MFK Karviná
MFK OKD Karviná is an Czech football club located in Karviná, Czech Republic. It currently plays in Czech 2. Liga. The team's colors are green and white.- History :...
, with a late goal by team captain Tomáš Procházka
Tomáš Procházka
Tomáš Procházka is a professional Czech football player who currently plays for FK Viktoria Žižkov. He was club captain for Viktoria Žižkov in the 2010-11 season.-External links:* * *...
being hailed as a critical victory. Star player of the season was undoubtedly Czech U21 goalkeeper Tomáš Vaclík
Tomáš Vaclík
Tomáš Vaclík is a Czech footballer, who currently plays for Viktoria Žižkov as a goalkeeper. He is a member of the Czech under-21 team...
. Also of note were the performances of Miroslav Marković
Miroslav Markovic
Miroslav Marković is a Serbian football player currently playing for FK Dukla Prague.He signed a three-year contract with FK Dukla Prague in June 2011 after scoring 17 goals in the 2010–11 Czech 2. Liga while on loan at Viktoria Žižkov....
who finished as the club's top scorer for the season and second in the league overall, who departed after the end of the season.
2008/2009 season
Petr ŠvancaraPetr Švancara
Petr Švancara is a Czech football player.Švancara started his football career in his native Brno, he eventually played for the local side 1. FC Brno and for several other Gambrinus liga clubs. In 2008 his goal for FK Viktoria Žižkov in a match against Bohemians Prague was voted Gambrinus liga...
won Czech Television's goal of 2008 (gol roku), with his stunning individual effort to open the scoring in Žižkov's 4-2 home victory against FK Bohemians Prague (Střížkov). This proved to be one of the few highlights in a disappointing season that saw Žižkov finish bottom of the league and hence relegated to the 2nd league once more. During the season three different managers were employed, which certainly did not help continuity. However the departure of good quality younger players, such as Ondřej Kušnír
Ondřej Kušnír
Ondřej Kušnír is a professional Czech football player.After being called up to the national team at the end of 2009, but remaining an unused substitute, on 3 March 2010, Kušnír made his debut for the senior side of his country in the 0:1 loss against Scotland in a friendly match.His father was...
to Sparta Prague, at the start of the season, to be replaced by older, journeyman, players was a major factor.
2007/2008 season
Žižkov's first season back in the Gambrinus liga proved to be one of successful consolidation, the team finishing in a creditable 10th place, whilst also reaching the quarter final stage of the knock out cup. One of the highlights of the season was a 3-0 away win at Slavia, inflicting their only home defeat on the eventual champions. A 1-1 pre-Christmas home draw with Slavia was perhaps just as important however, the point being gained with a last minute Richard KalodRichard Kalod
Richard Kalod is a professional Czech football player who currently plays for FK Viktoria Žižkov. Although he has played regularly for Žižkov for several years, his role usually involves him playing a ball winning job up front, often alone. He is an uncompromising player who has scored several...
goal.
Žižkov's home form was the mainstay of their season, indeed they won 5 of their 7 post-Christmas matches. The final game of the season saw them gain a 1-0 victory over Mladá Boleslav, with another Kalod goal, thereby gaining their only double of the season, having also gained a 1-0 win against Boleslav on the opening day of the season. Top scorer for the season was Petr Švancara
Petr Švancara
Petr Švancara is a Czech football player.Švancara started his football career in his native Brno, he eventually played for the local side 1. FC Brno and for several other Gambrinus liga clubs. In 2008 his goal for FK Viktoria Žižkov in a match against Bohemians Prague was voted Gambrinus liga...
, who scored 6 goals.
Ground
Viktoria's ground, FK Viktoria StadionFK Viktoria Stadion
FK Viktoria Stadion is a multi-use stadium in Prague, Czech Republic. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of FK Viktoria Žižkov. The stadium holds 5,600 people, all seated....
(Žižkov Stadion), is situated in Seifertova třída, just a short walk (one tram stop) from Prague's Central Station
Praha hlavní nádraží
Praha hlavní nádraží is the largest and most important railway station in Prague in the Czech Republic. It was originally opened in 1871 and named Franz Joseph I after Franz Joseph I of Austria. During the First Republic and from 1945 to 1953 the station was called Wilson station after former...
