Tomáš Rosický

Tomáš Rosický
Personal information
Full name	Tomáš Rosický
Date of birth	4 October 1980 (1980-10-04) (age 29)
Place of birth	Prague, Czechoslovakia
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Playing position	Winger/Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club	Arsenal
Number	7
Youth clubs
1986–1988 1988–1998	ČKD Kompresory Praha Sparta Prague
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1998–2001 2001–2006 2006–	Sparta Prague Borussia Dortmund Arsenal	041 0(8) 149 (19) 044 0(9)
National team2
1999 2000–	Czech Republic U21 Czech Republic	002 0(0) 067 (18)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:42, 6 December 2008 (UTC). 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 15:52, 1 November 2008 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Tomáš Rosický (pronounced [ˈto̞.maːʃ ˈro̞.sɪtsˌkiː] (Tom-aash Ro-sits-ski); born 4 October 1980 in Prague) is a Czech international football player, who currently plays his club football for the English Premier League side Arsenal. He is the brother of Jiří Rosický.

Club career

An attacking midfielder nicknamed 'the Little Mozart', Rosický is known for his phenomenal skill and his ability to orchestrate the midfield with good passing and the composure to keep the ball in the final third and also for his proneness to injuries.

Borussia Dortmund

He cost Borussia Dortmund £18 million, a Bundesliga record when he arrived from Sparta Prague in 2001.^[2] Rosický's reputation grew during his time at Dortmund, and during the latter stages of his spell at the club, Dortmund were in substantial financial trouble and could not hold onto him despite recognising his influence on the team. Press reports linked him with big money transfers to Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal. Rosický expressed a desire for Dortmund to allow him to leave at the end of the 2005–06 season, and the arrival of South African Steven Pienaar was made in preparation for Rosický's departure.

Arsenal

2006–07 season

On 23 May 2006, Arsenal confirmed that they had signed Rosický on a long-term contract. The transfer fee was undisclosed but was rumoured to be in the region of £6.8 million due to a get-out clause in his contract at Borussia Dortmund.^[2][3] Rosický took over the number 7 shirt which was formerly worn by Frenchman Robert Pirès.

On 8 August 2006, Rosický made his competitive debut for Arsenal in their first leg Champions League third round qualifier against Dinamo Zagreb, playing on the left-wing. On 13 September, Rosický scored his first goal for Arsenal in an away game at Hamburg SV, with a spectacular long-range effort from 30 yards.^[4] He scored his first Premiership goal against Wigan Athletic on 11 February 2007. Rosický was not in his goalscoring form in the 2006–07 season, only hitting the net three times in the Premiership all season.

Rosický is preferred as a left-winger at Arsenal, as some of his play resembles his predecessor of his position, Robert Pirès. While still at an early stage in his career, Tomáš has gained the nickname(s) of "The Little Mozart" and "The Mozart of Football" for his ability to orchestrate play on the pitch.^[5]

2007–08 season

Rosický again started the 2007–08 season deployed as a left midfielder. On 29 August he scored his first competitive goal of the season in a game against his former club Sparta Prague, scoring just after 7 minutes with a low drive from inside the box, following good work from Theo Walcott.^[6] Rosický kept up his good form while playing against Portsmouth F.C. to score his first Premier League goal of the season with a fierce shot from an acute angle. After recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in the Sevilla game, Rosicky made his comeback against Bolton Wanderers in a Premier League match. He combined well with Theo Walcott to score with a neat finish from six yards out, then once again against Wigan Athletic after being put clean through by Nicklas Bendtner. He netted again in an away game at Middlesbrough in which Arsenal lost 2–1 and was on the scoresheet again against Everton with a low drive from the edge of the box in a 4–1 victory. He again scored in the away match against Fulham from six yards out after being set up by Eduardo. The match ended in a 3–0 victory for Arsenal.

