Zdenek Grygera
Encyclopedia
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.
in the April Klassieker
.
on a Bosman transfer when his contract with Ajax expires in June 2007. He was supposed to transfer after the World Cup but the Calciopoli scandal prevented him from doing so. After four fairly successful seasons in the Dutch capital, Grygera moved to Juventus
. He expressed his delight over the possibility of playing with one of his Czech compatriots, Pavel Nedvěd
. Due to his versatility, he established himself in the Juve line-up. In March, he scored and set up David Trézéguet
's goal in a 2–0 win over Genoa
and scored a last-gasp equalizer in Derby d'Italia
fixture against Juve's bitter rivals Inter
on 18 April 2009.
.
at Euro 2004
, World Cup
in Germany
and the Euro 2008. At the World Cup in 2006, Grygera's run and cross set up the opening goal for Jan Koller
in the Czech's first game against the USA
which they won 3-0. He was a regular during 2010 World Cup qualifying
, playing in 6 of the 10 qualifers but was not able to help the Czechs qualify for a second consecutive World Cup. As of October 2011, he has not represented his country since October 2009.
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
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...
player who is currently playing for English club 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...
. He is usually a right back or centre back but can play anywhere in defence.
Early career
Grygera began his career at Petra Drnovice before moving to Czech club Sparta Prague. In July 2003, he was signed by Dutch club Ajax for an undisclosed fee, estimated to be around €3.5 million. His first goal came for the club came in September 2004, a 5–0 thrashing away at Den Bosch. He soon became a fan favorite, especially after scoring against bitter rivals FeyenoordFeyenoord Rotterdam
Feyenoord is a Dutch professional football club located in Rotterdam. Along with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord is one of the "big three" clubs in the Netherlands. These three clubs and Utrecht and Roda JC are the only clubs never to have been relegated from the Dutch first division...
in the April Klassieker
Klassieker
De Klassieker is the main football rivalry of the Netherlands. It is between Ajax, of Amsterdam and Feyenoord, of Rotterdam and is highly contested. The record attendance was on 9 January 1966, when 65,562 watched in Rotterdam....
.
Juventus
On 10 January 2007, it was confirmed by Ajax's technical director, Martin Van Geel, that Grygera would be leaving to JuventusJuventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
on a Bosman transfer when his contract with Ajax expires in June 2007. He was supposed to transfer after the World Cup but the Calciopoli scandal prevented him from doing so. After four fairly successful seasons in the Dutch capital, Grygera moved to Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
. He expressed his delight over the possibility of playing with one of his Czech compatriots, 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...
. Due to his versatility, he established himself in the Juve line-up. In March, he scored and set up David Trézéguet
David Trézéguet
David Sergio Trezeguet is a World Cup winning French international footballer who currently is a free agent after being released by Baniyas SC on 21 Nov 2011....
's goal in a 2–0 win over Genoa
Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...
and scored a last-gasp equalizer in Derby d'Italia
Derby d'Italia
The Derby d'Italia was coined back in 1967 by the famous Italian sports journalist Gianni Brera as the biannual football fixture in Italian football between Internazionale of Milan and Juventus of Turin...
fixture against Juve's bitter rivals Inter
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
on 18 April 2009.
Fulham
In summer 2011 Grygera still had one year left to run on his contract at Juventus but it was rescinded by mutual consent on 30 August 2011 and the following day he joined FulhamFulham 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...
.
International career
A former Czechoslovak youth international, Grygera played for the Czech RepublicCzech 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...
at 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...
, 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...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the Euro 2008. At the World Cup in 2006, Grygera's run and cross set up the opening goal for 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...
in the Czech's first game against the USA
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
which they won 3-0. He was a regular during 2010 World Cup qualifying
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The European zone of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw 53 teams competing for 13 places at the finals. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008, and ended on 18 November 2009. The qualification process saw the first competitive matches of...
, playing in 6 of the 10 qualifers but was not able to help the Czechs qualify for a second consecutive World Cup. As of October 2011, he has not represented his country since October 2009.