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Sparta Prague

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Sparta Prague

Full name

AC Sparta Praha fotbal, a.s.

Nickname(s)

Železná Sparta
(Iron Sparta)

Founded

November 16, 1893

Ground

AXA Arena,
Prague
(Capacity 20,111)

Chairman

Jozef Chovanec

Manager

Michal Bílek

League

Gambrinus Liga

2006-07

Gambrinus Liga, 1st





Home colours





Away colours

Sparta Prague (Czech: AC Sparta Praha) is a top Czech football club. It is the most successful club in the Czech Republic and one of the most successful clubs in Central and Eastern Europe. Sparta was long the main source for the Czechoslovakia national football team and, after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic national football team, however lately this has ceased to be the case, as the best Czech players almost all now play in higher-paying foreign leagues. There are a number of outstanding players who have played for the Sparta over the years. Sparta play at Prague's AXA Arena (called Letná Stadium).

1 Brief history
2 Club symbols
3 Major trophies
4 Famous players
5 Current squad
6 Training camp
7 Popular culture
8 External links

Brief history

The club was founded in 1893. For the first time, in 1906, Sparta played in their typical dark, red jerseys (one of the club's symbols). Beginning from 1919, Sparta got its nickname "Iron Sparta". The only time that Sparta were relegated to a lower league was in 1975. Historical names:

1893 — Athletic Club Královské Vinohrady
1894 — Athletic Club Sparta
1948 — Athletic Club Sparta Bubeneč
1949 — Sokol Bratrství Sparta
1951 — Sparta ČKD Sokolovo
1953 — TJ Spartak Praha Sokolovo
1965 — TJ Sparta ČKD Praha
1990 — TJ Sparta Praha
1991 — AC Sparta Praha
1993 — AC Sparta Praha fotbal, a.s.

Club symbols

Colours of Sparta

Supporters of AC Sparta. Derby AC Sparta-SK Slavia 2:1 (2006)

The name Sparta was inspired by the fighting spirit and courage of the people from the ancient city of Sparta. From the very beginning, the colours of Sparta were blue (symbolizing Europe), red (symbolizing the royal city), and yellow (together with red, the official colours of Prague). In 1906, one of the members of the committee brought (from his trip to England) jerseys of the London club Arsenal. From that time, Sparta has typically played in their red (or, to be more precise, dark red or maroon) colours. Another symbol of Sparta is the big "S" (Sparta); thus, Sparta and Slavia Prague are usually collectively called the Prague "S".

Major trophies

Mitropa Cup Winner (3 times): 1927, 1935, 1964
Czech Champion (10 times): 2007, 2005, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1995, 1994
Czechoslovakia´s Champion (24 times): 1993, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1985, 1984, 1967, 1965, 1954, 1952, 1948, 1946, 1944, 1939, 1938, 1936, 1932, 1927, 1926, 1922, 1919 and 1912.
Czech Football Cup Winner (4 times): 2007, 2006, 2004, 1996
Czechoslovak Football Cup Winner (12 times): 1992, 1989, 1988, 1984, 1980, 1976, 1972, 1964, 1946, 1944, 1943, 1909

Famous players

Outstanding former Sparta players include:

Current squad

As of August 20, 2007:

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Tomáš Poštulka
2	DF	Tomáš Řepka
4	MF	Milan Petržela
6	MF	David Limberský
7	MF	Tomáš Kóňa
8	DF	Radoslav Zabavník
9	FW	Libor Došek
10	FW	Miroslav Slepička
11	MF	Daniel Kolář
12	FW	Jan Rezek
14	MF	Pavel Horváth
15	DF	Jiří Kladrubský
17	MF	Ludovic Sylvestre

No.	Position	Player
18	MF	Karol Kisel
20	DF	Zdeněk Pospěch
21	MF	Igor Žofčák
22	MF	Martin Zeman
23	DF	Michal Kadlec
24	GK	Matúš Kozáčik
25	DF	Pavel Mareš
26	MF	Martin Abraham
27	MF	Luboš Hušek
28	MF	Miroslav Matušovič
29	GK	Tomáš Grigar
30	FW	Marek Kulič
	MF	Tomáš Sivok

Training camp

Interior of AXA Arena at the start of a game, Nov 2002

Except AXA Arena in Letná district - Sparta use a new football center in Strahov Stadium (the second largest stadium in the world) whose space was rebuilt to 8 football fields (6 fields of standard sizes and 2 futsal).