Alex Král
{{Short description|Czech footballer (born 1998)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Alex Král
| image = SPA-ZEN 09.19 (2).jpg
| caption = Král with Spartak Moscow in 2019
| full_name = Alex Král{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/2247219 |title=2021/22 Premier League squads confirmed |publisher=Premier League |date=10 September 2021 |access-date=13 September 2021}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|05|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = Košice, Slovakia[https://footballtalentscout.net/2016/11/18/alex-kral/ Alex Král | Football Talent Scout], footballtalentscout.net
| position = Defensive midfielder[https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/alex-kral/ Profile on WorldFootball], worldfootball.net
| currentclub = Espanyol
(on loan from Union Berlin)
| clubnumber = 20
| youthyears1 = 2004–2007
| youthclubs1 = Moravská Slavia Brno
| youthyears2 = 2007–2012
| youthclubs2 = Zbrojovka Brno
| youthyears3 = 2012–2017
| youthclubs3 = Slavia Prague
| years1 = 2017–2019
| clubs1 = Teplice
| caps1 = 43
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2019
| clubs2 = Slavia Prague
| caps2 = 18
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2019–2023
| clubs3 = Spartak Moscow
| caps3 = 53
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2021–2022
| clubs4 = → West Ham United (loan)
| caps4 = 1
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2022–2023
| clubs5 = → Schalke 04 (loan)
| caps5 = 29
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2023–
| clubs6 = Union Berlin
| caps6 = 24
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2024–
| clubs7 = → Espanyol (loan)
| caps7 = 27
| goals7 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2014–2015
| nationalteam1 = Czech Republic U17
| nationalcaps1 = 18
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2015–2016
| nationalteam2 = Czech Republic U18
| nationalcaps2 = 13
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2016–2017
| nationalteam3 = Czech Republic U19
| nationalcaps3 = 20
| nationalgoals3 = 1
| nationalyears4 = 2017
| nationalteam4 = Czech Republic U20
| nationalcaps4 = 3
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2017–2018
| nationalteam5 = Czech Republic U21
| nationalcaps5 = 9
| nationalgoals5 = 1
| nationalyears6 = 2019–
| nationalteam6 = Czech Republic
| nationalcaps6 = 45
| nationalgoals6 = 2
| club-update = 15 March 2025
| nationalteam-update = 25 March 2025
}}
Alex Král (born 19 May 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Spanish {{Spanish football updater|Espanyol}} club Espanyol on loan from German club Union Berlin. Born in Slovakia, he represents the Czech Republic national team at international level.
Early life
Born in Slovakia, Král's family moved to Štýřice, Brno in the Czech Republic, when he was a child. He began playing football at SK Moravská Slavia Brno aged six, before joining Zbrojovka Brno aged nine. At 14, he was scouted and recruited by Slavia Prague moving to Prague to continue his development.
Club career
=Slavia Prague=
=Spartak Moscow=
On 1 September 2019, he signed a five-year contract with the Russian Premier League club Spartak Moscow. He has since played for the club for several seasons, which included participation in the UEFA Champions League.{{cite press release|publisher=FC Spartak Moscow|url=https://spartak.com/news/2019-09-01-vtej_aleks_kral/|title=Vítej, Алекс Крал!|trans-title=Welcome, Alex Kral|date=1 September 2019|language=ru}}
==Loan to West Ham United==
On 31 August 2021, Král joined English side West Ham United on a season-long loan with an option to make the deal permanent.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/august/31-august/west-ham-united-bring-czech-republic-midfielder-alex-kral-loan|title=West Ham United bring in Czech Republic midfielder Alex Král on loan |website=West Ham United F.C.|date=31 August 2021|access-date=31 August 2021}}
He made his debut on 22 September in a 1–0 win against Manchester United in the EFL Cup at Old Trafford.{{Cite news|title= Manchester United 0-1 West Ham United|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58566906|access-date=23 September 2021|date=22 September 2021}} His league debut followed when he came on as a substitute in a 4–1 win at Watford on 28 December 2021.{{Cite news|title=Watford 1-4 West Ham|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59736887|access-date=16 March 2022|date=28 December 2021}} Král made one appearance in the Premier League, three times in the Europa League and once in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup before his loan ended.{{Cite web|url=https://insidefutbol.com/2022/05/30/he-thought-hed-play-more-at-west-ham-national-team-boss-on-hammers-loanee/561579/|title=He Thought He'd Play More At West Ham – National Team Boss On Hammers Loanee|date=30 May 2022|website=Inside Futbol|access-date=3 June 2022}}
==Contract suspension and Schalke 04==
On 1 July 2022, Spartak announced that Král suspended his contract with Spartak Moscow for the 2022–23 season using FIFA's special regulations related to the international response and other fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{cite press release|publisher=FC Spartak Moscow|url=https://spartak.com/news/2022-07-01-kral_priostanovil_deystviye_kontrakta_so_spartakom/|title=Крал приостановил действие контракта со "Спартаком"|date=1 July 2022|access-date=1 July 2022|language=ru}} On 14 July 2022, Schalke 04 announced the signing of Král to a one-year contract, and under FIFA regulations he remained a Spartak player temporarily playing for Schalke 04.{{cite press release|title=Alex Král joins Schalke 04 for 2022/23 |url=https://schalke04.de/en/team/alex-kral-joins-schalke-04-for-2022-23/ |website=schalke04.de |publisher=FC Schalke 04 |access-date=14 July 2022 |date=14 July 2022}}
=Union Berlin=
