Zdeněk Grygera

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Zdeněk Grygera
Zdenek Grygera.jpg
Personal information
Full name Zdeněk Grygera
Date of birth (1980-05-14) 14 May 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth Přílepy, Czechoslovakia
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Position(s) Right-back
Centre-back
Youth career
1987–1990 TJ Holešov
1990–1997 FK Svit Zlín
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 FK 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)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Zdeněk Grygera (Czech pronunciation: [ˈzdɛɲɛk ˈɡrɪɡɛra]; born 14 May 1980) is a retired Czech footballer. He usually played as a right back or centre back.

Club career

Grygera (fourth from left, with Urby Emanuelson, Wesley Sneijder, Maarten Stekelenburg, and John Heitinga) played for Ajax from 2003–2007.

Early career

Grygera began his career at Petra Drnovice before moving to Czech club Sparta Prague.[2] In July 2003, he was signed by Dutch club Ajax for an undisclosed fee, estimated to be around €3.5 million.[3] His first goal came for the club came in September 2004, a 5–0 thrashing away at Den Bosch. He soon became a fan favorite, especially after scoring against bitter rivals Feyenoord in the April Klassieker.

Juventus

On 10 January 2007, it was confirmed by Ajax's technical director, Martin Van Geel, that Grygera would be leaving to Juventus on a Bosman transfer when his contract with Ajax expires in June 2007. He was supposed to transfer after the World Cup but the Calciopoli scandal prevented him from doing so.[4] After four fairly successful seasons in the Dutch capital, Grygera moved to Juventus. He expressed his delight over the possibility of playing with one of his Czech compatriots, Pavel Nedvěd. Due to his versatility, he established himself in the Juve line-up. In March, he scored and set up David Trézéguet's goal in a 2–0 win over Genoa and scored a last-gasp equalizer in Derby d'Italia fixture against Juve's bitter rivals Inter on 18 April 2009.[5]

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In summer 2011 Grygera still had one year left to run on his contract at Juventus but it was rescinded by mutual consent on 30 August 2011 and the following day he joined Fulham.[6][7] Grygera received the number 26 jersey and made his debut for Fulham on 15 September 2011 in the Europa League against FC Twente.[8] Grygera suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture during a league match against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, 6 November 2011, which kept him out for the rest of the season.[9]

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."[10]

On 6 December 2012, Martin Jol confirmed that Grygera had decided to retire from English football, to concentrate on returning to full fitness.[11]

International career

A former Czechoslovak youth international, Grygera played for the Czech Republic at Euro 2004, World Cup in Germany and the Euro 2008. At the World Cup in 2006, Grygera's run and cross set up the opening goal for Jan Koller in the Czech's first game against the USA which they won 3–0.[12]

At the European Championships in 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.[13] He was a regular during 2010 World Cup qualifying, playing in 6 of the 10 qualifiers but was not able to help the Czechs qualify for a second consecutive World Cup. Grygera earned his 65th and final national appearance in October 2009.

Honours

AC Sparta Prague

AFC Ajax

References

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External links

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