AC Sparta Praha

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"Sparta Praha" redirects here; for the ice hockey team, see HC Sparta Praha.

AC Sparta Praha

Full name

AC Sparta Praha fotbal, a.s.

Nickname(s)

Železná Sparta
(Iron Sparta)

Founded

1893

Ground

Toyota Arena,
Prague

Capacity

20,111

Chairman

Jozef Chovanec

Manager

Michal Bílek

League

Gambrinus Liga

2005-06

Gambrinus liga, 5th





Home colours





Away colours

AC Sparta Praha (English: Sparta Prague) is the most popular and most successful Czech football club and one of the most successful clubs in Central and Eastern Europe. Sparta was long the main source for the Czechoslovakia national football team and, after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic national football team, however lately this has ceased to be the case, as the best Czech players almost all now play in higher-paying foreign leagues. There is a number of outstanding players which played for the team in the history. Sparta plays at Prague's Toyota Arena (called Letná Stadium).

1 Brief history
2 Club symbols
3 Major trophies
4 Famous players
5 Current squad
- 5.1 2006–2007 transfers
6 Training camp
7 Popular culture
8 External links

[edit] Brief history

The club was founded in 1893. For the first time, in 1906, Sparta played in their typical dark red jerseys (one of club's symbols). Beginning from 1919, Sparta got its nickname "Iron Sparta". In 1975 it was the first (and last) time Sparta fell from 1st League.

Historical names:

1893 — Athletic Club Královské Vinohrady
1894 — Athletic Club Sparta
1948 — Athletic Club Sparta Bubeneč
1949 — Sokol Bratrství Sparta
1951 — Sparta ČKD Sokolovo
1953 — TJ Spartak Praha Sokolovo
1965 — TJ Sparta ČKD Praha
1990 — TJ Sparta Praha
1991 — AC Sparta Praha
1993 — AC Sparta Praha fotbal, a.s.

1893 - the club is founded on 16th november

The team in 1896

At the close of 1893, a small group of young people based around three brothers, Václav, Bohumil and Rudolf Rudl, had the idea of setting up a sports club. On the 16th November, the founders' meeting approved the club's articles of association and one month later, on the 17th December, the first annual general meeting took place. Soon after that, the Athletic Club Sparta came up with its tricolour, in which blue symbolises Europe, red is the symbol of the royal city, and the reasons for the yellow are not known any more.

1906 - donning the red jersey for the first time

At the very beginning of the club's football history, the players used to wear black jerseys with a big "S" on the front. They then played for two years in black-and-white striped jerseys, which they returned to, wearing them as a reserve strip, for two years in 1996. In 1906 the club president Dr. Petřík was in England where he saw the famous Arsenal play with their red jerseys and decided to bring one set to Praha. At that time he did not realise he was setting up one of the club's greatest traditions. Together with the red jerseys, Sparta players wear white shorts and black socks.

1919 - beginning of the "Iron Sparta" era

Shortly after World War I, a team was put together that triggered off the famous period of the twenties and thirties referred to as "Iron Sparta". A football league in Czechoslovakia was established in the mid-twenties and the club collected title after title. To this day the fans still recall the names of the players of that period with admiration: Peyer, Hojer, Perner, Káďa, Kolenatý, Červený. A few years later, some no less famous names appeared, such as Hochman, Burgr, Hajný, Šíma, Silný, Čtyřoký, Košťálek and in particular Oldřich Nejedlý, the top scorer at the 1934 World Cup. Shortly before this most famous era kicked off, Vlasta Burian, the man who later became the king of Czech comedians, played in goal for the club.

1927, 1935, 1964 - Central European Cup ( Mitropa Cup ) winners

The milestones of the first golden period of the club's history are two Central European Cup titles, which in the twenties and the thirties enjoyed the same recognition as that of today's Champions League. Sparta's three titles are definitely important milestones in the cup's history. After two triumphs in 1927 and 1935, the third came in 1964, at a time when the cup's importance was gradually falling in the light of other European cups.

1954 - an eleven year wait for the next Sparta title beginings

Golden periods took turns with years when Sparta fans only nostalgically remembered the "good old times". After substantial changes driven by the socialist regime, bringing frequent changes of the club's name rather than achievements to be proud of, the title in 1954 was the last one before a long period of misery. Only the great era of the team around Kvašňák in the nineteen-sixties brought back memories of the club's golden years.

