Wikipedia

Karel Kula

Karel Kula (born 10 August 1963) is a Czech local politician and former football player and manager. He played as a midfielder and was a general manager of MFK Karviná and FK Fotbal Třinec. In 2023, he became the mayor of Český Těšín.

Karel Kula
Personal information
Date of birth (1963-08-10) 10 August 1963 (age 61)
Place of birth Třinec, Czechoslovakia
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Český Těšín
Železárny Třinec
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1981–1991 Baník Ostrava 188 (25)
1982–1984 → Dukla Banská Bystrica (loan) 19 (0)
1991–1992 Stuttgarter Kickers 28 (6)
1992–1995 SG Wattenscheid 09 59 (3)
1995–1996 Železárny Třinec 39 (1)
1997–1998 Baník Ostrava 21 (0)
International career
1985–1992 Czechoslovakia 40 (5)
Managerial career
2006–2008 Baník Ostrava (assistant)
2009–2010 FK Fotbal Třinec (assistant)
2010–2012 Karviná
2013–2014 FK Fotbal Třinec
2015–2016 FK Fotbal Třinec
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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After making his professional debut at the age of 18 for FC Baník Ostrava, with a two-year loan during his spell at the club, Kula played more than 200 official appearances with the club. He won the Czechoslovak Cup with Baník in 2001.[1] At 28 years old, Kula was allowed to leave the country, spending the next four years in Germany, three of those with SG Wattenscheid 09. Although he made his Bundesliga debut with Stuttgarter Kickers in the 1991–92 season, his six league goals (third in the team) were not enough to prevent relegation (in 17th position). At the age of 32, Kula returned to his country, now the Czech Republic. After two years with SK Železárny Třinec, he ended his career with Baník Ostrava in 1998.[citation needed]

Together with his twin brother, Vlastimil, Kula played for the youth national teams of Czechoslovakia including the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship.[2] He debuted for the senior squad against Sweden in June 1985.[2] The following year, in May 1986, Kula scored his first goal during a friendly match against Iceland.[2]

Post-playing career

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Kula worked as assistant manager for Baník Ostrava from 2006 until 2008[3] and in the same role at FK Fotbal Třinec.[when?] He became head coach of Karviná in 2010.[4] In March 2012, Kula was replaced as manager of Karviná by assistant Marek Kalivoda.[5] He returned to FK Fotbal Třinec for the 2013–14 season as general manager; his successor was Marek Kalivoda.[6]

Kula became chairman of Moravian-Silesian Regional Football Association in February 2015[7] and mayor of Český Těšín in March 2023.[8]

Personal life

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Kula is married to a woman named Ivana Lipková,[9] with whom he has two daughters.[10] He spends his free time regularly young training footballers in Třinec.[11]

Career statistics

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International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[12]
National team Year Apps Goals
Czechoslovakia 1985 5 0
1986 8 3
1987 7 0
1988 4 0
1990 4 0
1991 8 2
1992 4 0
Total 40 5
Scores and results list Czechoslovakia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kula goal.
List of international goals scored by Karel Kula
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 29 May 1986 Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland   Iceland 1–0 2–1 Friendly [13]
2 10 August 1986 Western Sydney Stadium, Parramatta, Australia   Australia 1–0 3–0 Friendly [14]
3 15 October 1986 Stadion Za Lužánkami, Brno, Czechoslovakia   Finland 3–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 1988 qualification [15]
4 6 February 1991 Western Sydney Stadium, Parramatta, Australia   Australia 1–0 2–0 Friendly [16]
5 16 October 1991 Andrův stadion, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia   Albania 1–0 2–1 UEFA Euro 1992 qualification [17]

References

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  1. ^ "Baník Ostrava profile". Baník Ostrava. Archived from the original on 24 June 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  2. ^ a b c Nohavica, Jakub (10 August 2023). "Bývalý reprezentant a opora Baníku Ostrava Karel Kula slaví šedesátku". Deník (in Czech). Vltava Labe Media. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Kula je u mužů dříve, než sám čekal". Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech). Mafra. 22 June 2006. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Karel Kula". Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech). Mafra. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Karel Kula byl odvolán od týmu Karviné". Deník (in Czech). Vltava Labe Media. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Kalivoda bude trenérem Třince". Deník (in Czech). Vltava Labe Media. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  7. ^ Uher, Aleš (24 February 2015). "Český Těšín má nového starostu. Rozhodli o tom v pondělí odpoledne". Deník (in Czech). Vltava Labe Media. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Český Těšín má nového starostu. Rozhodli o tom v pondělí odpoledne". Deník (in Czech). Vltava Labe Media. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  9. ^ Uher, Aleš (11 August 2008). "Přestup Karla Kuly". Deník (in Czech). Vltava Labe Media. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  10. ^ Uher, Aleš (6 October 2007). "Kula: Můj víkend s fotbalem". Deník (in Czech). Vltava Labe Media. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  11. ^ Zoubek, Ondřej (10 August 2023). "Velebil ho Nohavica, teď je z legendy Baníku starosta. Rád jsem v běhu, tvrdí Kula". Aktualně.cz (in Czech). Economia. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Karel Kula". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Iceland vs. Czechoslovakia". National Football Teams. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Australia vs. Czechoslovakia". National Football Teams. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Czechoslovakia vs. Finland". National Football Teams. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Australia vs. Czechoslovakia". National Football Teams. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Czechoslovakia vs. Albania". National Football Teams. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
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