Vladimír Šmicer

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Vladimír Šmicer

| image = Vladimír Šmicer - 53690670918.jpg

| caption = Šmicer in 2024

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|5|24|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/1711/Vladimir-Smicer/overview |title=Vladimír Šmicer: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=10 August 2022}}

| birth_place = Děčín, Czechoslovakia

| height = 1.78 m{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/smicer/ |title=Vladimír Šmicer |publisher=Liverpool F.C. |access-date=10 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050403184750/http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/smicer/ |archive-date=3 April 2005 }}

| currentclub =

| position = Attacking midfielder

| youthyears1 = 1985–1987

| youthclubs1 = Kovostroj Děčín

| youthyears2 = 1987–1992

| youthclubs2 = Slavia Prague

| years1 = 1992–1996

| clubs1 = Slavia Prague

| caps1 = 81

| goals1 = 26

| years2 = 1996–1999

| clubs2 = Lens

| caps2 = 91

| goals2 = 16

| years3 = 1999–2005

| clubs3 = Liverpool

| caps3 = 121

| goals3 = 10

| years4 = 2005–2007

| clubs4 = Bordeaux

| caps4 = 28

| goals4 = 3

| years5 = 2007–2009

| clubs5 = Slavia Prague

| caps5 = 23

| goals5 = 5

| totalcaps = 344

| totalgoals = 60

| nationalyears1 = 1993

| nationalyears2 = 1994–2006

| nationalteam1 = RCS

| nationalteam2 = Czech Republic

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalcaps2 = 80

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalgoals2 = 27

| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|CZE}}}}

}}

Vladimír Šmicer ({{IPA|cs|ˈʃmɪtsɛr}}; born 24 May 1973) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He started his senior career at Slavia Prague, the only Czech club he ever played for. In 1999, Šmicer moved to England where he played for Liverpool, winning multiple honours. He is perhaps best remembered at Liverpool for his long-range goal in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final victory against Milan. At Liverpool he also won an UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup treble in 2001 as well as the 2003 League Cup.

He also notably played for French sides Lens, with whom he won the Ligue 1 title, and Bordeaux.

At international level, Šmicer played once for the Czechoslovak national side and 80 times for the Czech Republic. He retired from professional football in 2009.

Club career

=Liverpool=

Šmicer joined Liverpool for a fee of £4.2 million, recruited to fill the void left by the departure of Steve McManaman to Real Madrid. Upon arriving at Anfield in 1999, Šmicer was given the number 7 shirt, although he would later switch to number 11 after the arrival of Harry Kewell. When he left Liverpool in 2005, Šmicer said: "Just signing for Liverpool in itself was a dream because I supported them as a kid. It was a dream come true." He made his Liverpool debut in a match against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough Stadium{{Cite web|title=Sheffield Wednesday 1 - 2 Liverpool|url=http://www.lfchistory.net/SeasonArchive/Game/2217|website=LFC History|date=24 July 2013|access-date=24 May 2024}} and scored his first Premier League goal in a 3–2 away victory against Watford.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/604991.stm|title=Reds end brave Watford fight|work=BBC News |date=15 January 2000|access-date=17 March 2014}}

Although Šmicer was plagued with injury problems, he scored the last minute winner against Chelsea in 2002,{{cite web|url=http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2002/03/25/story25345.asp|title=Smicer's late strike takes 'Pool to the top|website=Irish Examiner|date=25 March 2002|access-date=10 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050118012230/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2002/03/25/story25345.asp|archive-date=18 January 2005}} and a stunning volley against Borussia Dortmund{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/champions_league/1626478.stm|title=Liverpool cruise through|website=BBC Sport|date=30 October 2001|access-date=10 November 2009}}

Šmicer also scored Liverpool’s second goal during the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final vs AC Milan. The game ended 3-3, with Liverpool coming back from 3-0 to bring it to penalties. Šmicer would then score Liverpool’s fourth and final penalty to win the game.

