Karel Poborský

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Karel Poborský (help·info) (born March 30, 1972 in Třeboň) is a former Czech footballer. A right winger, Poborský is the all-time leader in appearances for the Czech national team, and was most noted for his technical ability.

[edit] Club career

Poborský began playing professionally with S.K. Dynamo České Budějovice, FK Viktoria Žižkov and SK Slavia Praha (the season Patrik Berger left for Borussia Dortmund).

On July 1996, Poborský signed with Manchester United but, due to David Beckham's rising stardom, would only manage one-and-a-half seasons at Old Trafford. In January 1998, he left for Portuguese league powerhouse Sport Lisboa e Benfica, where he was at his best form, playing alongside João Vieira Pinto, and became an instant hit and a fan favourite.

After a string of impressive performances, Poborský moved sides in January 2001, joining Serie A's S.S. Lazio. In July 2002, he returned to his homeland, signing with AC Sparta Praha, retiring at his first club (which he had rejoined in January 2006, helping it achieve promotion), after a match against another former side, Slavia Prague, in May 28, 2007.

[edit] International career

Poborský's first international appearance, against Turkey on February 23, 1994, was also the first match for the Czech team after the partition of Czechoslovakia. He played for his country at Euro 96, Euro 2000, and Euro 2004, and was also in the nation's squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, after which he retired from international competition.

Following his 2007 club retirement, Poborský started working as a technical leader for the national team.

[edit] The Poborský-lob

Poborský's name is often attached to his performance in Euro 96, where during the quarter-final match against Portugal, he chipped the ball and lobbed it over the advancing Vítor Baía. The goal became a trademark shot for Poborský, as that shooting style soon began being attributed to him.

In 2008, it was voted the best individual goal in the Carlsberg goal of the day poll on Euro2008.com.^[1]As a club player, Poborský's scored a similar goal against FC Porto (again with Vítor Baía as the goalkeeper) while at Benfica.

[edit] Honours

• Gambrinus liga (3):
  • 1995-96, 2002-03, 2004-05

• Premier League (1):
  • 1996-97

• Czech Cup (1):
  • 2004

[edit] Career statistics

^{[2] [3] [4]}

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• National team data (Czech)
• Stats and profile at zerozero.pt

v • d • e Czech Republic squad – UEFA Euro 1996 Runners-up 1 Kouba • 2 Látal • 3 Suchopárek • 4 Nedvěd • 5 Kadlec • 6 Němeček • 7 Němec • 8 Poborský • 9 Kuka • 10 Drulák • 11 Frýdek • 12 Kubík • 13 Bejbl • 14 Berger • 15 Horňák • 16 Srníček • 17 Šmicer • 18 Kotůlek • 19 Rada • 20 Novotný • 21 Kerbr • 22 Maier • Coach: Uhrin

v • d • e Czech Republic squad – UEFA Euro 2000 1 Srníček • 2 Řepka • 3 Látal • 4 Nedvěd • 5 Fukal • 6 Vlček • 7 Němec • 8 Poborský • 9 Kuka • 10 Koller • 11 Rosický • 12 Lokvenc • 13 Bejbl • 14 Horváth • 15 Jankulovski • 16 Maier • 17 Šmicer • 18 Novotný • 19 Rada • 20 Berger • 21 Gabriel • 22 Blažek • Coach: Chovanec

v • d • e Czech Republic squad – UEFA Euro 2004 semi-finalists 1 Čech • 2 Grygera • 3 Mareš • 4 Galásek • 5 Bolf • 6 Jankulovski • 7 Šmicer • 8 Poborský • 9 Koller • 10 Rosický • 11 Nedvěd • 12 Lokvenc • 13 Jiránek • 14 Vachoušek • 15 Baroš • 16 Blažek • 17 Hübschman • 18 Heinz • 19 Týce • 20 Plašil • 21 Ujfaluši • 22 Rozehnal • 23 Kinský • Coach: Brückner

v • d • e Czech Republic squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Čech • 2 Grygera • 3 Mareš • 4 Galásek • 5 Kováč • 6 Jankulovski • 7 Sionko • 8 Poborský • 9 Koller • 10 Rosický • 11 Nedvěd • 12 Lokvenc • 13 Jiránek • 14 Jarolím • 15 Baroš • 16 Blažek • 17 Štajner • 18 Heinz • 19 Polák • 20 Plašil • 21 Ujfaluši • 22 Rozehnal • 23 Kinský • Coach: Brückner