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Vladimír Šmicer (Czech pronunciation: [ˈʃmɪtsɛr]; born 24 May 1973) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He started his senior career at Slavia Prague, the only Czech club he ever played for. In 1999, Šmicer moved to England where he played for Liverpool, winning multiple honours. He is perhaps best remembered at Liverpool for his long-range goal in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final victory against Milan. At Liverpool he also won an UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup treble in 2001 as well as the 2003 League Cup.
 Šmicer in 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Vladimír Šmicer | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 24 May 1973[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Děčín, Czechoslovakia | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2][1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1985–1987 | Kovostroj Děčín | ||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1992 | Slavia Prague | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 1992–1996 | Slavia Prague | 81 | (26) | ||||||||||||||
| 1996–1999 | Lens | 91 | (16) | ||||||||||||||
| 1999–2005 | Liverpool | 121 | (10) | ||||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Bordeaux | 28 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | Slavia Prague | 23 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 344 | (60) | |||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1993 | RCS | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 1994–2006 | Czech Republic | 80 | (27) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
He also notably played for French sides Lens, with whom he won the Ligue 1 title, and Bordeaux.
At international level, Šmicer played once for the Czechoslovak national side and 80 times for the Czech Republic. He retired from professional football in 2009.
Club career edit
Liverpool edit
Šmicer joined Liverpool for a fee of £4.2 million, recruited to fill the void left by the departure of Steve McManaman to Real Madrid. Upon arriving at Anfield in 1999, Šmicer was given the number 7 shirt, although he would later switch to number 11 after the arrival of Harry Kewell. When he left Liverpool in 2005, Šmicer said: "Just signing for Liverpool in itself was a dream because I supported them as a kid. It was a dream come true." He made his Liverpool debut in a match against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough Stadium[3] and scored his first Premier League goal in a 3–2 away victory against Watford.[4]
Although Šmicer was plagued with injury problems, he scored the last minute winner against Chelsea in 2002,[5] and a stunning volley against Borussia Dortmund[6]
Slavia Prague edit
Upon returning to Slavia Prague in 2007, Šmicer won the Personality of the League award at the Czech Footballer of the Year awards in 2008.[7] He ended his football career after draw 0–0 with Viktoria Plzeň on 9 November 2009, but made his farewell party on 11 May 2010.[8]
International career edit
Šmicer began his international career in 1993.[citation needed][clarification needed] At the Euro 2000, he scored both goals in the national team's only tournament victory, 2–0 against Denmark.[9] Šmicer did not participate in the 2006 FIFA World Cup due to a leg injury.[10]
Managerial career edit
Just one day after retiring from football, Šmicer became sports manager of the Czech national team, working alongside head coach Michal Bílek.[11][12]
Personal life edit
Šmicer stood for minor Czech party VIZE 2014 in the European Parliament election; his stated priority was to reduce obesity among children.[13] As a result of Šmicer's playing career, he can speak English and French apart from his native Czech.[14]
Career statistics edit
Club edit
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Czechoslovakia | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
| 1992–93 | Slavia Prague | First League | 21 | 9 | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Czech Republic | League | Czech Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||||
| 1993–94 | Slavia Prague | Gambrinus liga | 18 | 6 | - | - | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 1994–95 | 16 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | ||||
| 1995–96 | 28 | 9 | 4 | 2 | - | - | 11 | 1 | 43 | 12 | ||
| France | League | Coupe de France | Coupe de la Ligue | Europe | Total | |||||||
| 1996–97 | Lens | Division 1 | 33 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 38 | 6 |
| 1997–98 | 28 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 43 | 11 | ||
| 1998–99 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 35 | 4 | ||
| England | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||||
| 1999–2000 | Liverpool | Premier League | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
| 2000–01 | 27 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 49 | 7 | ||
| 2001–02 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 35 | 5 | ||
| 2002–03 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 33 | 1 | ||
| 2003–04 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 4 | ||
| 2004–05 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 16 | 1 | ||
| France | League | Coupe de France | Coupe de la Ligue | Europe | Total | |||||||
| 2005–06 | Bordeaux | Ligue 1 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 27 | 3 |
| 2006–07 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Czech Republic | League | Czech Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||||