=Slavia Prague=

Upon returning to Slavia Prague in 2007, Šmicer won the Personality of the League award at the Czech Footballer of the Year awards in 2008.{{Cite web|title=Historie ankety Fotbalista roku|url=http://nv.fotbal.cz/fotbalista-roku/historie/index.php|website=Football Association of the Czech Republic|language=cs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718160825/http://nv.fotbal.cz/fotbalista-roku/historie/index.php|archive-date=18 July 2023}} He ended his football career after a goalless draw against Viktoria Plzeň on 9 November 2009, but made his farewell party on 11 May 2010.{{Cite news|first=Jaromír|last=Novák|title=Fotbalový Eden slavil: Šmicerovu benefici ozdobilo dvanáct gólů|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/fotbalovy-eden-slavil-smicerovu-benefici-ozdobilo-dvanact-golu-pss-/fot_dsouteze.asp?c=A100511_172718_fot_dsouteze_min|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|date=11 May 2010|language=cs}}

International career

Šmicer began his international career in 1993.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}{{Clarification needed|reason=Against which national team?|date=May 2024}} At the Euro 1996, he represented the Czech Republic as they made it to the finals. He was the Czech’s only substitute in the final, coming on in the 88th minute against Germany to replace Karel Poborský. At the Euro 2000, he scored both goals in the national team's only tournament victory, 2–0 against Denmark.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/teams/czech_rep/801500.stm|title=Republic Czech out|website=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=22 June 2000|access-date=31 December 2012}} Šmicer did not participate in the 2006 FIFA World Cup due to a leg injury.{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/czech_republic/5015652.stm|title=Smicer ruled out of Czech squad|website=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=1 June 2006|access-date=13 March 2015}}

Managerial career

Just one day after retiring from football, Šmicer became sports manager of the Czech national team, working alongside head coach Michal Bílek.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2009-11-10-117950009_x.htm|title=Šmicer named Czech national team manager|publisher=USA Today|date=10 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025234731/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2009-11-10-117950009_x.htm|archive-date=25 October 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/8352694.stm|title=Smicer given Czech Republic role|website=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=10 November 2009}}

Personal life

Šmicer stood for minor Czech party VIZE 2014 in the European Parliament election; his stated priority was to reduce obesity among children.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-eu-27378153 |title=Euro elections: Footballer Smicer taking on Europe|website=BBC|date=13 May 2014 |access-date=29 August 2014}} As a result of Šmicer's playing career, he can speak English and French apart from his native Czech.{{Cite news|first=Alexandra|last=Mylnařová |title=Vladimír Šmicer: Rodiče mi dali dva roky, abych ukázal, co ve fotbale umím|url=https://region.rozhlas.cz/vladimir-smicer-rodice-mi-dali-dva-roky-abych-ukazal-co-ve-fotbale-umim-8594911|work=Czech Radio|date=27 January 2022|language=cs}}

Career statistics

=Club=

colspan=3 \| Club performance ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| Cup ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| Continental ! colspan=2 \| Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Season	Club	League ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals
colspan=3 \| Czechoslovakia ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| Cup ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| Continental ! colspan=2 \| Total
1992–93	Slavia Prague	First League	21	9		\|

\|0	0
colspan=3 \| Czech Republic ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| Czech Cup ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| Europe ! colspan=2 \| Total
1993–94	rowspan="3"\|Slavia Prague	rowspan="3"\|Gambrinus liga	18	6		\|

\|2	0
1994–95	16	3		0\|

\|1	1		3
1995–96	28	9	4	2\|

\|11	1	43	12
colspan=3 \| France ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| Coupe de France ! colspan=2 \| Coupe de la Ligue ! colspan=2 \| Europe ! colspan=2 \| Total
1996–97	rowspan="3"\|Lens	rowspan="3"\|Division 1	33	5	0	0	3	0	2	1	38	6
1997–98	28	7	5	3	4	0	6	1	43	11
1998–99	30	4	1	0	4	0\|

