Tomáš Repka
Encyclopedia
Tomáš Řepka is a professional Czech
football defender
who is currently playing for Sparta Prague.
, where he played from 1990 to 1995. He then joined Sparta Prague, where he spent almost three years, before moving to Fiorentina
in Italy
. He joined English
Premiership
club West Ham United
early in Glenn Roeder
's tenure as manager, for a club record fee of £5,500,000, in September 2001.
He was sent off on his debut for West Ham for two bookable offences, missed a match through suspension, and was sent off again in the third game he played for the club. He went on to form a central defensive partnership with Christian Dailly
before the club's relegation
to the Football League Championship
, although he gained a reputation for his disciplinary record, and received 10 yellow cards that first season. After relegation at the end of the 2002-03
season, the appointment of Alan Pardew
as manager saw Řepka move to right back. In the summer of 2005, after the club had regained their Premiership status, he was re-signed by Pardew on a two-year contract, albeit on reduced terms, but left the club on 23 January 2006 to return to the Czech Republic to be with his family. He played his final game for them on the previous night against Fulham
in what was an emotional swansong for the Czech hardman; To chants of "Super Tom" from the West Ham faithful, he left the field in tears.
In 2006 he returned to Sparta Prague and is playing there to date as a backbone of team's defence. In 2009 he won the Personality of the League award at the Czech Footballer of the Year
awards.
After making his international debut for Czechoslovakia
in June 1993 against the Faroe Islands
, Řepka played 45 times for the Czech Republic
between 1994 and 2001. He missed Euro 1996
because of two match suspension for a red card. However, he played for his country at Euro 2000
.
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 defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who is currently playing for Sparta Prague.
Career
Řepka started his career at Banik OstravaFC Baník Ostrava
FC Baník Ostrava is a football club from the Silesian part of the city of Ostrava, Czech Republic. It is based in Slezská Ostrava district of the city....
, where he played from 1990 to 1995. He then joined Sparta Prague, where he spent almost three years, before moving to Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He joined English
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...
Premiership
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
club West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
early in Glenn Roeder
Glenn Roeder
Glenn Victor Roeder is an English football manager and former player, most recently in charge at Norwich City. As a player, Roeder represented England B on 7 occasions...
's tenure as manager, for a club record fee of £5,500,000, in September 2001.
He was sent off on his debut for West Ham for two bookable offences, missed a match through suspension, and was sent off again in the third game he played for the club. He went on to form a central defensive partnership with Christian Dailly
Christian Dailly
Christian Eduard Dailly is a Scottish professional footballer who is without a club having last played for Championship side Portsmouth. He is a versatile player, often seen in defence or defensive midfield, but has played in most outfield positions during his career. Dailly is Scotland's...
before the club's relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
, although he gained a reputation for his disciplinary record, and received 10 yellow cards that first season. After relegation at the end of the 2002-03
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
season, the appointment of Alan Pardew
Alan Pardew
Alan Scott Pardew is an English football manager and former player, currently the manager of Newcastle United....
as manager saw Řepka move to right back. In the summer of 2005, after the club had regained their Premiership status, he was re-signed by Pardew on a two-year contract, albeit on reduced terms, but left the club on 23 January 2006 to return to the Czech Republic to be with his family. He played his final game for them on the previous night against Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
in what was an emotional swansong for the Czech hardman; To chants of "Super Tom" from the West Ham faithful, he left the field in tears.
In 2006 he returned to Sparta Prague and is playing there to date as a backbone of team's defence. In 2009 he won the Personality of the League award at the Czech Footballer of the Year
Czech Footballer of the Year
The Czech Footballer of the Year is awarded in the Czech Republic by the Football Association of the Czech Republic . Eligible are Czech players in the Czech Republic and abroad...
awards.
After making his international debut 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...
in June 1993 against the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands national football team
The Faroe Islands national football team represents the Faroe Islands in association football and is controlled by the Faroe Islands Football Association, the governing body for football in the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands became a member of FIFA in 1988 and UEFA in 1990 and are the third...
, Řepka played 45 times for the Czech Republic
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...
between 1994 and 2001. He missed Euro 1996
1996 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1996 UEFA European Football Championship was hosted by England, who won the right to host the tournament ahead of bids from Austria, Portugal and the Netherlands. It was the tenth European Football Championship, which is held every four years and endorsed by UEFA. It was the first to use the...
because of two match suspension for a red card. However, he played for his country at 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....
.
Disciplinary problems
Řepka is notorious for his lack of self-control and disciplinary problems. During his professional career, he has received eighteen red cards (see table below). One scandal included attacking game officials and a TV cameraman in September 2007.| Team | Red cards |
|---|---|
| Baník Ostrava | 1 |
| Sparta Prague | 4 |
| AC Fiorentina | 5 |
| West Ham United | 4 |
| 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... |
2 |
| Czech Republic national football team U-21 | 1 |
External links
- Official website of Tomáš Řepka
- Official page (in Czech)
- Tomáš Řepka at Soccerbase
- Tomáš Řepka. Wild man.
- Tomáš Řepka at FootballDatabase
- Tomáš Řepka at official Sparta Prague website