Vladimír Šmicer facts for kids
Šmicer in 2024
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 24 May 1973 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Děčín, Czechoslovakia | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | |||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
| 1985–1987 | Kovostroj Děčín | |||||||||||||||
| 1987–1992 | Slavia Prague | |||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||
| 1992–1996 | Slavia Prague | 81 | (26) | |||||||||||||
| 1996–1999 | Lens | 91 | (16) | |||||||||||||
| 1999–2005 | Liverpool | 121 | (10) | |||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Bordeaux | 28 | (3) | |||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | Slavia Prague | 23 | (5) | |||||||||||||
| Total | 344 | (60) | ||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||
| 1993 | RCS | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 1994–2006 | Czech Republic | 80 | (27) | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||
Vladimír Šmicer is a famous former Czech footballer. He was born on May 24, 1973. He played as a midfielder, which is a player who helps both defend and attack.
Šmicer started his professional career at Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic. Later, he moved to England and played for Liverpool. There, he won many important trophies. One of his most memorable moments was scoring a long-range goal in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final. Liverpool won that game against Milan in an amazing comeback!
He also played for French teams like Lens, where he won the Ligue 1 title, and Bordeaux. For his country, Šmicer played one game for the Czechoslovak national team and 80 games for the Czech Republic. He stopped playing professional football in 2009.
Contents
Playing for Clubs
Joining Liverpool
Šmicer joined Liverpool in 1999 for about £4.2 million. He was brought in to replace another player, Steve McManaman. When he arrived at Anfield, Liverpool's home stadium, he was given the number 7 shirt. He later changed to number 11.
Šmicer always dreamed of playing for Liverpool. He said it was "a dream come true" because he supported them as a kid. He played his first game for Liverpool against Sheffield Wednesday. He scored his first goal in the Premier League against Watford.
Even though he had some injuries, Šmicer scored important goals. He scored a winning goal against Chelsea in 2002. He also scored a fantastic volley against Borussia Dortmund.
The 2005 Champions League Final
One of Šmicer's most famous goals was in the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final against AC Milan. Liverpool was losing 3-0 at halftime, but they made an incredible comeback. Šmicer scored Liverpool's second goal, helping them get back into the game. The match ended 3-3, and Liverpool won on penalties. Šmicer scored Liverpool's fourth and final penalty kick to win the trophy!
Returning to Slavia Prague
After leaving Liverpool, Šmicer returned to Slavia Prague in 2007. In 2008, he won the "Personality of the League" award in the Czech Footballer of the Year awards. He played his last professional game on November 9, 2009. He had a special farewell party on May 11, 2010.
Playing for His Country
Šmicer started playing for his country in 1993. At the Euro 1996 tournament, he helped the Czech Republic reach the final. He came on as a substitute in the final game against Germany.
At the Euro 2000 tournament, he scored both goals in the Czech team's only win, a 2-0 victory against Denmark. Šmicer could not play in the 2006 FIFA World Cup because of a leg injury.
After Retirement: Manager and Personal Life
Just one day after he stopped playing football, Šmicer became the sports manager for the Czech national team. He worked with the head coach, Michal Bílek.
In his personal life, Šmicer is interested in helping children. He even ran for a small Czech political party in 2014. His main goal was to help reduce obesity among children. Because of his football career, he can speak English and French, as well as his native Czech language.
Achievements and Trophies
Šmicer won many awards and trophies during his career:
Slavia Prague
- Gambrinus liga: 1995–96, 2007–08, 2008–09
Lens
- Ligue 1: 1997–98
- Coupe de la Ligue: 1998–99
Liverpool
- FA Cup: 2000–01
- Football League Cup: 2000–01, 2002–03
- UEFA Champions League: 2004–05
- UEFA Cup: 2000–01
Bordeaux
- Coupe de la Ligue: 2006–07
Czech Republic
- UEFA European Football Championship runner-up: 1996
See also
In Spanish: Vladimír Šmicer para niños
