:Jan Suchopárek

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Jan Suchopárek

| image = Jan Suchopárek 2010-10-19.jpg

| caption = Suchopárek in 2010

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|09|23|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Kladno, Czechoslovakia

| height = 1.84 m

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 = 1974–1988

| youthclubs1 = Poldi Kladno

| years1 = 1988–1991

| years2 = 1991–1996

| years3 = 1996–1999

| years4 = 1999–2000

| years5 = 2000–2003

| years6 = 2003–2005

| clubs1 = Dukla Prague

| clubs2 = Slavia Prague

| clubs3 = Strasbourg

| clubs4 = Tennis Borussia Berlin

| clubs5 = Slavia Prague

| clubs6 = Kladno

| caps1 = 66

| caps2 = 132

| caps3 = 76

| caps4 = 23

| caps5 = 17

| caps6 = 51

| goals1 = 7

| goals2 = 24

| goals3 = 1

| goals4 = 1

| goals5 = 0

| goals6 = 9

| manageryears1 = 2003–2010

| manageryears2 = 2010–2016

| manageryears3 = 2016–2017

| manageryears4 = 2017–2018

| manageryears5 = 2018–2019

| manageryears6 = 2019–2020

| manageryears7 = 2020–2021

| manageryears8 = 2021–2025

| managerclubs1 = Kladno (youth)

| managerclubs2 = Dukla Prague (assistant)

| managerclubs3 = Czech Republic U19

| managerclubs4 = Czech Republic U18

| managerclubs5 = Czech Republic U19

| managerclubs6 = Czech Republic U18

| managerclubs7 = Czech Republic U19

| managerclubs8 = Czech Republic U21

| nationalyears1 = 1991–1993{{Cite web|first=Jiří|last=Slavík|title=Jan Suchopárek {{!}} International Appearances|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/suchoparek-intl.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=3 March 2025}}

| nationalyears2 = 1994–2000

| nationalteam1 = Czechoslovakia

| nationalteam2 = Czech Republic

| nationalcaps1 = 13

| nationalcaps2 = 48

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalgoals2 = 4

| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}}

{{MedalCountry|{{fb|CZE}}}}

}}

Jan Suchopárek (born 23 September 1969){{Cite web|first=Zdeněk|last=Pavlis|title=Netuším, kde stříbrná medaile skončila, vzpomíná kalič Suchopárek nejen na Euro v Anglii či titul získaný i promarněný se Slavií|url=https://www.sport.cz/clanek/podcasty-kopacky-na-hrebiku-netusim-kde-stribrna-medaile-skoncila-vzpomina-kalic-suchoparek-nejen-na-euro-v-anglii-ci-titul-ziskany-i-promarneny-se-slavii-5028846|website=Sport.cz|date=25 May 2024|access-date=3 March 2025|language=cs}} is a Czech football coach and former defender who serves as head coach of the Czech Republic U21 national team.

He played for Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic, playing a combined total of 61 international matches, scoring four goals. Suchopárek was a participant at UEFA Euro 1996, where the Czech Republic won the silver medal. He scored in the group stage against Russia and played in the UEFA Euro 1996 Final, where the Czech Republic lost to Germany.

At club level, Suchopárek played for Prague teams Dukla and Slavia before moving to France, where he played for RC Strasbourg. He finished his career in the Czech Second League, where he played for Kladno.

