Sport

The greatest Czech players in Bundesliga history

Germany’s location in the middle of Europe makes it a great place for European footballers to break into the highest echelons of world football. Sharing an eastern border with Germany, many Czech footballers head west to try and make an impact within the Bundesliga. Since the Bundesliga reformed in 1991, 75 Czech stars have appeared in the Bundesliga with several stars reaching the highest pinnacle of the German scene. But who are the greatest Czech players to appear in the Bundesliga?

Jiri Nemec (Schalke)

Plenty of Czech stars looked to make a name as the Czech Republic took on their own identity and few did this better than Jiri Nemec. A handy player with the ball and a reliable passer, Nemec helped dictate the tempo of games in Gelsenkirchen for almost an entire decade. Nemec’s best season for Schalke came in the 1996-97 season where he was a key part of a squad that won the 1997 UEFA Cup title as well as named 1997 Czech Footballer of the Year. On top of that, he also helped Schalke to lift two German Cup titles in both 2001 and 2002. After his 2002 triumph, Nemec left Schalke to return to the Czech Republic before retiring in 2004.

Pavel Kuka (Kaiserslautern, Nurnberg, VfB Stuttgart)

For much of the 1990s, Pavel Kuka was seen as one of Czech Republic’s brightest talents and his form in German football showed why. Kuka not only had an eye for goal but had trickery and skill to cause mayhem anywhere for defending opponents. He showcased this best during his time at Kaiserslautern where he was one of their primary goalscorers. His thirst for goals saw him score 53 goals for the club and was part of the side that won the 1997/98 Bundesliga title. This form saw the likes of Nuremburg and Stuttgart sign Kuka to replicate that form although he struggled to do this for either side. He left German football for good in 2000 returning to Slavia Prague where he stayed until he retired in 2005.

Tomas Rosicky (Borussia Dortmund)

Some players have enjoyed immense success making the move to Germany as Tomas Rosicky found out after joining Borussia Dortmund in 2001. A complete technician, Rosicky penchant for playing exquisite passes and lashing home fierce shots made him a nightmare for any team to deal with. It was why Rosicky became a big part of Dortmund earning success in much of the 2000s. As well as winning the Bundesliga title in 2002, Rosicky was named as Czech Footballer of the Year in 2001 and 2002 as well as nominated for a spot in that season’s Bundesliga Team of the Season. Despite battling injuries, Rosicky remained a top talent and this reputation saw him leave for Arsenal in 2006 and his next chapter in a glittering career.

David Jarolim (Bayern Munich, Nurnberg, HSV)

When it came to fitness and perseverance, few could match David Jarolim in either area. His endless ability to keep going made him a dynamo in midfield that could help at both ends of the pitch. After struggling to break through at Bayern Munich in the late 1990s, Jarolim got his shot with FC Nurnberg in 2000 helping them return to the Bundesliga in 2001. After Nurnberg got relegated in 2003, Jarolim moved to Hamburg where he shone as the anchor in their midfield. It was during this time that Hamburg regularly appeared in the Champions League with many of these games having Jarolim as club captain. After Jarolim left the club in 2012, he had notched up over 260 appearances for the club showcasing his ability to shine brightly at the highest level.

Vladimir Darida (Freiburg, Hertha Berlin)

With drive and determination abound, Vladimir Darida could always be relied upon to push play up the park and pick holes in defences. He first did this with Freiburg after joining from Viktoria Plzen in 2013 showcasing a whole range of skills as Freiburg battled relegation. This eventually caught the eye of Hertha Berlin in 2015 where he became a key part of the team reaching the top half of the table. It was during the 2017-18 season where Darida hit his best form which resulted in him being named 2017 Czech Footballer of the Year. Darida remained with the club until 2022 when he left the club to join Greek side Aris Thessaloniki.

Jan Koller (Borussia Dortmund, Nurnberg)

Towering over 2m tall, few players could handle a figure like Jan Koller in the penalty area. A powerhouse in the box, Koller was just as skillful with his feet as he was in the air making him an excellent target man. He proved this after joining Borussia Dortmund in 2001 from Belgian side Anderlecht. During his time with Dortmund, Koller was a perennial goal threat reaching double figure in almost every season with the club. This included scoring 11 goals in Dortmund’s title winning 2001/02 Bundesliga season. Koller notched up 59 goals during his five seasons at Dortmund before leaving to join Monaco in 2006. Koller briefly returned to the Bundesliga in 2007 for half a season with Nurnberg before leaving to join Russian side Krylia Sovetov in 2008. Despite this, Koller remains a cult icon for Dortmund fans and one of the biggest Czech superstars in recent Bundesliga history.