1965, 1967 - return to the golden era, two titles won

The champions 1965

There are still many people who recollect the era of Kvašňák, Tichý and Mašek. Those were the days when Sparta hosted the biggest number of fans in its history, with the stadium at that time accommodating almost forty thousand. All three of the above-mentioned heroes were part of the national team that finished second at the 1962 World Cup in Chile.

1975 - first and last relegation, a black year for the club

For those who still remember it, 1975 still sends shivers down their spines. Up until then, Sparta was the only club that had never been relegated to the second division. In this year however, due to a number of circumstances, the team dropped to division two. The club passed its one-year test of loyalty with flying colours, with the crucial matches for the club's comeback to the elite being sold out and the proverbial joy returned to the grandstands.

1983 - a new glory era, 14 championship titles follow

Nevertheless, the feeling of breath-taking glory brought by a league title only returned to Letná in the early eighties. Built around Chovanec, Berger, Hašek, Skuhravý, and Griga, the team was virtually unbeatable and won one title after another. In 1983/1984, the team got as far as the UEFA Cup quarterfinal. In the early nineties, this successful era was continued by the next generation of players, such as Siegl, Horňák, Němeček, Frýdek, Němec, Kouba.

1992/1993 - Champions League Year Zero, Sparta reaches the semi-final

Sparta has accomplished a number of considerable achievements internationally. Historians still say the most glorious were the two Central European Cup titles in the period of "Iron Sparta". From a contemporary fan's point of view, the biggest achievement is probably Sparta's performance in "year zero" of the Champions League in 1992/1993. Sparta defeated Glasgow Rangers, then Olympique Marseilles and got to the semi-final group. Playing FC Barcelona, Dynamo Kiev and Benfica Lisbon, Sparta finished second. As opposed to today's system, only the group winner got to the final. Being second in the group, Sparta was unofficially Europe's third to fourth best team.

1997/2005 - UEFA Champions League participation

Sparta has been a regular participant in the UEFA Champions League, the most prestigious European competition, since 1997. The only exception was in 1998/1999 when the club didn't get past the qualification stage, losing to Dynamo Kiev on penalties. Sparta did qualify during the next three years, however, and in the 1999/2000 and 2001/2002 it won through to the quarter-final stages. In 1999/2000 it actually won its initial group under the management of Ivan Hašek, and was then third in the quarter-final group. In that group Sparta came up against FC Barcelona which went on to reach the semi-finals. In the 2001/2002 season Sparta was drawn against the eventual winners of both the European competitions during the course of its run. Feyenoord Rotterdam lost twice to Sparta in the champions league group stage and managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup which it went on to win. Sparta went on to meet Real Madrid in the quarter final that year. Sparta did not qualify for the group stage in 2002/2003, when it was beaten by the Belgium club Genk in the third round of qualifying. 2003/2004 saw Sparta take on two Italian giants. Initially, the club beat Lazio in the group stage, but after an initial draw Sparta failed to get into the quarter finals past AC Milan. The group stage in 2004/2005 did not work out at all well for Sparta. After drawing with Manchester United at the sold-out Toyota Arena in an even contest, the other matches were lost and the club finished last in the group.

1934, 1938, 1962, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2004 - Sparta, supplier to the national team

Sparta, usually along with Slavia, has always been a base for the national team; Sparta players contributed to the biggest achievements of the Czechoslovak and Czech national teams. It all started in 1934, when Oldřich Nejedlý was the top scorer at the World Cup in Rome; four years later, seven Sparta players were part of the national team at the World Cup in France. In 1962, Kvašňák and Tichý played for the "silver" team in Chile. In 1990 in Italy, where the national team got as far as the quarterfinal, the team's play was mainly created by Chovanec, Bílek, Hašek and other Sparta players, such as Skuhravý, who went on to became a star of the Italian league. Sparta players also contributed to the last big achievement of the already independent Czech Republic team in 1996. Kouba, Frýdek and Horňák returned to Letná from England with silver medals. On top of that, the team was coached by Dušan Uhrin, who had spent his best years at Sparta, and Pavel Novotný came to Sparta two years later. Sparta players also featured in more recent qualification and tournament games of the Czech national team. Miroslav Baranek, Tomáš Votava, Vratislav Lokvenc, Milan Fukal, Martin Hašek, Libor Sionko, Jiří Novotný, Petr Gabriel, Jaromír Blažek and the outstanding talent of Tomáš Rosický helped the team in its 2000 EURO campaign in Belgium and Holland. The next era culminating in the bronze medal in EURO 2004 in Portugal saw Sparta players leaving their unmistakable mark in the national team successes. Petr Čech, Zdeněk Grygera, Tomáš Hübschman, Jaromír Blažek and Karel Poborský helped Czech football to become recognised as being amongst the elite in Europe. Currently Sparta is one of only two teams in the domestic league which supplies players to the national side. It goes without saying that the club also supplies players to the country's various youth teams.

