It’s not long before “Western” Europe’s leagues swing back into action (the Czech league begins today!) so I felt it was about time I had another look at what’s happened in the world of Czech football over the summer.
Karel Bruckner left his job as Czech Republic coach after his side were knocked out in incredible fashion at Euro 2008. The Czech players were victims of a robbery in their own hotel (cash and three match tickets) and on the field as they were one of Turkey’s victims. 2-0 down with 15 minutes left Turkey somehow managed to score three! Despite the obvious defensive frailties you can’t help but feel that they really missed a player like Nedved (retired) and Rosicky (injured) to run the midfield.
Players that came out of the tournament with their reputations enhanced included the Czech’s right winger Sionko, who at 31 and playing in Copenhagen is unlikely to attract many bids from Europe’s elite. Sverkos, who scored the opening goal of Euro 2008 was linked to a move to the spectacularly excellently named Saturn. A fee was agreed with his club Banik Ostrava but the player opted against the move.
Bruckner has popped up as the new manager of Austria, who continue their trend of appointing ageing coaches. After considering the likes of Carlos Alberto, Klaus Toppmoller and Slavia manager Karel Jarolim the Czechs have opted for Petr Rada who will begin his international managerial career against Fabio Capello’s England.
A Czech player who is moving to Russia is giant striker Jan Koller who joins Jiri Jarosik at Krylia Sovetov Samara. Another famous Czech international Jiri Novotny, 38 has joined one of the most famous Czech sides Dukla Praha in the Druha Liga. As Novotny winds down his career, one of his former international teammates Radek Bejbl has called time on his. The former Slavia Praha and Atletico Madrid midfielder who starred for the Czechs in Euro 96 has announced his retirement
from football.
