Sparta Prague

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

Sparta Prague

Full name

AC Sparta Praha fotbal, a.s.

Nickname(s)

Železná Sparta
(Iron Sparta)

Founded

November 16, 1893

Ground

AXA Arena,
Prague
(Capacity 20,111)

Chairman

Jozef Chovanec

Manager

Vítězslav Lavička

League

Gambrinus liga

2007-08

Gambrinus liga, 2nd





Home colours





Away colours

Sparta Prague (Czech: AC Sparta Praha) is a top Czech football club.

It is the most successful club in the Czech Republic. Sparta was long the main source for 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 are a number of outstanding players who have played for the Sparta over the years. Sparta play at Prague's AXA Arena (called Letná Stadium).

1 Brief history
2 Club symbols
3 Major trophies
4 Famous players
5 Current squad
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 the club's symbols). Beginning from 1919, Sparta got its nickname "Iron Sparta". The only time that Sparta were relegated to a lower league was in 1975.

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.

[edit] Club symbols

Colours of Sparta

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 the London club Arsenal. 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 (10 times): 2007, 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 (5 times): 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004, 1996
Czechoslovak 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

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Tomáš Poštulka
2	DF	Tomáš Řepka
6	MF	David Limberský
7	MF	Tomáš Kóňa
8	DF	Andrew Hainault
9	FW	Libor Došek
10	FW	Miroslav Slepička
11	MF	Daniel Kolář
14	MF	Pavel Horváth
15	DF	Jiří Kladrubský
16	DF	Tomáš Sivok
18	MF	Karol Kisel

No.	Position	Player
19	DF	Petr Voříšek
20	MF	Ondřej Kúdela
22	MF	Martin Zeman
23	DF	Michal Kadlec
24	GK	Matúš Kozáčik
25	MF	Kamil Vacek
27	MF	Luboš Hušek
28	MF	Miroslav Matušovič
29	GK	Tomáš Grigar
30	FW	Marek Kulič
31	FW	Jiří Jeslínek
33	FW	Jan Holenda
--	MF	Patrik Berger

[edit] Training camp

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

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