The Greatest Czech Footballers
The 5 Greatest ever Czech Footballers
Having only gained independence in 1993, the Czech national team have achieved a lot in international football in quite a short period of time., as evidenced by their 1 Silver and 2 Bronze medals since then.
Currently ranked 40th in the world by FIFA; The Czech nation of ~10 million people as of 2019 have still managed to produce some of the most talented footballers of the modern game whilst also succeeding collectively on the biggest stage.
Here are 5 of their best:
Jan Koller
Position: Striker
Caps: 91
Goals: 55
The Czech Republic’s highest goalscorer of all time, Jan Koller is a national icon. His senior international debut came in February 1999 at 25-years old, a bit old relative to the ages debuts tend to be made. Koller was in his fifth season as a pro, and in his third for Belgian side Lokeren specifically. The striker ended up scoring the winner on his debut, a 1-0 win vs Belgium.
After incredibly scoring 9 goals in his first 10 caps, Koller became a starting member of the senior team instantaneously. This led to a call-up for Euro 2000. Playing in a two-man strike partnership alongside playmaker Vladimir Šmicer, Koller started all 3 Czech games as his side exited the group stages in an underwhelming fashion. After Euro 2000, Koller continued to feature for the national side, scoring 12 goals in 26 caps between 2001 and 2003.
The marksman was called up for Euro 2004 as a result. Once again playing as a striker in a 4-4-2, Koller started 4 from his nation’s 5 games as the Czech’s reached the SFs, earning a bronze medal for their efforts. The striker scored 2 goals during the tournament; the first being the opening goal in the thrilling 3-2 win vs Holland in the group and the second another opening goal in the 3-0 win vs Denmark in the QFs.
Football Files: Jan Koller!
By 2005, Koller was already the Czech’s highest goalscorer of all time. Due to his experience and presence, the striker’s place in the 2006 World Cup squad was all but guaranteed. At the WC, Koller only played in the Czech’s first game of the tournament yet still scored in the game, netting the opening goal (again) in a 3-0 thrashing of the United States. His side ended up crashing out in the group stages, unfortunately.
Koller’s last major international tournament was Euro 2008. Lined up as a sole striker in a 4-3-3, the marksman played all 3 of his nation’s games, scoring once as the Republic once again faltered in the group stage. His last cap came in September 2009 at the age of 35. Having scored in 3 international tournaments in his decade-long international career, Koller achieved a lot in a short period of time.
Nicknamed ‘Dino’ due to his stature of 6 feet and 8 inches, Koller dominated opposition defenders in the air throughout his career. His heading ability was second to none and his instinct as a poacher seemed inherent at times. The striker was a personification of a target man.
Petr Čech
Position: Goalkeeper
Caps: 124
The Czech Republic's most capped player of all time, Petr Čech is undoubtedly his nation's greatest ever goalkeeper as well as one of the greatest goalkeepers of the 21st century. The shot-stopper's senior international debut came in February 2002 at 19-years old in Čech's third season as a pro, and his first at Czech side Sparta Prague. Later that year, Čech announced himself on the world stage with a dominant performance in the final of the U-21 European Championships, saving three penalties to confirm the Czech Republic's first triumph in a major international youth tournament.
After that world-class display, Čech became the senior team's starting ‘keeper. In the lead up to Euro 2004, the shot-stopper racked up 15 caps in 2 years; these ensured he was called to represent his country at the Euros. At the tournament, Čech played 4 from 5 of his nation's games, keeping 1 clean sheet as the Czechs reached the semifinals and earned a bronze medal for their efforts. Čech's stellar displays at the competition were rewarded with him being named goalkeeper of the tournament.
His consistent excellence for the national team in addition to his high-profile move to Chelsea in 2004/05 ensured Čech remained ever-present for his homeland after 2004. The 2006 World Cup was the Czech’s first-ever appearance at the tournament, and Čech was called up as a starter. At the ’06 WC, Čech started all 3 of the Czech’s games, keeping one clean sheet as the team exited in the group stages in a disappointing fashion.
