Karel Poborský

Karel Poborský (born 30 March 1972) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a right winger. He was most noted for his technical ability and pace.

He began and finished his club career at Dynamo České Budějovice, where his kit number (8) is retired in his honour. He also won the Czech First League titles at the two largest clubs in Prague - Slavia and Sparta. Between these domestic triumphs, he won a Premier League title at Manchester United and also played for Benfica and Lazio.

After Petr Čech, Poborský ranks second in appearances for the Czech national team, with 118 between 1994 and 2006, retiring from international football after playing at the country's first World Cup. He also played in three European Championships, being named in the Team of the Tournament at UEFA Euro 1996 after helping the Czechs to the final.

Early career
Poborský made his top-flight debut for Dynamo České Budějovice in the 1991–92 Czechoslovak First League. He transferred to Prague-based Viktoria Žižkov in the summer of 1994, before moving to local rivals Slavia Prague in the summer of 1995.

In the 1995–96 season, Poborský led Slavia Prague to the Czech First League title, as well as to the semi-finals of the 1995–96 UEFA Cup.

Manchester United
Poborský was one of a number of the Czech squad at UEFA Euro 1996 who left the Czech Republic to play in another country after the tournament. After offers came in from Liverpool and Lazio, Poborský signed for Manchester United in June 1996 for a fee of £3.5 million, He made his club debut in the 1996 FA Charity Shield against Newcastle United, appearing as a substitute for Nicky Butt in a 4–0 win. Poborský added more silverware by collecting a Premier League title winner's medal in the 1996–97 season, playing in 22 out of 38 league games and scoring three goals, also helping United reach the Champions League semi-finals. Due to David Beckham's rising stardom, Poborský would only manage one-and-a-half seasons at Old Trafford; in December 1997 Poborský left Manchester United, having made only six starts for the club that season. His last match for United was a substitute appearance against Everton on 26 December.

Benfica and Lazio
Poborský moved to Portuguese side Benfica in December 1997 for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract to play for Graeme Souness' side. Poborský played for the Portuguese side for three years. Shortly after manager Toni Oliveira arrived at the club in December 2000, Poborský found himself looking for a new club.

Poborský joined Italian side SS Lazio in February 2001 on an 18-month contract for a transfer fee of £700,000. He scored his first goal for Lazio in a 5–3 win against Verona on 25 February 2001. On the final day of the 2001–02 Serie A season, Poborský scored twice as Lazio beat title contenders Inter Milan 4–2, causing the title to go to Juventus instead. He left Lazio following the expiry of his contract at the end of the season.

Return to Czech Republic
In July 2002, Poborský returned to his homeland, signing as a free agent with Sparta Prague, where he became the highest-paid footballer playing in the Czech Republic. During his time at Sparta he celebrated two league championships - in the 2002–03 and 2004–05 seasons, as well as the national cup in 2003–04.

In 2005 he returned to his first club, Dynamo České Budějovice, scoring two goals and setting up a third on the way to a 4–0 victory against Sigma Olomouc B in his first match. He retired on 28 May 2007 after playing his final match: a 2–1 home loss against another of his former sides, Slavia Prague. Dynamo České Budějovice, by which time had Poborský on board as a co-owner, subsequently retired his number 8.

International career
Poborský's first international appearance, against Turkey on 23 February 1994, was also the first match for the Czech Republic after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.

Euro 96
He played for his country at Euro 96, where he was one of the most valuable players of the entire tournament. After losing against Germany in the opening group match, a Poborský cross resulted in a goal for teammate Pavel Nedvěd in a 2–1 win against Italy. In the knockout stages of the tournament, Poborský scored his first international goal: his lob shot over Portugal goalkeeper Vítor Baía settled a game which the Czech Republic won 1–0. In the semi-finals against France, Poborský was among those who scored penalties in the shootout as the Czech Republic prevailed after a goalless match. In the final, Poborský was fouled by German defender Matthias Sammer, with the resulting penalty being converted by Patrik Berger. Ultimately Germany prevailed 2–1 with a golden goal settling the game, leaving the Czech Republic as runners-up. Poborský was given the Man of the Match award.