Arsenal fans last saw the Czech midfielder when he left the pitch after nine minutes of the FA Cup tie with Newcastle at Emirates Stadium on January 26. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger later described the injury as "not a serious one but a strange one". However, it sidelined him for the remainder of the season and kept him out of the summer tournament, Euro 2008. According to Sky Sports Rosický will miss the start of the 2008/2009 season after undergoing knee surgery. The niggling injuries have curtailed his Arsenal career but he hoped to be back between September and October.^[7]

2008–09 season

After missing the EURO 2008 Championships through injury, Rosicky was expected to return to action in September originally, but on 2 October 2008, Arsene Wenger gave an update on his injury confirming they have 'done well' if he plays again before the new year.^[8]

On 11 November 2008 Arsenal F.C released the following statement- '"Tomas Rosicky yesterday underwent routine revision surgery in Germany. The operation went as planned and Tomas will now spend at least a few weeks convalescing in Germany. Thereafter he will follow a tailored rehabilitation progamme devised by our medical team."

International career

Rosický made his international debut in 2000 aged 19, against the Republic of Ireland. He played for his country at Euro 2000 and Euro 2004 and helped the side qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Rosický shone for his country in the group stages of the qualification campaign, scoring several goals from the penalty spot and setting up Milan Baroš and Jan Koller in particular with accurate and precise passing. He also scored the winning goal in the second leg of the Czech Republic's play-off against Norway, to ensure qualification for the finals.

In the 2006 World Cup finals, Rosický scored two goals in the Czech Republic's 3–0 victory over the United States in their opening match, on 12 June 2006. The Czech Republic went out at the World Cup in the group stages, with Rosický forced to move into the attack after injuries to both of the country's star strikers, Jan Koller and Milan Baroš.

At the beginning of the 2006–07 season, Rosický was made captain of the Czech Republic national side, replacing the retiring Pavel Nedvěd which he has taken up very well, greatly helping the Czech Republic qualify for Euro 2008.

Rosický missed Euro 2008 due to injury.

Honours

With Sparta Praha

Winner

• • Czech Liga 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01

With Borussia Dortmund

• Winner
  • Bundesliga: 2001-02

• Runner-up
  • UEFA Cup: 2001-02

With Arsenal

• Runner-up
  • League Cup: 2007

• Individual
• Czech Runner Up Player of the Year: 2005
• Czech Player of the Year: 2001, 2002, 2007
• Nominee for the ‘FIFA World Player of the Year’ award: 2006

Club career statistics

(correct as of 27 January 2008)

References

External links

• Official website
• Tomáš Rosický's career timeline and detailed statistics
• Tomáš Rosický's statistics at Football Association of the Czech Republic webpage
• Tomáš Rosický career stats at Soccerbase
• Profile at Arsenal.com

Czech Republic squad – UEFA Euro 2000 1 Srníček • 2 Řepka • 3 Látal • 4 Nedvěd • 5 Fukal • 6 Vlček • 7 Němec • 8 Poborský • 9 Kuka • 10 Koller • 11 Rosický • 12 Lokvenc • 13 Bejbl • 14 Horváth • 15 Jankulovski • 16 Maier • 17 Šmicer • 18 Novotný • 19 Rada • 20 Berger • 21 Gabriel • 22 Blažek • Coach: Chovanec

Czech Republic squad – UEFA Euro 2004 semi-finalists 1 Čech • 2 Grygera • 3 Mareš • 4 Galásek • 5 Bolf • 6 Jankulovski • 7 Šmicer • 8 Poborský • 9 Koller • 10 Rosický • 11 Nedvěd • 12 Lokvenc • 13 Jiránek • 14 Vachoušek • 15 Baroš • 16 Blažek • 17 Hübschman • 18 Heinz • 19 Týce • 20 Plašil • 21 Ujfaluši • 22 Rozehnal • 23 Kinský • Coach: Brückner

Czech Republic squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Čech • 2 Grygera • 3 Mareš • 4 Galásek • 5 Kováč • 6 Jankulovski • 7 Sionko • 8 Poborský • 9 Koller • 10 Rosický • 11 Nedvěd • 12 Lokvenc • 13 Jiránek • 14 Jarolím • 15 Baroš • 16 Blažek • 17 Štajner • 18 Heinz • 19 Polák • 20 Plašil • 21 Ujfaluši • 22 Rozehnal • 23 Kinský • Coach: Brückner