Patrik Berger facts for kids
Berger in 2024
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Patrik Berger | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 10 November 1973 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Prague, Czechoslovakia | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Left winger, attacking midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989–1991 | Sparta Prague | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1995 | Slavia Prague | 90 | (24) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | Borussia Dortmund | 27 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2003 | Liverpool | 148 | (28) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2005 | Portsmouth | 52 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2008 | Aston Villa | 29 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | → Stoke City (loan) | 7 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | Sparta Prague | 23 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 376 | (72) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994 | Czech Republic U21 | 1 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1993 | RCS | 2 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–2001 | Czech Republic | 42 | (18) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Patrik Berger (born on November 10, 1973) is a former professional footballer from the Czech Republic. He played as a midfielder, often on the left side or in an attacking role.
Patrik started his football journey in his home country with Slavia Prague. He then played for a season in Germany with Borussia Dortmund. In 1996, he moved to England, where he spent seven years playing for Liverpool. During his time at Liverpool, he helped the team win four major trophies. After Liverpool, he played for Portsmouth, Aston Villa, and Stoke City. He finished his career back in the Czech Republic, playing for Sparta Prague.
Patrik also played for the Czech Republic in two big tournaments. He was a key player in the Euro 1996 competition, even scoring a goal in the final match. The Czech Republic team finished as runners-up in that tournament. He later played in Euro 2000. Patrik retired from international football in 2002, having played 44 games and scored 18 goals for his country.
He was known for his powerful shots, quick runs, and strong left foot. Patrik faced many injuries during his career, especially to his knees. He officially retired from football on January 6, 2010, because of these knee problems.
Contents
About Patrik Berger
Early Life and Family
Patrik Berger was born in Prague, which was then part of Czechoslovakia. His uncle, Jan Berger, was also a famous Czech footballer. Patrik is married to Jaroslava, and they have two children, a son named Patrik and a daughter named Valentýnka. In 2001, after playing club football in England for five years, he received a British passport. This meant he no longer needed a special work permit to play, which was helpful under the Premier League's rules for players from outside the European Union.
Patrik's Club Career
Starting Out in Football
Patrik began his football career as a young player at Sparta Prague in 1989. Two years later, he signed his first professional contract with their rivals, Slavia Prague. He quickly became a regular player for the senior team. He played in European competitions and was chosen to play for Czechoslovakia, and later for the Czech Republic national team.
Playing for Borussia Dortmund
After playing 90 league games and scoring 24 goals for Slavia Prague, Patrik was bought by Borussia Dortmund in 1995 for about £500,000. In August 1995, he played in the DFL-Supercup, where Dortmund won against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Dortmund went on to win the Bundesliga title in the 1995–96 season. Patrik often came on as a substitute in games, playing 14 of his 27 league matches from the bench. His coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld, often used him as a defensive midfielder. Patrik scored four goals for Dortmund in the German league.
Liverpool became interested in Patrik after his great performances for the Czech Republic during Euro 1996. He even scored a penalty in the final of that tournament. Liverpool offered him a contract, and he joined the club in August 1996 for £3.25 million.
Time at Liverpool
Patrik and his family moved to Southport, Merseyside, where they lived close to famous former players like Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen. He made his first appearance for Liverpool on September 7, 1996, coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 win against Southampton. He played very well in his first month, which made him popular with fans and earned him praise from his teammates. In his second match, he scored two goals in a 3–0 win against Leicester City. He scored another two goals against Chelsea in a 5–1 win, and then a fifth goal in four matches in a Cup Winners' Cup game. Because of these great performances, he won the FA's Player of the Month award for September 1996.
In his second season, Patrik didn't play as much. Even though he scored a hat-trick against Chelsea in October 1997, he was often a substitute. He wasn't happy with manager Roy Evans, who thought Patrik didn't work well enough with the team. Patrik was almost sold in May 1998, with clubs like Roma and Benfica interested. However, when Gérard Houllier became co-manager before the 1998–99 season, Patrik decided to stay at Liverpool.
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You know, the greatest day in my football life was the day I signed for Liverpool. I couldn't believe it. When I was young in Czechoslovakia, we didn't see much European football, but my father's friend went to England and he watched Liverpool. When he came back, he gave me the programme, the ticket and a scarf. I still have them all. When I moved to Southport to live, my neighbour was Kenny Dalglish. Alan Hansen lived around the corner. I met them, they were normal guys, but they were my heroes. To me, it's the best club in the world and when I am finished playing and I'm telling my children about it I will be proud to say that for seven years I was a Liverpool player. |
| The Sunday Times, 8 February 2004. |
Under Houllier, Patrik played regularly in his first season, scoring nine goals and improving his game. In November 2000, he got an injury in a match against Leeds United. This injury kept him out for most of the 2000–01 season and needed special treatment in the United States. By March 2001, Patrik was back and played in the finals of both the UEFA Cup and the FA Cup. Liverpool won both trophies! In the 2001 FA Cup Final, he helped Michael Owen score the winning goal against Arsenal.
