Zdeněk Grygera

Zdeněk Grygera

Personal information
Full name	Zdeněk Grygera[1]
Date of birth	(1980-05-14) 14 May 1980 (age 43)[1]
Place of birth	Přílepy, Czechoslovakia
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)[2]
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1987–1990	TJ Holešov
1990–1997	FK Svit Zlín
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1997–1998	Svit Zlín	20	(1)
1998–2000	Petra Drnovice	54	(3)
2000–2003	Sparta Prague	65	(2)
2003–2007	Ajax	78	(8)
2007–2011	Juventus	87	(3)
2011–2012	Fulham	5	(0)
Total		309	(17)
International career
2001–2009	Czech Republic	65	(2)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Czech Republic UEFA European Championship 2004 Portugal UEFA European Under-21 Championship Winner 2002 Switzerland
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Zdeněk Grygera (Czech pronunciation: [ˈzdɛɲɛk ˈɡrɪɡɛra]; born 14 May 1980) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Club career

Early career

Grygera began his career at Petra Drnovice before moving to Sparta Prague.^[3]

Ajax

In July 2003, he was signed by Dutch club Ajax for an undisclosed fee, estimated to be around €3.5 million.^[4] His first goal came for the club came in September 2004, a 5–0 thrashing away at Den Bosch.^{[citation needed]} He soon became a fan favorite, especially after scoring against bitter rivals Feyenoord in the April Klassieker.^[5]

Juventus

On 10 January 2007, it was confirmed by Ajax Technical Director Martin van Geel that Grygera would be leaving for Juventus on a Bosman transfer when his contract with Ajax expired in June 2007. He was supposed to transfer after the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but the Calciopoli scandal prevented him from doing so.^[6] He expressed his delight over the possibility of playing with one of his Czech compatriots, Pavel Nedvěd.^{[citation needed]}

Due to his versatility, he soon established himself in the Juventus starting lineup.^{[citation needed]} In March, he scored and subsequently set up David Trezeguet's goal in a 2–0 win over Genoa,^{[citation needed]} and also scored a last-gasp equalizer in the club's Derby d'Italia fixture against rivals Internazionale on 18 April 2009.^[7]

Fulham

In summer 2011, Grygera still had one year left to run on his contract at Juventus, but it was rescinded by mutual consent on 30 August 2011. The following day, he joined English Premier League side Fulham.^[8][9] He received the number 26 jersey and made his Fulham debut on 15 September 2011 in the UEFA Europa League against Twente.^[10] Grygera suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture during a league match against Tottenham Hotspur on 6 November 2011, which kept him out for the rest of the season.^[11]

Grygera's contract with Fulham was up for renewal at the end of the 2011–12 season. Manager Martin Jol, said, "Hopefully he can prove himself before the end of August. If he proves he's fit I would like to keep him."^[12]

On 6 December 2012, Jol confirmed that Grygera had decided to retire from football to concentrate instead on returning to full fitness.^[13]

International career

Grygera was part of the Czech side which won the UEFA U-21 Championships in 2002.^[14] A former Czech youth international, Grygera played for the Czech Republic at UEFA Euro 2004, the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008.^{[citation needed]} At the 2006 World Cup, Grygera's run and cross set up the opening goal for Jan Koller in the Czechs' first game against the United States, which they won 3–0.^[15]

At Euro 2008, Grygera was involved in a rough challenge with Swiss striker Alexander Frei during the first half of the tournament's opening game, which tore Frei's knee ligaments and forced the player out of rest of the tournament.^[16] He was a regular during 2010 World Cup qualifying, playing in six of the ten qualifiers, but was not able to help the Czechs qualify for a second consecutive World Cup.^{[citation needed]} Grygera made his 65th and final national appearance in October 2009.^{[citation needed]}

Style of play

Grygera was known for his work-rate, competitiveness, and versatility, and usually played as a full-back, wing-back, or winger along right flank, although he was also capable of playing on the left, or as a centre-back; while being solid defensively, he was also known for his ability to get forward and for his all-round good quality of play.^{[17][18][19][20]}

Honours

Sparta Prague

• Gambrinus Liga: 2000–01, 2002–03

Ajax

• Eredivisie: 2003–04
• KNVB Cup: 2005–06, 2006–07
• Johan Cruijff Shield: 2005

References

External links

• Zdeněk Grygera – UEFA competition record (archive)
• Zdeněk Grygera at FAČR (also at old FAČR website) (in Czech)
• Premier League profile
• Zdeněk Grygera at Soccerbase

This page was last edited on 17 September 2023, at 10:02