At Euro 2008, Čech started 3 of his nation's games (1 clean sheet) as they crashed out of the group stages in dramatic fashion. The shot-stopper was partly at fault, conceding 3 in the last 15 minutes of a 3-2 defeat vs Turkey in the final group game, with his mistake from a cross leading to Turkey's equalizer. Euro 2012 was Čech's last major international tournament. He started all 4 of his nation's games, captaining the team in two games and keeping one clean sheet as the Czech's reached the quarterfinals.
His last cap came in June 2016 at 34-years old, after a 14-year international career. Standing at 6 feet and 5 inches, Čech naturally had presence and a great reach as a goalkeeper. His reflexes, anticipation and positioning were all also world-class in his prime. Čech also gained a reputation for saving penalties in big games i.e the 2012 Champions League final. Despite a serious head injury he suffered in 2006, Čech managed to play 12 more seasons as a pro at the highest level. A true professional.
Vladimír Šmicer
Position: Attacking midfielder
Caps: 81
Goals: 27
An underrated midfielder in recent times, Vladimir Šmicer scored important goals for both club and country during an esteemed playing career. His senior international debut came in October 1993 at the age of 19. Šmicer was then in his second season as a pro for Czech side Slavia Prague. He then wasn’t called up again for two years, with his next cap coming in November 1995. Despite only 3 caps to his name at the time, Šmicer was called up to represent his country at Euro 1996.
At Euro ’96, Šmicer played 5 out of his nation’s 6 games as the Czechs made it to the finals and earned a silver medal in the process. The playmaker played as either a forward in a 3-4-3, a striker in a 3-5-2 or a central midfielder in an avant-garde 3-3-3-1 formation. Coming off the bench in a group stage game vs Russia, Šmicer scored the equalizing third goal of a thrilling 3-3 draw between the two sides.
His performance at the Euros solidified his place in the national team, meaning Šmicer was called up for the 1997 Confederations Cup soon after. Playing on the flanks of a 4-5-1 or a 4-4-2, the playmaker had a fantastic tournament with 5 goals in his 5 starts in the competition. This included a 30-minute hat-trick vs UAE. The Czechs ended up with a bronze medal for their efforts in the competition as they reached the SFs. Šmicer was named in the team of the tournament as a result of his stellar displays.
The midfielder continued to be ever-present for his country in the new century, getting called up for Euro 2000 due to his experience and ability to change a game. Playing in a two-man strike partnership with Jan Koller in a 4-4-2, Šmicer started all 3 of his homeland’s games at the Euros as the Czechs exited the group stages in an underwhelming fashion. Šmicer shone individually though, scoring a game-winning brace vs Denmark in a 2-0 win.
The playmaker’s last major international tournament was Euro 2004. Playing either in central midfield or on the flanks of a 4-4-2, Šmicer played 3 of his nation’s 5 games as they reached another SF, earning another bronze medal. He also scored the winning goal in a thrilling 3-2 game vs Holland in the group stages. Due to injury, Šmicer was unable to play at the 2006 World Cup. His last cap came in November 2005 at 32-years old.
A player for the big moments, Šmicer was capable of changing games through either his passing or shooting. The midfielder’s long-range shots and volleys were especially dangerous, as well as his ability from set-pieces.
Pavel Nevděd
Position: Attacking Midfielder / Winger
Caps: 91
Goals: 18
The Czech Republic's most talented player of all-time, Pavel Nevděd in his pomp was an artist who seemed unstoppable at times. His senior international debut came in June 1994 at 21-years old; Nevděd was in his third season as a pro at the time, and his second at Czech side Sparta Prague. A rotation member of the national side initially; Nevděd only garnered 4 caps in 2 years after his debut, but was called up to the Czech’s Euro ’96 squad regardless.
