AC Sparta Prague
- "Sparta Praha" redirects here; for the ice hockey team, see HC Sparta Praha.
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| Full name | AC Sparta Praha | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Železná Sparta (Iron Sparta) | ||
| Founded | 1893 | ||
| Ground | Toyota Arena, Prague | ||
| Capacity | 20,111 | ||
| Chairman | Jozef Chovanec | ||
| Manager | Stanislav Griga | ||
| League | Gambrinus liga | ||
| 2005-06 | Gambrinus liga, 5th | ||
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AC Sparta Praha (English: Sparta Prague) is the most popular and most successful Czech football club 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 is a number of outstanding players which played for the team in the history. Sparta plays at Prague's Toyota Arena (called Letná Stadium).
Brief history
The club was founded in 1893. For the first time, in 1906, Sparta played in their typical dark red jerseys (one of club's symbols). Beginning from 1919, Sparta got its nickname "Iron Sparta". In 1975 it was the first (and last) time Sparta fell from 1st League.
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
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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 Arsenal London. 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 (9 times): 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 (3 times): 2006, 2004, 1996
- Czechoslovakian Football Cup Winner (12 times): 1992, 1989, 1988, 1984, 1980, 1976, 1972, 1964, 1946, 1944, 1943, 1909
Famous players
Outstanding former Sparta players include:
- Pavel Nedvěd
- Petr Čech
- Tomáš Rosický
- Jan Koller
- Karel Poborský
- Ivan Hašek
- Jan Berger
- Tomáš Řepka
- Oldřich Nejedlý
- Andrej Kvašňák
- Jozef Chovanec
- Tomáš Skuhravý
- Petr Gabriel
- Jiří Novotný
- Vratislav Lokvenc
- Milan Fukal
Current squad
As of July 25, 2006: Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Training camp
Except Toyota Arena in Letná district - Sparta use a new soccer center in Strahov Stadium (the largest stadium in the world) whose space was rebuilt to 8 football fields (6 fields of standard sizes and 2 futsal).
Popular culture
The Czech movie Horem pádem (Up and Down) takes the culture of Sparta fandom as one of its subjects.
External links
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