Jaromír Blažek
Encyclopedia
Jaromír Blažek (ˈjaromiːr ˈblaʒɛk) (born 29 December 1972 in Brno
) is a Czech
football goalkeeper who currently plays for Sparta Prague in the Gambrinus liga
. He is married with two children - Jakub and Aneta.
, and he decided to spend his first season in the new Gambrinus liga
in Viktoria Žižkov, which turned out to be a good choice since he won his first title, the national cup
. He left after only one year though, returning to Prague
, this time to FC Bohemians. They were relegated that year and Blažek, who didn't want to spend a year in Druhá liga
, was loaned for one year to his first club Slavia, where again he was but a substitute. Since Bohemians regained promotion the same year, he returned there and stayed for three and a half years, even though Bohemians were fighting to avoid relegation more often than not.
However, if his club wasn't performing very well, it wasn't the case for Blažek, who drew the attention of giants Sparta Prague, transferred there in early 2000 and won back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2001. He was surprisingly sold to rivals Marila Příbram in 2001 but returned after only one year. After that, he played almost every single game for Sparta Prague, be it league, cup or Champions League
games. It was a very successful period for Blažek as he won four more titles and three national cups.
In 2007, he decided to try a first experience abroad and was sold to German club 1. FC Nuremberg, who purchased him as a replacement for Raphael Schäfer
who had left for VfB Stuttgart
over the summer. Blažek was the number one there but unfortunately fell sick in April and could not play the end of a season that saw Nuremberg being relegated. In June, it was announced that Blažek was returning to Sparta Prague for the following season.
. He was part of the Czech roster at both Euro 2000
and Euro 2004
, but only played in one match during the two tournaments combined. He was also on the Czech roster for the 2006 World Cup
.
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
) is a Czech
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 goalkeeper who currently plays for Sparta Prague 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,...
. He is married with two children - Jakub and Aneta.
Club career
Blažek started his career in Slavia Prague, where he got to play his first league games. After two years during which he was mainly used as a substitute, he moved to Dynamo České Budějovice to become the number one goalkeeper there. This season (1992–93) was to be the last of the Czechoslovak First LeagueCzechoslovak First League
The 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...
, and he decided to spend his first season in the new 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,...
in Viktoria Žižkov, which turned out to be a good choice since he won his first title, the national cup
Czech Republic Football Cup
The Czech Republic Football Cup is the major football cup competition in the Czech Republic. It is organised by the Czech Football Association....
. He left after only one year though, returning to 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...
, this time to FC Bohemians. They were relegated that year and Blažek, who didn't want to spend a year in Druhá liga
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...
, was loaned for one year to his first club Slavia, where again he was but a substitute. Since Bohemians regained promotion the same year, he returned there and stayed for three and a half years, even though Bohemians were fighting to avoid relegation more often than not.
However, if his club wasn't performing very well, it wasn't the case for Blažek, who drew the attention of giants Sparta Prague, transferred there in early 2000 and won back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2001. He was surprisingly sold to rivals Marila Příbram in 2001 but returned after only one year. After that, he played almost every single game for Sparta Prague, be it league, cup or Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
games. It was a very successful period for Blažek as he won four more titles and three national cups.
In 2007, he decided to try a first experience abroad and was sold to German club 1. FC Nuremberg, who purchased him as a replacement for Raphael Schäfer
Raphael Schäfer
Raphael Schäfer is a German football goalkeeper who plays for 1. FC Nuremberg.-Early career:...
who had left for VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
over the summer. Blažek was the number one there but unfortunately fell sick in April and could not play the end of a season that saw Nuremberg being relegated. In June, it was announced that Blažek was returning to Sparta Prague for the following season.
International career
Blažek made his debut for the national team on 29 March 2000 in a friendly against Australia that ended up in a 3-1 win. He was however never able to be but the number two behind Petr ČechPetr 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...
. He was part of the Czech roster at both Euro 2000
2000 UEFA European Football Championship
The 2000 UEFA European Football Championship, or Euro 2000, was the 11th UEFA European Football Championship, which is held every four years and organized by UEFA, association football's governing body in Europe....
and Euro 2004
2004 UEFA European Football Championship
The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship, better known as Euro 2004, was the 12th European Football Championship, a quadrennial football tournament for European national teams. It was hosted in Portugal, for the first time, between 12 June and 4 July 2004, following its selection by UEFA, in...
, but only played in one match during the two tournaments combined. He was also on the Czech roster for the 2006 World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
.
Honours
- Viktoria Žižkov
- 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....
: 1994
- Czech Republic Football Cup
- Slavia Prague
- 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,...
: 1995–96
- Gambrinus liga
- Sparta Prague
- 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,...
: 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2006–07 - 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....
: 2004, 2006, 2007
- Gambrinus liga