On 2 June 2023, Union Berlin announced the signing of Král ahead of the new season.{{cite web|url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/en/union-live/latest-news/professional/Alex-Kral-moves-to-Koepenick-1330z/|title=Alex Kral moves to Köpenick|website=1. FC Union Berlin|date=2 June 2023|accessdate=12 August 2024}} In his first season at the club, Král made 24 appearances in the Bundesliga, two appearances in the DFB-Pokal, and a further six appearances in Union Berlin's maiden campaign in the Champions League.{{cite web|url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/en/union-live/latest-news/professional/Alex-Kral-to-Espanyol-1628M/|title=Alex Král to Espanyol|website=1. FC Union Berlin|date=7 August 2024|accessdate=12 August 2024}}
==Loan to Espanyol==
On 7 August 2024, Král was loaned out to newly promoted La Liga side Espanyol.{{cite web|publisher=Espanyol|url=https://www.rcdespanyol.com/ca/noticia/kral,-nou-jugador-del-rcd-espanyol/17460|title=Král, nou jugador del RCD Espanyol|trans-title=Král, new RCD Espanyol player|date=7 August 2024|access-date=7 August 2024|language=ca}}
International career
Král made his debut for the Czech Republic national team on 26 March 2019 in a friendly against Brazil, as a 69th-minute substitute for David Pavelka.{{cite web|publisher=ESPN|url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/match?gameId=535314|title=Czech Republic v Brazil game report|date=26 March 2019}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 15 March 2025}}{{soccerway|access-date=31 August 2021}}{{WorldFootball.net}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Czech Cup, Russian Cup, FA Cup, DFB-Pokal}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="4"|Teplice
|3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18
|Czech First League |23 | 1 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 2 | |||
| 2018–19
|Czech First League |17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!43 | 1 | 5 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 48 | 2 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Slavia Prague
|Czech First League |12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 1 | ||
| 2019–20
|Czech First League |6 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Czechoslovak Supercup}} | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 1 | |
| rowspan="4"|Spartak Moscow
|19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 23 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21
|Russian Premier League |29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22
|Russian Premier League |5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!53 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 60 | 0 | ||
| West Ham United (loan)
|1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in EFL Cup}} | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Schalke 04 (loan)
|29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 0 | |||
| Union Berlin
|Bundesliga |24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6{{efn|name=UCL}} | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 1 | ||
| Espanyol (loan)
|27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!195 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 236 | 4 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 25 March 2025}}{{NFT player|access-date=2 November 2019}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals | ||
| rowspan="7"|Czech Republic
|2019 | 9 | 2 |
| 2020 | 7 | 0 |
| 2021 | 13 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 |
| colspan="2"|Total||45||2 |
|---|
:Scores and results list the Czech Republic's goal tally first.
| class="wikitable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Alex Král ! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition | ||||||
| 1. | 14 October 2019 | Generali Arena, Prague, Czech Republic | {{fb|NIR}} | align=center | 2–3 | align=center | 2–3 | Friendly |
| 2. | 14 November 2019 | Doosan Arena, Plzeň, Czech Republic | {{fb|KOS}} | align=center | 1–1 | align=center | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
Honours
Slavia Prague
- Czech First League: 2018–19
- Czech Cup: 2018–19{{cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2019/05/22/czech-republic/cup/fc-banik-ostrava/sk-slavia-praha/3005125/|title=BANÍK OSTRAVA VS. SLAVIA PRAGUE 0 - 2|website=Soccerway|date=22 May 2019|accessdate=30 September 2021}}
Individual
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2017{{cite web|title=Technical Report|url=http://www.uefa.com/under19/season=2017/technical-report/uefa-technical-team/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104084104/http://www.uefa.com/under19/season=2017/technical-report/uefa-technical-team/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2017|publisher=UEFA|access-date=5 October 2017}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{FACR player|new_id=4241}}
- {{UEFA player|id=250077921|archive=20190515002435}}
- {{NFT player}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20211108101131/https://www.whufc.com/teams/first-team/squad/alex-kral#Profile Alex Král] at West Ham United F.C. (archived)
- {{Soccerbase|106039}}
- {{Soccerway}}
- {{WorldFootball.net}}
{{RCD Espanyol squad}}
{{Czech Republic squad UEFA Euro 2020}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kral, Alex}}
Category:Czech men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:SK Slavia Prague players
Category:FC Spartak Moscow players
Category:West Ham United F.C. players
Category:FC Schalke 04 players
Category:1. FC Union Berlin players
Category:RCD Espanyol footballers
Category:Czech First League players
Category:Russian Premier League players
Category:Premier League players
Category:Czech Republic men's youth international footballers
Category:Czech Republic men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Czech Republic men's international footballers
Category:UEFA Euro 2020 players
Category:Czech expatriate men's footballers
Category:Czech expatriate sportspeople in Russia
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Russia
Category:Czech expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Footballers from Košice
Category:Slovak expatriate sportspeople in the Czech Republic
Category:Footballers from Brno
Category:Czech expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:Czech expatriate sportspeople in Spain