In Sports News this Monday: one of the greatest Czech soccer players ever Pavel Nedvěd makes his final appearance for Juventus; Sparta Prague secure a place in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League in their last game of the season, while Zlín are relegated; Bohemians 1905 win exclusive rights to the name Bohemians; and the French Open is a real washout with 13 of 20 Czech singles players going out in the first round.
Nedvěd rings time on career after final appearance for Juventus
Pavel Nedvěd, photo: CTK
One of the greatest Czech footballers of all time Pavel Nedvěd has played what appears to have been his last ever game. Juventus’s 2:0 home win over his previous club Lazio turned into a farewell party for the 36-year-old midfielder, who in eight seasons became a hero to Juve fans. Tributes have also been paid to Nedvěd in the Czech media, with many figures in the game highlighting the years of hard work that culminated in his being crowned European player of the year in 2003; after Josef Masopust he was only the second Czech to take one of soccer’s highest individual accolades.
There has been some speculation that the man from the small town of Skalná in west Bohemia could now sign a lucrative short-term deal with a club in the US or the Kuwait, though he himself said on Sunday his career was definitively over. He said he would now devote himself to his family, who had waited for him all these years. Nedvěd has made it clear he has no desire to go into management, but there is a possibility that he will remain involved in football in some way.
Sparta secure second spot while Zlín are second team to go down
Sparta Prague, photo: CTK
In the Czech football league, Sparta Prague secured second spot – and a place in the qualifying stages of the Champions League – with a 3:0 away win over Mladá Boleslav on Saturday in their final game of the season. Meanwhile, Zlín were relegated after a humiliating 6:1 defeat at Jablonec. Viktoria Žižkov are the other team going down, while Bohemians 1905 and Čáslav will be the new boys in the top flight next season.
Bohemians 1905 secure rights to name Bohemians
Skippy visits Ďolíček, photo: Kristýna Maková
As well as promotion Bohemians 1905 have won exclusive rights to the name Bohemians. First division club Bohemians Praha, previously known as Střížkov, have been ordered to stop using the title (and kangaroo logo) by the start of next season. The dispute arose after the original Bohemians went bankrupt four years ago, before being revived, as Bohemians 1905, by a fans’ organisation.
Liberec’s Keric top scorer in Czech league with 15 strikes
Andrej Keric, photo: CTK
Getting back to the end of season round-up for a moment, Andrej Keric of Slovan Liberec was the top scorer in the Czech league. The Croatian striker bagged 15 goals.
Poor showing for Czech singles players at French Open, with 13 of 20 knocked out in first round
Radek Štěpánek
This year’s French Open has been one of the worst Grand Slam tournaments for Czech tennis in the last five years, with 13 of the country’s 20 singles players going out in the opening round. The men’s number one Radek Štěpánek managed to reach the third, where he lost 1-6 6-7 3-6 to Croatia’s Marin Cilic. Meanwhile, the women’s number Iveta Benešová was defeated at the same stage 6-0 6-2 by Ana Ivanovic of Serbia. Their exits meant there were no Czech singles players left in the tournament by Friday night.
