Pavel Nedvěd

Pavel Nedvěd is a retired Czech footballer. He was born in 1972 and joined Tatran Skalna when he was five years old. Then he played with Rudá Hvězda Cheb and Skoda Plzeň. His professional career began in 1991 in Dukla Prague, where Nedvěd stayed for a season. Then he moved to Sparta Prague and while he was playing for them the team won Czechoslovak First League in 1992/93 and Gambrinus liga (Czech Republic Football League) in 1993/94 and 1994/95. In 1996 they claimed the Czech Cup title.

In 1996 Nedvěd moved to Italian side Lazio. His debut there came in the game against Cagliari on 20 October 1996. After his first season with the team he became regular. In 1997/98 Lazio won Coppa Italia and was the finalist of the 1997/98 UEFA Cup. In 1998/99 Lazio won the Supercoppa Italiana and UEFA Super Cup. In 2000 they were Serie A and Coppa Italia winners.

In the summer of 2001 he joined Juventus for €41 million. Juventus won Serie A in 2001/02 and 2002/03, in 2002 and 2003 they were Supercoppa Italiana winners. In 2002/03 the team were runners-up in UEFA Champions League. In 2003 Pavel Nedvěd was named Serie A Footballer of the Year and European Footballer of the Year. He picked up an injury in 2004/05 and stayed aside for two months. In 2005/06 Juventus was involved into the Calciopoli scandal and the following season they competed in Serie B and were promoted at the end of the season. He retired after the 2008/09 season.

Between 1994 and 2006 Nedvěd played for the Czech Republic national team and helped his squad to finish runners-up in UEFA Euro 1996 and become the semifinalist of UEFA Euro 2004.