Vladimír Šmicer

Vladimír Šmicer ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}; born 24 May 1973) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He started his senior career at Slavia Prague, the only Czech club he ever played for. In 1999, Šmicer moved to England where he played for Liverpool, winning multiple honours. He is perhaps best remembered at Liverpool for his long-range goal in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final victory against Milan. At Liverpool he also won an UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup treble in 2001 as well as the 2003 League Cup.

He also notably played for French sides Lens, with whom he won the Ligue 1 title, and Bordeaux.

At international level, Šmicer played once for the Czechoslovak national side and 80 times for the Czech Republic. He retired from professional football in 2009.

Club career

Liverpool

Šmicer joined Liverpool for a fee of £4.2 million, recruited to fill the void left by the departure of Steve McManaman to Real Madrid. Upon arriving at Anfield in 1999, Šmicer was given the number 7 shirt, although he would later switch to number 11 after the arrival of Harry Kewell. When he left Liverpool in 2005, Šmicer said: "Just signing for Liverpool in itself was a dream because I supported them as a kid. It was a dream come true." He made his Liverpool debut in a match against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough Stadium<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and scored his first Premier League goal in a 3–2 away victory against Watford.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Although Šmicer was plagued with injury problems, he scored the last minute winner against Chelsea in 2002,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and a stunning volley against Borussia Dortmund<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Šmicer also scored Liverpool’s second goal during the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final vs AC Milan. The game ended 3-3, with Liverpool coming back from 3-0 to bring it to penalties. Šmicer would then score Liverpool’s fourth and final penalty to win the game.

Slavia Prague

Upon returning to Slavia Prague in 2007, Šmicer won the Personality of the League award at the Czech Footballer of the Year awards in 2008.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He ended his football career after a goalless draw against Viktoria Plzeň on 9 November 2009, but made his farewell party on 11 May 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

International career

Šmicer began his international career in 1993.Template:Citation neededTemplate:Clarification needed At the Euro 1996, he represented the Czech Republic as they made it to the finals. He was the Czech’s only substitute in the final, coming on in the 88th minute against Germany to replace Karel Poborský. At the Euro 2000, he scored both goals in the national team's only tournament victory, 2–0 against Denmark.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Šmicer did not participate in the 2006 FIFA World Cup due to a leg injury.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Managerial career

Just one day after retiring from football, Šmicer became sports manager of the Czech national team, working alongside head coach Michal Bílek.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

Šmicer stood for minor Czech party VIZE 2014 in the European Parliament election; his stated priority was to reduce obesity among children.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As a result of Šmicer's playing career, he can speak English and French as well as his native Czech.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career statistics

Club

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Czechoslovakia			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
1992–93	Slavia Prague	First League	21	9			-	-	0	0
Czech Republic			League		Czech Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
1993–94	Slavia Prague	Gambrinus liga	18	6			-	-	2	0
1994–95			16	3		0	-	-	1	1		3
1995–96			28	9	4	2	-	-	11	1	43	12
France			League		Coupe de France		Coupe de la Ligue		Europe		Total
1996–97	Lens	Division 1	33	5	0	0	3	0	2	1	38	6
1997–98			28	7	5	3	4	0	6	1	43	11
1998–99			30	4	1	0	4	0	-	-	35	4
England			League		FA Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
1999–2000	Liverpool	Premier League	21	1	2	0	2	0	0	0	25	1
2000–01			27	2	5	1	6	4	11	0	49	7
2001–02			22	4	1	0	1	0	11	1	35	5
2002–03			21	0	1	0	5	0	6	1	33	1
2003–04			20	3	1	0	1	1	3	0	25	4
2004–05			10	0	0	3	0	0	6	1	19	1
France			League		Coupe de France		Coupe de la Ligue		Europe		Total
2005–06	Bordeaux	Ligue 1	25	3	0	0	2	0	-	-	27	3
2006–07			3	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	7	0
Czech Republic			League		Czech Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
2007–08	Slavia Prague	Gambrinus liga	12	2	0	0	-	-	5	0	17	2
2008–09			8	3	3	0	-	-	4	0	15	3
2009–10			3	0	1	0	-	-	1	0	5	0
Total	Czechoslovakia		21	9					0	0
	Czech Republic		85	23					24	2
	France		119	19	8	3	13	0	10	2	150	24
	England		121	10	10	1	15	5	37	3	183	19
Career total			346	61					71	7

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>Template:NFT player</ref>

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
RCS	1993	1	0
	Total	1	0
Czech Republic	1995	1	0
	1996	9	2
	1997	13	8
	1998	8	5
	1999	6	1
	2000	6	2
	2001	7	0
	2002	7	3
	2003	7	3
	2004	6	1
	2005	9	2
	Total	79	27
Total		80	27

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

List of international goals scored by Vladimír Šmicer

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Template:Abbr
1	Template:Dts	Anfield, Liverpool, England	Template:Fb	3–3	3–3	UEFA Euro 1996	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2	Template:Dts	Na Stínadlech, Teplice, Czech Republic	Template:Fb	5–0	6–0	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
3	Template:Dts	Tehelné pole, Bratislava, Slovakia	Template:Fb	1–0	1–2	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
4	Template:Dts	Svangaskarð, Toftir, Faroe Islands	Template:Fb	–	2–0	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
5	Template:Dts	Letná Stadium, Prague, Czech Republic	Template:Fb	1–0	3–0	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
6	Template:Dts	King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	Template:Fb	1–0	2–2	1997 FIFA Confederations Cup	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
7				2–1
8	Template:Dts	King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	Template:Fb	3–0	6–1	1997 FIFA Confederations Cup	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
9				5–0
10				6–0
11	Template:Dts	Andrův stadion, Olomouc, Czech Republic	Template:Fb	1–1	2–1	Friendly	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
12	Template:Dts	Fazanerija City Stadium, Murska Sobota, Slovenia	Template:Fb	1–1	3–1	Friendly	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
13	Template:Dts	Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium, Kobe, Japan	Template:Fb	1–0	1–0	Friendly	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
14	Template:Dts	Svangaskarð, Toftir, Faroe Islands	Template:Fb	1–0	1–0	UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
15	Template:Dts	Koševo City Stadium, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina	Template:Fb	2–0	3–1	UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
16	Template:Dts	Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland	Template:Fb	2–0	2–1	UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
17	Template:Dts	Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège, Belgium	Template:Fb	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2000	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
18				2–0
19	Template:Dts	GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus	Template:Fb	4–3	4–3	Friendly	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
20	Template:Dts	Letná Stadium, Prague, Czech Republic	Template:Fb	1–0	1–0	Friendly	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
21	Template:Dts	Letná Stadium, Prague, Czech Republic	Template:Fb	1–0	5–0	Friendly	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
22	Template:Dts	Na Stínadlech, Teplice, Czech Republic	Template:Fb	3–0	4–0	Friendly	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
23	Template:Dts	Andrův stadion, Olomouc, Czech Republic	Template:Fb	1–0	5–0	UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
24	Template:Dts	Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus	Template:Fb	3–1	3–1	UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
25	Template:Dts	Estádio Municipal, Aveiro, Portugal	Template:Fb	3–2	3–2	UEFA Euro 2004	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
26	Template:Dts	Stadion u Nisy, Liberec, Czech Republic	Template:Fb	3–1	8–1	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
27	Template:Dts	Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway	Template:Fb	1–0	1–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Honours

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,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 2002–03<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• 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

External links

• Template:FIFA player
• Template:UEFA player
• Template:Premier League player
• Player profile at LFChistory.net
• Template:FACR player
• Template:Soccerbase
• Profile and pictures on Sitercl.com