[edit] Club symbols

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Colours of Sparta

Supporters of AC Sparta. Derby AC Sparta-SK Slavia 2:1 (2006)

The name Sparta was inspired by the fighting spirit and courage of the people from the ancient city of Sparta. From the very beginning, the colours of Sparta were blue (symbolizing Europe), red (symbolizing the royal city), and yellow (together with red, the official colours of Prague). In 1906, one of the members of the committee brought (from his trip to England) jerseys of Arsenal London. From that time, Sparta has typically played in their red (or, to be more precise, dark red or maroon) colours. Another symbol of Sparta is the big "S" (Sparta); thus, Sparta and Slavia Prague are usually collectively called the Prague "S".

[edit] Major trophies

Mitropa Cup Winner (3 times): 1927, 1935, 1964
Czech Champion (9 times): 2005, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1995, 1994
Czechoslovakia´s Champion (24 times): 1993, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1985, 1984, 1967, 1965, 1954, 1952, 1948, 1946, 1944, 1939, 1938, 1936, 1932, 1927, 1926, 1922, 1919 and 1912.
Czech Football Cup Winner (3 times): 2006, 2004, 1996
Czechoslovakian Football Cup Winner (12 times): 1992, 1989, 1988, 1984, 1980, 1976, 1972, 1964, 1946, 1944, 1943, 1909

[edit] Famous players

Outstanding former Sparta players include:

[edit] Current squad

As of October 2, 2006:

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Ondřej Pávek
2	DF	Tomáš Řepka
3	DF	Milan Kopic
5	DF	Václav Drobný
6	MF	Tomáš Sivok (captain)
7	MF	Tomáš Kóňa
8	DF	Radoslav Zabavník
9	FW	Libor Došek
10	FW	Miroslav Slepička
11	MF	Daniel Kolář
12	FW	Jan Rezek
13	DF	Michal Hanek
14	MF	Pavel Horváth

No.	Position	Player
16	MF	Jan Šimák
17	MF	Ludovic Sylvestre
18	MF	Karol Kisel
19	MF	Marek Jungr
20	DF	Zdeněk Pospěch
21	FW	Tomáš Jun
22	DF	Jiří Homola
23	DF	Michal Kadlec
27	MF	Luboš Hušek
28	FW	Miroslav Matušovič
29	GK	Jaromír Blažek
30	FW	Mauro Lustrinelli
31	GK	Tomáš Grigar

[edit] 2006–2007 transfers

Dave Simpson (from Lombard-Pápa TFC)

Jan Rezek (from FC Viktoria Plzeň)

Pavel Horváth (from Vissel Kobe)

Luboš Hušek (on loan from FK Jablonec 97)

Out

Luboš Loučka (on loan to FK Jablonec 97)

Zbyněk Pospěch (rerturn from loan to FC Slovan Liberec)

Milan Pacanda (on loan to 1. FC Brno)

Zdeněk Zlámal (on loan to FC Tescoma Zlín)

Dave Simpson (on loan to SK Kladno)

Petr Lukáš (on loan to FK Teplice)

Martin Hašek (on loan to FK Marila Příbram)

[edit] Training camp

Interior of Toyota Arena at the start of a game, Nov 2002

Except Toyota Arena in Letná district - Sparta use a new soccer center in Strahov Stadium (the largest stadium in the world) whose space was rebuilt to 8 football fields (6 fields of standard sizes and 2 futsal).

[edit] Popular culture

The Czech movie Horem pádem (Up and Down) takes the culture of Sparta fandom as one of its subjects.

[edit] External links

UEFA Cup 2006-07

v • d • e

1. Gambrinus Liga, 2006-07
FC Baník Ostrava \| FK Mladá Boleslav \| 1. FC Brno \| SK Dynamo České Budějovice \| FC Viktoria Plzeň \| FK Jablonec 97 \| SK Kladno \| FC Slovan Liberec \| FK SIAD Most \| SK Sigma Olomouc \| SK Slavia Prague \| AC Sparta Prague \| FK Marila Příbram \| 1. FC Slovácko \| FK Teplice \| FC Tescoma Zlín edit