Vladimír Šmicer

Vladimír Šmicer is undoubtedly one of the best players in the history of the Czech Republic, with whom he played a total of 80 matches, to which we must add 1 match with the Czechoslovakian selection.

Trophies

108

Goals

563

Games

1992/96 Slavia Prague (RTC) 107 games, 31 goals

(Czech Republic Championship: 81 games, 26 goals)

(Czech Republic Cup: 11 games, 3 goals)

(UEFA Cup: 15 games, 2 goals)

1996/99 RC Lens (FRA) 118 games, 21 goals

(French Championship: 91 games, 16 goals)

(Coupe de France: 9 games, 4 goals)

(Coupe de la ligue: 11 games)

(Trophée des Champions: 1 game)

(Champions League: 6 games, 1 goal)

1999/2005 Liverpool (ENG) 184 games, 19 goals

(English Premier League: 121 matches, 10 goals)

(FAC: 10 matches, 1 goal)

(English League Cup: 15 matches, 5 goals)

(Charity Shield: 1 match)

(Champions League: 19 matches, 3 goals)

(UEFA Cup: 18 matches)

2005/07 Bordeaux (FRA) 36 matches, 5 goals

(French Championship: 28 matches, 3 goals)

(Coupe de France: 4 matches, 1 goal)

(League Cup: 2 matches, 1 goal)

(Champions League: 2 matches)

2007/09 Slavia Prague (RTC) 37 matches, 5 goals

(Czech Republic Championship: 23 matches, 5 goals)

(Czech Republic Cup Czech: 4 matches)

(Champions League: 5 matches)

(UEFA Cup: 5 matches)

With the National Team :

Czechoslovakia: 1 cap

(World Cup Qualifier: 1 cap)

1st cap: October 27, 1993 against Cyprus (3-0)

Czech Republic: 80 caps, 27 goals

(Friendly matches: 24 caps, 6 goals)

(World Cup Qualifier: 25 caps, 6 goals)

(Euro Qualifier: 14 caps, 5 goals)

(Euro: 11 caps, 4 goals)

(Confederations Cup: 5 caps, 5 goals)

(Kirin Cup: 1 cap, 1 goal)

Last cap: November 16, 2005 against Norway (1-0)

U23: 7 caps, 4 goals

Vladimír Šmicer

Born May 24, 1973 in Decin (TCH)

Czech, Attacking-midfielder, Left-winger, Left-midfielder 1m80

Nickname: Vladi

A promising talent

Vladimír Šmicer was born on May 24, 1973 in Decin, Czechoslovakia. Having fallen in love with football from a young age, he first frequented the small clubs of his city before finally joining Slavia Prague in 1987. He began his professional career in 1992 with the same club and would prove himself to be one of the great hopes of his nation.

The year 1996 would also be the year of his revelation to the European public. Technical leader of Slavia Prague, he achieved a fantastic UEFA Cup with his club, reaching the semi-finals. In addition to this wonderful performance, he reached the Euro final and joined a bigger European championship, that of France.

Historic trophies at RC Lens

After a difficult first season with RC Lens, the club playing to stay up, he regained confidence under the new coach Daniel Leclercq who repositioned him as a left winger. Elegant and technical, he became a true technical leader of this French team that he would take to a historic French championship title.

An excellent crosser, he would have been a key element in this success and he would have formed a magnificent duo with Tony Vairelles. After this success, the player would continue his progression and have an even better season with RC Lens, this time winning the League Cup and achieving great performances on the European stage, RC Lens notably beating Arsenal in the Champions League at Wembley 1-0.

A decisive substitute role at Liverpool FC

After 3 years in France, the country's championship became too small for him and he joined the Liverpool Reds with the task of replacing Steve McManaman. His debut was below expectations and he needed time to adapt to English football. He suffered injuries that hampered his adaptation.

It was finally the 2000/01 season that revealed the player's full potential, playing in many different positions, left midfielder, right midfielder, attacking midfielder, second striker or right winger, the player had an excellent season. In total, he played 49 matches for 7 goals and 12 assists. But above all, he won a historic treble with Liverpool: FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup.

With the arrival of Benitez as the new coach, the player became a pure substitute, and his playing time only decreased season after season, until he became an anecdotal player in the Reds' dressing room. Despite everything, he will forever remain one of Liverpool's heroic players during the 2005 Champions League.

During this memorable final, Smicer is the one who scores his team's second goal and who converts his team's last penalty during the penalty shootout. A final match for the English team that sounds like a final masterpiece of the player at the very highest level. He is then for the second time in his career European champion.

He then signs for the Girondins de Bordeaux but is seriously injured and misses the 2006 World Cup. He then decides in 2007 to return to the Czech Republic, to Slavia Prague where he comes to end his career at the age of 36. He will forever remain as one of the best players of the 1997 Confederations Cup.