At Euro ’96, Nevděd started 5 out of the Czech’s 6 games at the tournament as the Central European nation reached their first major international final, eventually losing to Germany 2-1. Playing either as a left-midfielder in a 3-4-3 or as a central midfielder in a 3-3-3-1 formation, the playmaker dazzled on the big stage, opening the scoring in a vital group stage game vs Italy, which the Czech’s won 2-1 to qualify from their group. His Euro ’96 performance ensured his place in the squad for the Confederations Cup the next year.
At the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup, Nevděd started all 5 of his nation’s games, playing on the flanks of a 4-5-1, 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 as well as scoring two goals as the Czech’s clinched bronze. The Euro ’96 silver and Confederations Cup bronze were firsts for the Czech Republic in major international tournaments. By Euro 2000, Nevděd was a nailed-on starter for the national team and a household name in football, as he was then into his fourth season as Italian club Lazio’s maestro-in-chief.
Playing in central midfield of a 3-5-2, The midfielder started all 3 of the Czech’s games at Euro 2000 as they crashed out of the group stages in disappointing fashion. After the tournament, Nevděd was handed the captaincy. At Euro 2004, Nevděd started 4 out his nation’s 5 games as they reached the semifinals, earning bronze once again at the international stage. On the left flank of a 4-4-2 with the captain’s armband, Nevděd put in a man of the match performance vs Holland in the group stage, culminating in a 3-2 Czech Republic win.
His Euro 2004 performance earned him a place in the team of the tournament. Nevděd initially retired from the national team after Euro 2004, but was persuaded to come back for the 2006 World Cup, his nation’s first. The maestro started all 3 of the Czech’s games at the WC as they crashed out in the group stages. His last cap came in August 2006 at the age of 34.
Nicknamed ‘Czech Fury’ by Italian fans, Nevděd was a technically astute player capable of the spectacular with both feet. He possessed extraordinary power in his shots, while his pace was also adequate enough to power past the opposition. A fine dribbler as well, the Czech was the complete package as an attacking player. Nevděd won the 2003 Ballon d'Or, becoming only the second Czech footballer to win the accolade.
Milan Baros
Position: Striker
Caps: 93
Goals: 41
A player whose peak on the world stage was short yet significant, Milan Baros will always be remembered for almost dragging his homeland to European success in 2004 via his goals. Baros’ senior international debut came in April 2001 vs Belgium in a friendly where he ended up scoring the equalizing goal as the game finished 1-1. At the time, Baros was 19-years old and in his third season as a pro at Czech side Banik Ostrava. The marksman then scored again in his second game for the national side, a 3-1 win vs N. Ireland.
With 4 goals in his first 8 caps, Baros immediately cemented his starting place in the Czech side. By Euro 2004, the striker had scored 12 goals in 21 caps for his homeland, ensuring his place in the Euros squad. At the Euros, Baros played all 5 of his nation’s games (4 starts) as the Czechs reached the SFs, finishing with a bronze medal. Playing in a two-man strike partnership alongside the legendary Jan Koller in a 4-4-2, Baros ended up as the tournament’s top scorer with 5 goals. 3 came in the group stages and 2 in the knockout rounds.
Along with the golden boot, his stellar performances earned him a place in the Euros team of the tournament. Afterwards, Baros continued to score prolifically for his country, as evidenced by his 9 goals in 19 caps in 2005 and 2006. While the striker was called up for the 2006 World Cup, injury affected his preparation. This led to Baros only starting 1 game at the tournament as the Czech’s exited in the group stages.
Baros’ last major international tournament was Euro 2008. At the Euros, Baros only played once as the Czech’s once again crashed out in the group stages, with the striker not scoring at another major tournament. His last cap came in June 2012 at 31-years old. A quick and strong striker with a good frame, Baros had all the physical attributes to be world-class. He also possessed a good first touch and underrated positioning as well. Baros is the Czech Republic’s second highest scorer of all-time.
Honorable Mentions:
Tomáš Rosický, Marek Jankulovski, Karel Poborský and Jaroslav Plašil.
