Blažek back in Sparta fold
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
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Czech goalkeeper Jaromír Blažek, 35, has left relegated 1. FC Nürnberg and returned to AC Sparta Praha just one year after leaving the 1. Liga runners-up.
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Czech Republic goalkeeper Jaromír Blažek has left relegated 1. FC Nürnberg and returned to AC Sparta Praha just one year after leaving the 1. Liga runners-up.
Prague stops
The 35-year-old, who was Petr Čech's deputy during UEFA EURO 2008™, has signed a two-year deal with an option for a further 12 months. Blažek announced in the aftermath of his country's defeat by Turkey that he is to retire from international football having won just 14 caps in eight years. He joined Sparta in 2000 from their city rivals FC Bohemians Praha, having also spent time in the Czech capital with FC Viktoria Žižkov and SK Slavia Praha.
International experience
Blažek is the second former Czech international to have joined Sparta during the close season, following midfielder Patrik Berger's transfer from Aston Villa FC after a ten-year spell in the English Premier League. Sparta will particpate in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League which gets under way next month.