He also played in the 2001 FA Charity Shield, which Liverpool won. However, he had knee surgery in August 2001, which meant he missed the 2001 UEFA Super Cup.
Between 2001 and 2003, Patrik continued to have injuries, which made it hard for him to play regularly. Because of this, he decided to leave Liverpool when his contract ended after the 2002–03 season. In his final season, he mostly stayed on the bench when he was chosen to play, only making four appearances. He left Liverpool after seven seasons, having scored 35 goals for the club.
Playing for Portsmouth
Portsmouth, a team that had just been promoted to the Premier League, signed Patrik Berger on a free transfer. This meant they didn't have to pay a transfer fee. Portsmouth's manager, Harry Redknapp, was very happy, saying Patrik was a "quality player" who would bring good experience. Patrik played his first game for Portsmouth against Aston Villa and scored the team's second goal. In October 2003, he scored the winning goal against his old club, Liverpool. A month later, he helped Portsmouth win 6–1 against Leeds United, setting up two goals and scoring one himself. On Boxing Day 2003, Patrik scored both goals in a 2–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur, both from free kicks, one from 35 yards away! He had another knee operation in February 2004, which made him miss the rest of that season.
Patrik started the 2004–05 season well, scoring a goal against Charlton Athletic that was considered for Goal of the Season. His second goal came in a 3–1 win against Crystal Palace, a shot from 25 yards. In October 2004, he scored his last league goal for Portsmouth in a 2–2 draw at Norwich, another 25-yard free kick.
Portsmouth had a tough end to the season, winning only one game in 12 matches. This led to Alain Perrin becoming the new manager. Patrik's contract was ending, and he joined Aston Villa on a two-year deal. He said manager David O'Leary was the main reason he chose Villa.
Aston Villa and Stoke City (loan)
Patrik had more injury problems when he first joined Villa, so he didn't play many league games. In his second season, he only played two matches under the new manager, Martin O'Neill. In November 2006, he was loaned to Championship club Stoke City until January 2007. He had been fined by Villa for refusing to play in a reserve match. At Stoke, he started only one game and came on as a substitute in six others. When he returned to Villa, O'Neill praised his fitness. On April 7, 2007, Patrik started his first game for Villa since October 2005. He scored a goal in a 2–1 win against Blackburn Rovers. Patrik scored again on May 5, 2007, against Sheffield United. On May 28, 2007, he signed a one-year extension with Aston Villa.
Patrik got injured again before the 2007–08 Premier League season, which kept him out until October 2007. The same injury came back, ruling him out for even longer. On May 6, 2008, Patrik was told he had played his last game for Aston Villa. This happened after he suggested that captain Gareth Barry should move to Liverpool. Patrik was released by the club when his contract ended, having played only 29 league matches in three seasons.
Returning to Sparta Prague
On May 29, 2008, Patrik Berger returned to Prague as a free agent. He signed a two-year contract with his childhood club, Sparta Prague. He also became the team captain for the 2008–09 Gambrinus liga season. In November 2008, Patrik scored three goals (a hat-trick) against SK Kladno in a 5–0 win for Sparta. Sparta finished the season in second place, which meant they qualified for the UEFA Champions League tournament the next season. Patrik was the club's top league scorer with six goals.
During the 2009–10 season, Patrik played only two league matches before needing more knee surgery. On January 6, 2010, he announced his retirement from professional football because he couldn't recover from a ligament injury.
After Professional Football
Even after retiring from professional football, Patrik continued to play as an amateur. In August 2010, he joined Dolní Chabry, a sixth-tier club in the Czech Republic. He was still playing for the team at the age of 40.
International Career
Patrik Berger played for the youth teams of Czechoslovakia from the under-15 level, moving up through the under-16, under-17, and under-18 teams between 1988 and 1991. For these junior teams, he scored a total of six goals in 49 games. During this time, he won the 1990 UEFA European Under-16 Championship with the under-16 team, scoring in the final against Yugoslavia.
On March 23, 1993, Patrik made his debut for the Czechoslovakia in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Cyprus, which ended in a 1–1 draw. In October 1995, he scored a goal in a qualification match for Euro 1996 against Belarus, which the Czechs won 2–0.
Patrik was part of the Czech Republic team that played in Euro 1996. He played in all of his nation's matches in the tournament. He famously scored a penalty in the final to give the Czech Republic a 1–0 lead against Germany. However, the Czech Republic eventually lost in extra time due to a "golden goal."
Between 1997 and 1998, Patrik did not play for the Czech national team because of a disagreement with the head coach, Dušan Uhrin. He returned to the team after 17 months when Jozef Chovanec replaced Uhrin. He made a strong return, scoring two goals from free kicks in a qualification match against Estonia.
The next big international tournament Patrik played in was Euro 2000. He was suspended for his nation's first two matches after being sent off in a qualifier. Because of this and his country's early exit, he only played one match in the tournament. Patrik announced his retirement from international football in March 2002, when he was 28 years old.
