Karel Kula

Karel Kula (born 10 August 1963) is a Czech local politician and former football player and manager. He played as a midfielder and was a general manager of MFK Karviná and FK Fotbal Třinec. In 2023, he became the mayor of Český Těšín.

Club career
After making his professional debut at the age of 18, with FC Baník Ostrava (with a two-year loan during his spell at the club), Kula amassed more than 200 official appearances with the team. In 1991, he won the Czechoslovak Cup with Baník.

At 28, Kula was allowed to leave the country, spending the next four years in Germany, three of those with SG Wattenscheid 09. Although he made his first division debuts for Stuttgarter Kickers in the 1991–92 season, his six league goals (third in the team) were not enough to prevent relegation (in 17th position).

Aged 32, Kula returned to his country, now the Czech Republic. After one and a half years with SK Železárny Třinec, he closed out his career with first club Baník in 1998.

International career
Kula played for the youth national teams of Czechoslovakia including the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship, as did his twin brother Vlastimil. During seven years in the senior side, he gained 40 caps, the first coming in 1985. He did not attend, however, any major international tournaments, being overlooked for the squad which appeared at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

Managerial career
Kula worked with Baník as assistant manager from 2006 to 2008, and then in the same role at FK Fotbal Třinec. In 2010, he gained his first managerial position at Karviná. In March 2012, Kula was replaced as manager of Karviná by assistant Marek Kalivoda. He returned to FK Fotbal Třinec for the 2013–14 season as general manager; his successor was Marek Kalivoda.

Political career
In March 2023, Kula became the mayor of Český Těšín.