| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marek Matějovský | ||
| Date of birth | 20 December 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Brandýs nad Labem, Czechoslovakia | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Sparta Prague | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1986–1990 | Slavoj Stará Boleslav | ||
| 1990–1994 | Alfa Brandýs nad Labem | ||
| 1994–1999 | Mladá Boleslav | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1999–2001 | Mladá Boleslav | 16 | (1) |
| 2001–2003 | Jablonec | 6 | (0) |
| 2003–2008 | Mladá Boleslav | 127 | (9) |
| 2008–2010 | Reading | 51 | (2) |
| 2010– | Sparta Prague | 38 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2007– | Czech Republic | 15 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 June 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Marek Matějovský (Czech pronunciation: [ˈmarɛk ˈmacɛjofskiː]) (born 20 December 1981 in Brandýs nad Labem, Czechoslovakia) is a Czech footballer who currently plays for Sparta Prague in the Gambrinus liga and internationally for the Czech Republic. He is a central midfielder who can also play on either wing and as a defensive midfielder.
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Matějovský started his football career at the age of five with Slavoj Stará Boleslav, progressing to Alfa Brandýs nad Labem at the age of 13. After turning 18, he signed professional terms with Mladá Boleslav for the 1999–2000 season, who were then playing in the Czech 2. Liga. In the spring of 2001, he switched to Gambrinus liga team Jablonec, but returned to Mladá Boleslav in January 2003. After settling back in to the team, he helped them win promotion to the Gambrinus liga for the start of the 2004–05 season, where they remained for the rest of Matějovský's stay at the club. He was promoted to captain of Mladá Boleslav at the start of the 2005–06 season.
Matějovský's performances in the Czech Republic alerted big clubs elsewhere in Europe to his ability, and he was linked with moves to Liverpool, Hamburg and Steaua Bucharest.[1] However, it was announced on 7 January 2008 that Reading had signed Matějovský on a three-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee,[2][3] believed to be around £1.42million.[4]
Nick Hammond said, "Marek is primarily a central midfield player but he is also capable of playing in both wide positions or behind the strikers – he is a player we have been following for some time, and when the opportunity arose to sign him it was too good to turn down."[2] Brian McDermott kept an eye on him for roughly 18 months, and had seen him in action a number of times. He said "He's captain of his club, and has played all their games in the last three years except when he's been suspended. That's the type of guy he is."[5]
He made his debut for Reading on 19 January 2008 in a 2–0 home defeat to Manchester United, coming on as a 80th minute substitute for Bobby Convey.[6] His first start for Reading was in another 2–0 home defeat, this time to Bolton Wanderers on 2 February 2008.[7] Matějovský scored his first goal for Reading on 15 March 2008, with a spectacular 20-yard effort against Liverpool.[8]
Matějovský returned to the Czech Republic in 2010, joining Sparta Prague and was announced as the new club captain ahead of the 2011–12 Gambrinus liga, taking over from Tomáš Řepka.[9]
Matějovský has also been capped nine times by the Czech Republic national football team. Karel Brückner first called him up as a replacement for the injured David Jarolím for the Czech Republic's Euro 2008 qualifier against Wales on 2 September 2006,[10] but had to wait until 7 February 2007 to make his international debut as a 70th minute substitute in a friendly with Belgium, coming on for Tomáš Galásek and assisting the second goal in a 2–0 win.[1]
He scored his only international goal so far in the Czech Republic's 3–0 win over Germany in Munich, also hitting the post, to cement their place at Euro 2008.[1] He started the second and third group games at the Euro 2008 but was taken off with an injury against Turkey.
Matějovský married in the summer of 2007.[1] Outside football, he is also a keen ice hockey player.[1]
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