Radek Bejbl
Encyclopedia
Radek Bejbl is a retired Czech
footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
side finished in fourth position.
In the 1996 summer, Bejbl moved to Spain
and signed with Atlético Madrid, appearing in 33 matches in his first season in La Liga
, and eventually helping the Colchoneros to consecutive Copa del Rey
finals (both lost). He left the club in 2000, after it suffered relegation.
Aged 28, Bejbl signed with RC Lens
in the French
Ligue 1
, appearing in 25 of his 26 league games for the club in his first season, as Les Sang et Or narrowly avoided relegation. Subsequently, he returned to former team Slavia for three additional seasons.
Bejbl spent two years in Austria
with SK Rapid Wien
, playing 27 Bundesliga games in his second year to help his team finish fourth and qualify to the UEFA Intertoto Cup
. Aged 35, he returned to his country for one final season with FC Slovan Liberec
.
and participated at UEFA Euro 1996 and Euro 2000. In the former competition, he played and started in all the games as the side reached the final
, netting in a 2–1 group stage win against Italy
.
Bejbl's debut occurred on 8 May 1995, in a 1–1 friendly
with Slovenia
. Previously, he appeared in two games for Czechoslovakia
.
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....
footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
Club career
Bejbl made his professional debuts with SK Slavia Prague, being a first-team regular since the age of 18. In 1991–92, he scored a career-best nine goals in 28 games as the capitalPrague
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...
side finished in fourth position.
In the 1996 summer, Bejbl moved to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and signed with Atlético Madrid, appearing in 33 matches in his first season in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, and eventually helping the Colchoneros to consecutive Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
finals (both lost). He left the club in 2000, after it suffered relegation.
Aged 28, Bejbl signed with RC Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
in the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
, appearing in 25 of his 26 league games for the club in his first season, as Les Sang et Or narrowly avoided relegation. Subsequently, he returned to former team Slavia for three additional seasons.
Bejbl spent two years in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
with 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...
, playing 27 Bundesliga games in his second year to help his team finish fourth and qualify to the UEFA Intertoto Cup
UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
. Aged 35, he returned to his country for one final season with FC Slovan Liberec
FC Slovan Liberec
FC Slovan Liberec is a Czech football club founded in the city of Liberec. The club is one of the most successful in the Czech Republic, having won two league titles and the domestic cup since 1993. Slovan Liberec is also one of the richest clubs in the Czech league...
.
International career
Bejbl played 56 matches and scored three goals for the Czech Republic national teamCzech 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...
and participated at UEFA Euro 1996 and Euro 2000. In the former competition, he played and started in all the games as the side reached the final
UEFA Euro 1996 Final
The UEFA Euro 1996 Final was a football match played on 30 June 1996 at Wembley Stadium in London, England, to determine the winner of UEFA Euro 1996. The match featured tournament favourites, Germany, who knocked out hosts England in the previous round and Czech Republic, playing in only their...
, netting in a 2–1 group stage win against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
.
Bejbl's debut occurred on 8 May 1995, in a 1–1 friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
with Slovenia
Slovenia national football team
The Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991....
. Previously, he appeared in two games for Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
.