Smarda retraces his steps

Midfield player Michal Smarda has returned to SK Hradec Králové after a six-year absence.

New deal
The 31-year-old has signed a three-year deal with the club after joining the struggling 1. liga side from FK Viktoria Zizkov. Smarda left Hradec Králové for SK Sigma Olomouc in 1996 and subsequently spent spells at AC Sparta Praha and FK Chmel Blsany.

Career milestone
Smarda is just two games away from his 300th appearance in the Czech top flight, and Hradec Králové's new coach, Leos Kalvoda, is hoping that the player, whom he formerly coached with Sigma, can help lift his new side out of the relegation zone.

Preferential treatment
Smarda has been signed in preference to former international Radim Necas who had been at Hradec Králové on trial from SK Slovan Bratislava, but his arrival does not mark the end of the club's winter spending.

Further signing
Hradec Králové president Vladimír Voda remains confident that the club will soon re-sign Bohuslav Pilný, who is reportedly close to agreeing a deal with the club he left four years ago.