Vladimír Šmicer

Vladimír Šmicer (Czech pronunciation: [ˈʃmɪtsɛr]; born 24 May 1973) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He started his senior career at Slavia Prague, the only Czech club he ever played for. In 1999, Šmicer moved to England where he played for Liverpool, winning multiple honours. He is perhaps best remembered at Liverpool for his long-range goal in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final victory against Milan. At Liverpool he also won an UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup treble in 2001 as well as the 2003 League Cup.

Vladimír Šmicer
Šmicer in 2024
Personal information
Full name Vladimír Šmicer
Date of birth (1973-05-24) 24 May 1973[1]
Place of birth Děčín, Czechoslovakia
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2][1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1985–1987 Kovostroj Děčín
1987–1992 Slavia Prague
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1996 Slavia Prague 81 (26)
1996–1999 Lens 91 (16)
1999–2005 Liverpool 121 (10)
2005–2007 Bordeaux 28 (3)
2007–2009 Slavia Prague 23 (5)
Total 344 (60)
International career
1993 RCS 1 (0)
1994–2006 Czech Republic 80 (27)
Medal record
Representing  Czech Republic
UEFA European Championship
Runner-up1996 England
2004 Portugal
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He also notably played for French sides Lens, with whom he won the Ligue 1 title, and Bordeaux.

At international level, Šmicer played once for the Czechoslovak national side and 80 times for the Czech Republic. He retired from professional football in 2009.

Club career

Liverpool

Šmicer joined Liverpool for a fee of £4.2 million, recruited to fill the void left by the departure of Steve McManaman to Real Madrid. Upon arriving at Anfield in 1999, Šmicer was given the number 7 shirt, although he would later switch to number 11 after the arrival of Harry Kewell. When he left Liverpool in 2005, Šmicer said: "Just signing for Liverpool in itself was a dream because I supported them as a kid. It was a dream come true." He made his Liverpool debut in a match against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough Stadium[3] and scored his first Premier League goal in a 3–2 away victory against Watford.[4]

Although Šmicer was plagued with injury problems, he scored the last minute winner against Chelsea in 2002,[5] and a stunning volley against Borussia Dortmund[6]

Slavia Prague

Upon returning to Slavia Prague in 2007, Šmicer won the Personality of the League award at the Czech Footballer of the Year awards in 2008.[7] He ended his football career after draw 0–0 with Viktoria Plzeň on 9 November 2009, but made his farewell party on 11 May 2010.[8]

International career

Šmicer began his international career in 1993. At the Euro 2000, he scored both goals in the national team's only tournament victory, 2–0 against Denmark.[9] Šmicer did not participate in the 2006 FIFA World Cup due to a leg injury.[10]

Managerial career

Just one day after retiring from football, Šmicer became sports manager of the Czech national team, working alongside head coach Michal Bílek.[11][12]

Personal life

Šmicer stood for minor Czech party VIZE 2014 in the European Parliament election; his stated priority was to reduce obesity among children.[13] As a result of Šmicer's playing career, he can speak English and French apart from his native Czech.[14]

Career statistics

Club
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Czechoslovakia League Cup League Cup Continental Total
1992–93Slavia PragueFirst League219--00
Czech Republic League Czech Cup League Cup Europe Total
1993–94Slavia PragueGambrinus liga186--20
1994–951630--113
1995–9628942--1114312
France League Coupe de France Coupe de la Ligue Europe Total
1996–97LensDivision 1335003021386
1997–982875340614311
1998–993041040--354
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
1999–2000LiverpoolPremier League211202000251
2000–012725164110497
2001–022241010111355
2002–03210105061331
2003–04203101130254
2004–05100000061161
France League Coupe de France Coupe de la Ligue Europe Total
2005–06BordeauxLigue 12530020--273
2006–073020002070
Czech Republic League Czech Cup League Cup Europe Total
2007–08Slavia PragueGambrinus liga12200--50172
2008–098330--40153
2009–103010--1050
Total Czechoslovakia 21900
Czech Republic 8523242
France 119198313010215024
England 1211010115537318319
Career total 34661717

International goals
Scores and results list the Czech Republic's goal tally first.[15]
#DateOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.19 June 1996 Russia3–3DrawUEFA Euro 1996
2.18 September 1996 Malta6–0Win1998 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
3.26 August 1997 Slovakia1–2Loss1998 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
4.6 September 1997 Faroe Islands2–0Win1998 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
5.11 October 1997 Slovakia3–0Win1998 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
6.13 December 1997 South Africa2–2Draw1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
7.
8.17 December 1997 United Arab Emirates6–1Win1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
9.
10.
11.25 March 1998 Republic of Ireland2–1WinFriendly
12.22 April 1998 Slovenia3–1WinFriendly
13.21 May 1998 Paraguay1–0WinKirin Cup
14.6 September 1998 Faroe Islands1–0WinUEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
15.10 October 1998 Bosnia and Herzegovina3–1WinUEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
16.31 March 1999 Scotland2–1WinUEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
17.21 June 2000 Denmark2–0WinUEFA Euro 2000
18.
19.13 February 2002 Cyprus4–3WinFriendly
20.18 May 2002 Italy1–0WinFriendly
21.6 September 2002 Yugoslavia5–0WinFriendly
22.30 April 2003 Turkey4–0WinFriendly
23.11 June 2003 Moldova5–0WinUEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
24.6 September 2003 Belarus3–1WinUEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
25.19 June 2004 Netherlands3–2WinUEFA Euro 2004
26.4 June 2005 Andorra8–1Win2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
27.12 November 2005 Norway1–0Win2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifier

Honours

Slavia Prague

Lens

Liverpool

Bordeaux

Czech Republic

References
  1. "Vladimír Šmicer: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  2. "Vladimír Šmicer". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 3 April 2005. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  3. "Sheffield Wednesday 1 - 2 Liverpool". LFC History. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  4. "Reds end brave Watford fight". BBC News. 15 January 2000. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  5. "Smicer's late strike takes 'Pool to the top". Irish Examiner. 25 March 2002. Archived from the original on 18 January 2005. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  6. "Liverpool cruise through". BBC Sport. 30 October 2001. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  7. "Historie ankety Fotbalista roku". Football Association of the Czech Republic (in Czech). Archived from the original on 18 July 2023.
  8. Novák, Jaromír (11 May 2010). "Fotbalový Eden slavil: Šmicerovu benefici ozdobilo dvanáct gólů". Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech).
  9. "Republic Czech out". BBC Sport. BBC. 22 June 2000. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  10. "Smicer ruled out of Czech squad". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  11. "Šmicer named Czech national team manager". USA Today. 10 November 2009. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012.
  12. "Smicer given Czech Republic role". BBC Sport. BBC. 10 November 2009.
  13. "Euro elections: Footballer Smicer taking on Europe". BBC. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  14. Mylnařová, Alexandra (27 January 2022). "Vladimír Šmicer: Rodiče mi dali dva roky, abych ukázal, co ve fotbale umím". Czech Radio (in Czech).
  15. "Vladimir Smicer - International Appearances". Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  16. "Blues shot down as Liverpool lift cup". BBC Sport. 25 February 2001. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  17. "Liverpool lift Worthington Cup". BBC Sport. 2 March 2003. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
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