AC SPARTA PRAHA

:''"Sparta Praha" redirects here; for the ice hockey team, see HC Sparta Praha.''
'AC Sparta Praha' (English: 'Sparta Prague') is a top Czech football club.
It is the most successful club in the Czech Republic 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 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'').

Contents

Brief history

Club symbols

Major trophies

Famous players

Current squad

2007–2008 transfers

Training camp

Popular culture

External links

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.

Club symbols

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" ('S'parta); thus, Sparta and Slavia Prague are usually collectively called the ''Prague "S"''.

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 (4 times): 2007, 2006, 2004, 1996

★ Czechoslovak Football Cup Winner (12 times): 1992, 1989, 1988, 1984, 1980, 1976, 1972, 1964, 1946, 1944, 1943, 1909

Famous players

Outstanding former Sparta players include:

★ Pavel Nedvěd

★ Petr Čech

★ Tomáš Rosický

★ Jan Koller

★ Karel Poborský

★ Ivan Hašek

★ Jan Berger

★ Tomáš Řepka

★ Oldřich Nejedlý

★ Andrej Kvašňák

★ Jozef Chovanec

★ Tomáš Skuhravý

★ Petr Gabriel

★ Jiří Novotný

★ Vratislav Lokvenc

★ Milan Fukal

★ Radoslav Kovac

★ Raymond Braine

★ Tomáš Sivok

Current squad

''As of August 20, 2007:''

2007–2008 transfers

'In'









'Out'

Training camp

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).

Popular culture

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

External links

★ Official website /

★ Official website fans

★ UEFA's Sparta site