. It is a small but attractive ground in a traditional setting.
In 2007 the club opened a Fanshop at the ground for the sale of club mementos.
Historical names
- 1903 - Sportovní kroužek Viktoria Žižkov
- 1904 - SK Viktoria Žižkov
- 1950 - Sokol Viktoria Žižkov
- 1951 - Sokol ČSAD Žižkov
- 1952 - Club was merged with Avia Čakovice
- 1952 - TJ Slavoj Žižkov
- 1965 - TJ Viktoria Žižkov
- 1973 - TJ Viktoria Žižkov Strojimport
- 1982 - TJ Viktoria Žižkov PSO
- 1992 - FK Viktoria Žižkov
UEFA Cup performances
In 1928 Žižkov took part in the Mitropa CupMitropa Cup
The 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...
, reaching the semi-final stage, where they lost in a play off to SK Rapid Wien
SK Rapid Wien
The Sportklub Rapid Wien is an Austrian football club playing in the country's capital city of Vienna. Rapid is the most popular club in Austria and also record title holder having won the Austrian national football title 32 times...
after the initial two-legs between the teams produced a tie. At the quarter final stage Žižkov knocked out Građanski Zagreb (later to become Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo Zagreb
GNK Dinamo Zagreb, commonly referred to as Dinamo Zagreb , or by their nickname Modri are a Croatian football club based in Zagreb. They play their home matches at Stadion Maksimir. They are the most successful club in Croatian football, having won thirteen Croatian championship titles, ten...
) over two legs, winning the home tie 6-1.
Former notable players
Michal BílekMichal Bílek
Michal Bílek is a retired Czech football right midfielder, and a current coach of the Czech Republic national football team.-Club career:...
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...
Ondřej Kušnír
Ondřej Kušnír
Ondřej Kušnír is a professional Czech football player.After being called up to the national team at the end of 2009, but remaining an unused substitute, on 3 March 2010, Kušnír made his debut for the senior side of his country in the 0:1 loss against Scotland in a friendly match.His father was...
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:...
Daniel Zítka
Daniel Zítka
Daniel Zítka is a Czech football goalkeeper, currently playing for Czech side Sparta Prague.-Career:...
Current squad
Popular culture
The very popular Czech 1931 comedy film Muži v offsidu is centred largely on the culture and fans of Viktoria Žižkov and features unique footage of several matches from that time. The book, on which the story is based, was written by Karel PoláčekKarel Polácek
Karel Poláček was a Czechoslovak writer, humorist and journalist of Jewish descent.-Life:He was born in Rychnov nad Kněžnou into a family of a Jewish trader. He started to attend secondary school there, but due to his bad results he transferred to a secondary school in Prague, from which he...
.
The Czech film actor Vlasta Burian
Vlasta Burian
Josef Vlastimil Burian, better known as Vlasta Burian, was a Czech stage and film actor, singer, comedian, footballer and a film director...
played as the regular goalkeeper for Žižkov around 1916 before setting out on his acting career. A plaque in FK Viktoria Stadion
FK Viktoria Stadion
FK Viktoria Stadion is a multi-use stadium in Prague, Czech Republic. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of FK Viktoria Žižkov. The stadium holds 5,600 people, all seated....
now commemorates his appearances for the club.
Honours
- 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...
- Champions 1927–28
- Czech Republic Football CupCzech Republic Football CupThe Czech Republic Football Cup is the major football cup competition in the Czech Republic. It is organised by the Czech Football Association....
- Champions 1993–94, 2000–01
- Czech 2. LigaCzech 2. LigaThe 2. liga or Druhá liga is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in the Czech Republic. The top two teams are promoted to the Gambrinus liga.-Structure:There are 16 clubs in the Czech 2. Liga...
(second tier)- Champions 2006–072006–07 Czech 2. LigaThe 2006–07 Czech 2. Liga was the 14th season of the 2. česká fotbalová liga, the second tier of the Czech football league.-From 2. Liga:Promoted to Gambrinus liga* SK Kladno* SK Dynamo České Budějovice...
- Champions 2006–07