| 2007–08 | Slavia Prague | Gambrinus liga | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | 17 | 2 |
| 2008–09 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | 15 | 3 | ||
| 2009–10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Total | Czechoslovakia | 21 | 9 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| Czech Republic | 85 | 23 | 24 | 2 | ||||||||
| France | 119 | 19 | 8 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 150 | 24 | ||
| England | 121 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 37 | 3 | 183 | 19 | ||
| Career total | 346 | 61 | 71 | 7 | ||||||||
International goals edit
- Scores and results list the Czech Republic's goal tally first.[15]
| # | Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 19 June 1996 |  Russia |
3–3 | Draw | UEFA Euro 1996 |
| 2. | 18 September 1996 |  Malta |
6–0 | Win | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualifier |
| 3. | 26 August 1997 |  Slovakia |
1–2 | Loss | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualifier |
| 4. | 6 September 1997 |  Faroe Islands |
2–0 | Win | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualifier |
| 5. | 11 October 1997 | Slovakia |
3–0 | Win | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualifier |
| 6. | 13 December 1997 |  South Africa |
2–2 | Draw | 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 7. | |||||
| 8. | 17 December 1997 |  United Arab Emirates |
6–1 | Win | 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 9. | |||||
| 10. | |||||
| 11. | 25 March 1998 |  Republic of Ireland |
2–1 | Win | Friendly |
| 12. | 22 April 1998 |  Slovenia |
3–1 | Win | Friendly |
| 13. | 21 May 1998 |  Paraguay |
1–0 | Win | Kirin Cup |
| 14. | 6 September 1998 | Faroe Islands |
1–0 | Win | UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 15. | 10 October 1998 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
3–1 | Win | UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 16. | 31 March 1999 |  Scotland |
2–1 | Win | UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 17. | 21 June 2000 |  Denmark |
2–0 | Win | UEFA Euro 2000 |
| 18. | |||||
| 19. | 13 February 2002 |  Cyprus |
4–3 | Win | Friendly |
| 20. | 18 May 2002 |  Italy |
1–0 | Win | Friendly |
| 21. | 6 September 2002 |  Yugoslavia |
5–0 | Win | Friendly |
| 22. | 30 April 2003 |  Turkey |
4–0 | Win | Friendly |
| 23. | 11 June 2003 |  Moldova |
5–0 | Win | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying |
| 24. | 6 September 2003 |  Belarus |
3–1 | Win | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying |
| 25. | 19 June 2004 |  Netherlands |
3–2 | Win | UEFA Euro 2004 |
| 26. | 4 June 2005 |  Andorra |
8–1 | Win | 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifier |
| 27. | 12 November 2005 |  Norway |
1–0 | Win | 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifier |
Honours edit
Slavia Prague
Lens
Liverpool
- FA Cup: 2000–01
- Football League Cup: 2000–01,[16] 2002–03[17]
- UEFA Champions League: 2004–05
- UEFA Cup: 2000–01
Bordeaux
- Coupe de la Ligue: 2006–07
Czech Republic
- UEFA European Football Championship runner-up: 1996
References edit
- ^ a b "Vladimír Šmicer: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "Vladimír Šmicer". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 3 April 2005. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "Sheffield Wednesday 1 - 2 Liverpool". LFC History. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ "Reds end brave Watford fight". BBC News. 15 January 2000. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- ^ "Smicer's late strike takes 'Pool to the top". Irish Examiner. 25 March 2002. Archived from the original on 18 January 2005. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
- ^ "Liverpool cruise through". BBC Sport. 30 October 2001. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
- ^ "Historie ankety Fotbalista roku". Football Association of the Czech Republic (in Czech). Archived from the original on 18 July 2023.
- ^ Novák, Jaromír (11 May 2010). "Fotbalový Eden slavil: Šmicerovu benefici ozdobilo dvanáct gólů". Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech).
- ^ "Republic Czech out". BBC Sport. BBC. 22 June 2000. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
- ^ "Smicer ruled out of Czech squad". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
- ^ "Šmicer named Czech national team manager". USA Today. 10 November 2009. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012.
- ^ "Smicer given Czech Republic role". BBC Sport. BBC. 10 November 2009.
- ^ "Euro elections: Footballer Smicer taking on Europe". BBC. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
- ^ Mylnařová, Alexandra (27 January 2022). "Vladimír Šmicer: Rodiče mi dali dva roky, abych ukázal, co ve fotbale umím". Czech Radio (in Czech).
- ^ "Vladimir Smicer - International Appearances". Retrieved 28 February 2015.
- ^ "Blues shot down as Liverpool lift cup". BBC Sport. 25 February 2001. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ "Liverpool lift Worthington Cup". BBC Sport. 2 March 2003. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
External links edit
- Vladimír Šmicer – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Vladimír Šmicer – UEFA competition record (archive)
- Vladimír Šmicer at Premier League
- Player profile at LFChistory.net
- Vladimír Šmicer at FAČR (also at old FAČR website) (in Czech)
- Vladimír Šmicer at Soccerbase
- Profile and pictures on Sitercl.com