Patrik's Style of Play
Patrik Berger mainly played as an attacking midfielder or a winger. He was known for his powerful shots, fast runs, and strong left foot. His former Liverpool teammate, Steven Gerrard, once said that Patrik "was the best left-footed striker of a ball I have seen."
Career Statistics
Club Appearances and Goals
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Slavia Prague | 1991–92 | Czechoslovak First League | 20 | 3 | — | — | — | 20 | 3 | |||
| 1992–93 | Czechoslovak First League | 29 | 10 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 31 | 10 | |||
| 1993–94 | Czech First League | 12 | 4 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 14 | 5 | |||
| 1994–95 | Czech First League | 29 | 7 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 33 | 8 | |||
| Total | 90 | 24 | — | — | 8 | 2 | 98 | 26 | ||||
| Borussia Dortmund | 1995–96 | Bundesliga | 27 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | 36 | 4 | |
| Liverpool | 1996–97 | Premier League | 23 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 34 | 9 |
| 1997–98 | Premier League | 22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 4 | |
| 1998–99 | Premier League | 32 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 41 | 9 | |
| 1999–2000 | Premier League | 34 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 37 | 9 | ||
| 2000–01 | Premier League | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 2 | |
| 2001–02 | Premier League | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 31 | 1 | |
| 2002–03 | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| Total | 148 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 29 | 4 | 195 | 35 | ||
| Portsmouth | 2003–04 | Premier League | 20 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 23 | 5 | |
| 2004–05 | Premier League | 32 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 37 | 3 | ||
| Total | 52 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 60 | 8 | |||
| Aston Villa | 2005–06 | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | |
| 2006–07 | Premier League | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 14 | 2 | ||
| 2007–08 | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 32 | 2 | |||
| Stoke City (loan) | 2006–07 | Championship | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| Sparta Prague | 2008–09 | Czech First League | 21 | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | 4 | 0 | 29 | 8 | |
| 2009–10 | Czech First League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||
| Total | 23 | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | 5 | 0 | 32 | 8 | |||
| Career total | 376 | 72 | 18 | 2 | 18 | 3 | 48 | 6 | 460 | 83 | ||
International Appearances and Goals
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Czechoslovakia | 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 | |
| Czech Republic | 1994 | 3 | 1 |
| 1995 | 7 | 7 | |
| 1996 | 12 | 3 | |
| 1997 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1998 | 4 | 2 | |
| 1999 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2000 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2001 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 42 | 18 | |
- Scores and results list Czech Republic's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Berger goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 September 1994 | Bazaly, Ostrava |  Malta |
6–1 | 6–1 | Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 2 | 8 March 1995 | Stadion Za Lužánkami, Brno |  Finland |
1–0 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 2–0 | |||||
| 4 | 29 March 1995 | Bazaly, Ostrava |  Belarus |
2–0 | 4–2 | Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 5 | 3–1 | |||||
| 6 | 26 April 1995 | Letná Stadium, Prague |  Netherlands |
3–1 | 3–1 | Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 7 | 7 October 1995 | Dinamo Stadium, Minsk | Belarus |
2–0 | 2–0 | Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 8 | 15 November 1995 | Letná Stadium, Prague |  Luxembourg |
3–0 | 3–0 | Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 9 | 30 June 1996 | Wembley Stadium, London |  Germany |
1–0 | 1–2 | Euro 1996 |
| 10 | 18 September 1996 | Na Stínadlech, Teplice | Malta |
1–0 | 6–0 | 1998 World Cup qualification |
| 11 | 3–0 | |||||
| 12 | 26 February 1997 | Stadion FK Bohemia, Poděbrady |  Belarus |
4–1 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 13 | 14 October 1998 | Na Stínadlech, Teplice |  Estonia |
2–0 | 4–1 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 14 | 3–0 | |||||
| 15 | 27 March 1999 | Na Stínadlech, Teplice |  Lithuania |
2–0 | 2–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 16 | 5 June 1999 | Kadrioru Stadium, Tallinn | Estonia |
1–0 | 2–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 17 | 8 September 1999 | Na Stínadlech, Teplice |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
2–0 | 3–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 18 | 3 June 2000 | Frankenstadion, Nuremberg | Germany |
2–2 | 2–3 | Friendly |
Honours and Awards
Borussia Dortmund
- Bundesliga: 1995–96 (German League Champions)
- DFB-Supercup: 1995 (German Supercup Winners)
Liverpool
- FA Cup: 2000–01 (English Cup Winners)
- FA Charity Shield: 2001 (English Supercup Winners)
- UEFA Cup: 2000–01 (European Cup Winners)
Individual Awards
- Premier League Player of the Month: September 1996
- Czech Footballer of the Year: 1996 (shared with Karel Poborský)
- Czech Golden Ball: 1999
See also
In Spanish: Patrik Berger para niños