Poborský lob
Poborský's name is often attached to his performance at the UEFA Euro 1996, 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 was soon attributed to him. In 2008, Poborský's 1996 lob was voted the best individual goal in the Carlsberg goal of the day poll on the UEFA official website.

Euro 2000
Poborský was part of the Czech Republic squad at Euro 2000. He scored his country's first goal of the tournament from the penalty spot, against France in a 2–1 group stage loss, which resulted in their elimination from the championship. In the nation's final match of the group stage, against Denmark, Poborský provided the pass from which Vladimír Šmicer opened the scoring, with the game finishing 2–0.

Euro 2004
Poborský played at Euro 2004, where he became the tournament's top assist provider with four. In his team's opening match against Latvia, Poborský sent a shot over the crossbar in the first half before Latvia took an unexpected lead. In the second half he made numerous crosses to teammate Milan Baroš, with the latter finally converting one to equalise the match at 1–1 in the 72nd minute. The match finished 2–1 after Marek Heinz scored a late winner for the Czech Republic. In the Czech Republic's second group stage match against the Netherlands, the opposition took a 2–0 lead, however the Czech Republic came back into the match and Poborský assisted the game-winning third Czech goal, scored by Vladimír Šmicer, to make sure of victory. With the Czech Republic already having qualified for the knockout stages of the tournament, Poborský was one of nine players rested for the final group-stage match against Germany. He played from the 70th minute as a substitute for Jaroslav Plašil as the Czech Republic won 2–1 and eliminated Germany.

At the quarter-final stage, Poborský provided two more assists as the Czech Republic defeated Denmark 3–0, with all of the goals coming in the second half. In the 49th minute his corner was converted by Jan Koller to open the scoring; later in the 63rd minute a Poborský through ball found Milan Baroš, who doubled their team's advantage. Baroš later scored his second to complete the scoring. In the semi-finals, the Czech Republic came up against Greece. The game was Poborský's 99th for his national team. Although Poborský created a couple of chances, the Czech Republic were unable to score, and ultimately lost after defender Traianos Dellas scored a silver goal for Greece in extra time.

Other international matches
He was also in the nation's squad for the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2006 World Cup. He announced his international retirement after the 2006 World Cup, having scored 8 goals and made at that time a record 118 appearances for his national team.

Football administration
After concluding his playing career, Poborský became technical director of the Czech national team. He held the role from almost two years, until resigning in April 2009.

In 2011, Poborský became chairman of the newly-founded Czech Association of Football Players, a member of FIFPRO. He stepped away from the role two years later in June 2013, mentioning the workload of his role as chairman of the board of Dynamo České Budějovice as the reason behind his decision.

Personal life
Poborský was previously married with two children. After the breakdown of his marriage he had another daughter. In 2013 Poborský moved from Hluboká nad Vltavou to Prague. In 2016, Poborský was put into a medical-induced coma after contracting a brain infection that left the muscles in his face paralysed and with a hypersensitivity to light. Poborský spent three weeks quarantined in hospital before making a full recovery, but he said if he had arrived at the hospital a day later, he might have died. Poborský's nickname is Steve, after the similarly-named Canadian skier Steve Podborski.

Club
Notes

International

 * Scores and results list Czech Republic's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Poborský goal.

Honours
Slavia Prague
 * Czech First League: 1995–96

Manchester United
 * FA Premier League: 1996–97
 * FA Charity Shield: 1996

Sparta Prague
 * Czech First League: 2002–03, 2004–05
 * Czech Cup: 2003–04

Czech Republic
 * UEFA European Championship runner-up: 1996
 * FIFA Confederations Cup third place: 1997

Individual
 * Czech Footballer of the Year: 1996 (shared with Patrik Berger)
 * UEFA Team of the Tournament: UEFA Euro 1996
 * UEFA European Championship top assist provider: 1996 (3 assists, shared with Youri Djorkaeff), 2004 (4 assists)
 * Czech Footballer of the Year personality of the Czech First League: 2003, 2004, 2005