Poborský ends Czech career
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Article summary
Czech Republic midfield player Karel Poborský has retired from international football at the age of 34 and following a record 118 appearances for his country.
Article body
Czech Republic midfielder Karel Poborský has retired from international football after a record 118 appearances. Poborský enjoyed 12 successful years in the Czech side, helping them to the final of EURO '96™ as well as to the FIFA World Cup for the first time this summer.
Mainstay
Poborský has been a mainstay for his country since independence. He played in the Czech Republic's first match against Turkey in February 1994; he was involved in the squad that reached the UEFA EURO 2004™ semi-finals; and he collected his final cap in the loss to Italy in Germany last month.
Player of the Year
The 34-year-old had shot to fame with a superb chipped winner, one of eight international goals, against Portugal in the EURO '96™ quarter-finals. He was duly voted Czech Player of the Year and earned a transfer to Manchester United FC that summer. Poborský was unable to settle at Old Trafford, however, with David Beckham providing stiff competition for his preferred right-midfield slot, so he moved to SL Benfica in 1998. Two and a half happy seasons followed in Portugal.
New challenge
Then came 18 months in Italy with S.S. Lazio before he returned home to AC Sparta Praha, rivals of his former team SK Slavia Praha. He contributed to Sparta winning Czech titles in 2003 and 2005. A rift with coach Jaroslav Hrebík then prompted his decision to join SK Dynamo České Budějovice where he had begun his career. Poborský, as chairman, guided the club back to the top flight last season and he will play for them this campaign before quitting the game.
Koller stays
Poborský is the only Czech Republic player to have announced his retirement since the World Cup. Question marks remain over the futures of captain Tomáš Galásek and Pavel Nedvěd, who rejoined the squad to help his country win their qualifying play-off against Norway. The rest of the group, including 33-year-old forward Jan Koller, have made themselves available to coach Karel Brückner as he turns his attention towards UEFA EURO 2008™ qualification. Heart of Midlothian FC midfielder Rudolf Skácel could therefore be the only new face for the friendly against Serbia on 16 August.