Playing career

=Early career=

Suchopárek was born in Kladno. In his country, he played for Dukla Prague before moving on to Slavia Prague, where he played from 1991 to 1996. In this time he captained the title-winning team in the 1995–96 Czech First League.{{cite news |first=Jaromír|last=Novák|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/kdyz-je-cas-porad-jeste-hraju-prace-vseho-druhu-usmiva-se-suchoparek-1g0-/fot_reprez.aspx?c=A090713_162630_fot_reprez_mn|title=Když je čas, pořád ještě hraju. Práce všeho druhu, usmívá se Suchopárek|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|location=Czech Republic|date=14 July 2009|access-date=21 April 2012|language=cs}}

=UEFA Euro 1996=

Suchopárek played in the Czech Republic's opening game of the UEFA Euro 1996 tournament, a loss to Germany. He picked up a yellow card in the next group match against Italy, which the Czechs won against expectations, by a 2–1 scoreline.{{cite news |first=Guy|last=Hodgson|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/italians-left-on-the-brink-of-disaster-1337224.html|title=Italians left on the brink of disaster|newspaper=The Independent|date=15 June 1996|access-date=21 April 2012}} Suchopárek scored with a header in the last group match against Russia, which finished 3–3 and meant that the Czech Republic advanced to the quarter-finals of the tournament.{{Cite news|first=Phil|last=Shaw|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/smicer-strike-takes-czechs-through-1337980.html|title=Smicer strike takes Czechs through|newspaper=The Independent|date=20 June 1996|access-date=21 April 2012}}

Suchopárek was shown the yellow card in the first minute of the quarter-final match against Portugal,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2004/3787541.stm|title=Latvia 0–0 Germany|work=BBC Sport|date=19 June 2004|accessdate=21 April 2012}} which the Czechs went on to win 1–0 thanks to a Karel Poborský strike. However, since he had received two yellow cards in the tournament, Suchopárek was one of four Czech players to miss the semi-final clash with France due to suspension.{{cite news |first=Jon|last=Culley|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/poborsky-piques-portugal-1338497.html|title=Poborsky piques Portugal|newspaper=The Independent|date=24 June 1996|access-date=21 April 2012}} He returned to the team for the final against Germany, although again the Germans prevailed, winning 2–1 thanks to a golden goal in extra time.

=Abroad transfers=

Suchopárek was one of players from the Czech squad at UEFA Euro 1996 who left the Czech Republic to play in another country after the tournament, signing for RC Strasbourg in July 1996.{{cite news |first=Simon|last=Turnbull|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/all-aboard-gravy-train-1327682.html|title=All aboard gravy train|newspaper=The Independent|date=7 July 1996|access-date=18 April 2012}}

During his time playing club football abroad, Suchopárek continued to represent his national team, playing the complete 90 minutes of seven consecutive games in UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying.{{cite news |first=Milan|last=Macho|url=http://sport.idnes.cz/nejvic-se-pricinili-suchoparek-a-nemec-nechybeli-ani-minutu-p44-/sporty.aspx?c=1999M137S06A|title=Nejvíc se přičinili Suchopárek a Němec, nechyběli ani minutu|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|location=Czech Republic|date=14 June 1999|access-date=21 April 2012|language=cs}} However, despite the Czech Republic qualifying, Suchopárek missed the UEFA Euro 2000 tournament due to a knee injury.{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/teams/czech_rep/750705.stm|title=Suchopárek admits defeat over injury|website=BBC Sport|date=16 May 2000|accessdate=21 April 2012}}

=Return to the Czech Republic=

Following three years in France with Strasbourg and a further year in Germany at Tennis Borussia Berlin, Suchopárek returned to the Czech Republic to play for Slavia Prague again in 2000.{{Cite news|first=Jaromír|last=Novák|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/suchoparkovi-vadi-ze-zatim-moc-nehral-d8o-/fot_pohary.aspx?c=A010920_095926_fot_pohary_mn|title=Suchopárkovi vadí, že zatím moc nehrál|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|date=20 September 2001|access-date=17 April 2012|language=cs}}

