Vladimír Labant

Vladimír Labant
Personal information
Date of birth	8 June 1974 (age 50)
Place of birth	Čadca, Czechoslovakia
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Left-back
Youth career
1984–1992	Žilina
Senior career*
Years	Team
1992–1995	Žilina
1993–1994	→ Banská Bystrica (loan)
1995–1996	Košice
1996–1997	→ Banská Bystrica (loan)'
1997–1999	Slavia Prague
1999–2001	Sparta Prague
2002	West Ham United
2002–2004	Sparta Prague
2005	→ Admira Mödling (loan)
2005	Rapid Wien
2006	Spartak Trnava
Total
International career
1999–2004	Slovakia
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Vladimír Labant (born 8 June 1974) is a Slovak former professional footballer who played as a left-back. He represented the Slovakia national team.

Club career

Labant was a much sought after left-back after a successful spell with Czech club Slavia Prague. He joined rivals Sparta Prague in 1999 and was touted around Europe to several teams including PSV Eindhoven of the Netherlands. He eventually moved to West Ham United for a fee just under £1 million in January 2002.^[2] He made his debut when he came on as a substitute in an FA Cup tie against Chelsea. His cross led to West Ham's equaliser from Frédéric Kanouté.^[3] He ended the 2001-02 season with 14 first team appearances for West Ham.

The following season he was shunned even as the club fell into a relegation battle.^[2] Having made just one appearance for West Ham in the 2002-03 season thus far, in a 4–0 loss at Newcastle United,^[4] he rejoined Sparta Prague on loan in December 2002, and eventually re-signed with them permanently the following summer.

Labant finished his playing career with Spartak Trnava in the Slovak Corgoň Liga.^[5]

International career

Labant made 27 appearances for the senior Slovakia national team.^[6] He made his debut against Romania in a UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier on 27 March 1999, a match in which he was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. Labant's final cap came against Austria on 31 March 2004.

Honours

Slavia Prague

Czech Cup: 1998–99

Sparta Prague

Czech First League: 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03

Individual

Slovak Footballer of the Year: 1999

References

^ Vladimír Labant at National-Football-Teams.com
^ ^a ^b Morgan, Richard (10 June 2003). "Labant hopes to show his true worth". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 28 January 2004. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
^ "Kanoute saves Hammers". BBC Sport. 26 January 2002. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
^ "Newcastle rout West Ham". BBC Sport. 19 August 2002. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
^ "Vladimír Labant: Štatistika". Futaréna. Archived from the original on 28 May 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
^ "Slovakia - Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 12 December 2008.

[1] Vladimír Labant at National-Football-Teams.com

[FA-2] Morgan, Richard (10 June 2003). "Labant hopes to show his true worth". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 28 January 2004. Retrieved 12 December 2008.

[3] "Kanoute saves Hammers". BBC Sport. 26 January 2002. Retrieved 4 December 2015.

[4] "Newcastle rout West Ham". BBC Sport. 19 August 2002. Retrieved 4 December 2015.

[5] "Vladimír Labant: Štatistika". Futaréna. Archived from the original on 28 May 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2008.

[6] "Slovakia - Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 12 December 2008.

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