Suchopárek captained Slavia during his second spell.{{Cite news|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/suchoparek-veri-v-uspesnou-odvetu-d59-/fot_pohary.aspx?c=A010215_212913_fot_pohary_mn|title=Suchopárek věří v úspěšnou odvetu|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|location=Czech Republic|date=15 February 2001|access-date=21 April 2012|language=cs}} He had surgery in March 2001 following a tear of meniscus, being the second knee operation he had within a year.{{Cite news|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/kapitan-fotbalistu-slavie-je-po-operaci-fcu-/fotbal.aspx?c=A010320_215706_fotbal_hdv|title=Kapitán fotbalistů Slavie je po operaci|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|location=Czech Republic|date=20 March 2001|access-date=21 April 2012|language=cs}} In 2001, following Slavia's exit from the 2001–02 UEFA Cup in the first round, Suchopárek was sent to the "B" team of Slavia due to inadequate performances.{{cite news |url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/suchoparek-byl-prerazen-do-becka-do2-/fotbal.aspx?c=A011005_153542_fotbal_rou|title=Suchopárek byl přeřazen do béčka|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|location=Czech Republic|date=5 October 2001|access-date=21 April 2012|language=cs}}

He later moved to SK Kladno to finish his playing career in the Czech 2. Liga.{{cite news |first=Jaroslav|last=Beránek|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/suchoparek-konci-zahodil-i-kopacky-dtl-/fotbal.aspx?c=A030525_001728_fotbal_ber|title=Suchopárek končí, zahodil i kopačky|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|location=Czech Republic|date=25 May 2003|access-date=17 April 2012|language=cs}} While playing for Kladno in 2004, Suchopárek dislocated his shoulder attempting a bicycle kick.{{Cite news|first=Jaroslav|last=Beránek|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/suchoparkovi-se-paradicka-vymstila-d68-/fot_dsouteze.aspx?c=A040520_122535_fot_dsouteze_ber|title=Suchopárkovi se parádička vymstila|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|location=Czech Republic|date=20 May 2004|access-date=18 April 2012|language=cs}}

Suchopárek retired from professional football following the end of the 2004–05 Czech 2. Liga, in which Kladno finished fourth and missed promotion to the Czech First League on the last day of the season.{{Cite news|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/zazraky-se-nedeji-kladno-nepostupuje-dwt-/fot_dsouteze.aspx?c=A050610_075942_fot_dsouteze_rav|title=Zázraky se nedějí. Kladno nepostupuje|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|location=Czech Republic|date=10 June 2005|access-date=21 April 2012|language=cs}}

Post-playing career

During his time at Kladno, Suchopárek started studying for the UEFA Pro Licence, which he completed after two years.

Following his playing career, Suchopárek became a coach at SK Kladno, where he remained until 2010, when he moved to FK Dukla Prague to become assistant to Luboš Kozel.{{Cite news|first=Richard|last=Valoušek|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/suchoparek-pivo-si-dneska-dam-casteji-ne-jenom-po-zapase-pje-/fot_dsouteze.aspx?c=A100428_103954_fot_dsouteze_par|title=Suchopárek: Pivo si dneska dám častěji, ne jenom po zápase|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|location=Czech Republic|date=28 April 2010|access-date=17 April 2012|language=cs}} He is also a coach for the Czech Republic U21 national team.{{cite news |url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/nektere-vykony-se-musi-zlepsit-rikal-kouc-suchoparek-po-vysoke-vyhre-1kw-/fot_reprez.aspx?c=A100811_211639_fot_reprez_ot|title=Některé výkony se musí zlepšit, říkal kouč Suchopárek po vysoké výhře|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|location=Czech Republic|date=11 August 2010|access-date=21 April 2012|language=cs}} At the end of the 2015–16 season, Suchopárek left Dukla, along with Kozel, following the expiry of their contracts. He was named new head coach of the Czech Republic U19, replacing Pavel Malura.{{Cite news|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/fotbal-kozel-dukla-konec-08g-/fotbal.aspx?c=A160514_120120_fotbal_rou|title=V Dukle končí Kozel i Suchopárek, trenérem se stal Šilhavý|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|date=14 May 2016|access-date=15 May 2016|language=cs}}