\|35	4
colspan=3 \| England ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| FA Cup ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| Europe ! colspan=2 \| Total
1999–2000	rowspan="6"\|Liverpool	rowspan="6"\|Premier League	21	1	2	0	2	0	0	0	25	1
2000–01	27	2	5	1	6	4	11	0	49	7
2001–02	22	4	1	0	1	0	11	1	35	5
2002–03	21	0	1	0	5	0	6	1	33	1
2003–04	20	3	1	0	1	1	\|3	0	25	4
2004–05	10	0	0\|0	3	0	0	6	1	19	1
colspan=3 \| France ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| Coupe de France ! colspan=2 \| Coupe de la Ligue ! colspan=2 \| Europe ! colspan=2 \| Total
2005–06	rowspan="2"\|Bordeaux	rowspan="2"\|Ligue 1	25	3	0	0	2	0\|

\|27	3
2006–07	3	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	7	0
colspan=3 \| Czech Republic ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| Czech Cup ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| Europe ! colspan=2 \| Total
2007–08	rowspan="3"\|Slavia Prague	rowspan="3"\|Gambrinus liga	12	2	0	0\|

\|5	0	17	2
2008–09	8	3	3	0\|

\|4	0	15	3
2009–10	3	0	1	0\|

\|1	0	5	0
rowspan=4 \| Total ! colspan=2 \| Czechoslovakia !21\|\|9\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|0\|\|0\|\|\|\|
colspan=2 \| Czech Republic !85\|\|23\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|24\|\|2\|\|\|\|
colspan=2 \| France !119\|\|19\|\|8\|\|3\|\|13\|\|0\|\|10\|\|2\|\|150\|\|24
colspan=2 \| England !121\|\|10\|\|10\|\|1\|\|15\|\|5\|\|37\|\|3\|\|183\|\|19
colspan=3 \| Career total !346\|\|61\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|71\|\|7\|\|\|\|

=International goals=

:Scores and results list the Czech Republic's goal tally first.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/smicer-intl.html|title=Vladimir Smicer - International Appearances|website=RSSSF|access-date=28 February 2015}}

class="wikitable" \|+ ! # !! Date !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
1.	19 June 1996	{{fb\|RUS}}	3–3	Draw	UEFA Euro 1996
2.	18 September 1996	{{fb\|MLT}}	6–0	Win	1998 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
3.	26 August 1997	{{fb\|SVK}}	1–2	Loss	1998 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
4.	6 September 1997	{{fb\|FAR}}	2–0	Win	1998 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
5.	11 October 1997	{{fb\|SVK}}	3–0	Win	1998 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
6.	rowspan="2" \| 13 December 1997	rowspan="2" \| {{fb\|RSA}}	rowspan="2" \| 2–2	rowspan="2" \| Draw	rowspan="2" \| 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
7.
8.	rowspan="3" \| 17 December 1997	rowspan="3" \| {{fb\|UAE}}	rowspan="3" \| 6–1	rowspan="3" \| Win	rowspan="3" \| 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
9.
10.
11.	25 March 1998	{{fb\|IRL}}	2–1	Win	Friendly
12.	22 April 1998	{{fb\|SVN}}	3–1	Win	Friendly
13.	21 May 1998	{{fb\|PAR}}	1–0	Win	Kirin Cup
14.	6 September 1998	{{fb\|FAR}}	1–0	Win	UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
15.	10 October 1998	{{fb\|BIH}}	3–1	Win	UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
16.	31 March 1999	{{fb\|SCO}}	2–1	Win	UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
17.	rowspan="2" \| 21 June 2000	rowspan="2" \| {{fb\|DEN}}	rowspan="2" \| 2–0	rowspan="2" \| Win	rowspan="2" \| UEFA Euro 2000
18.
19.	13 February 2002	{{fb\|CYP}}	4–3	Win	Friendly
20.	18 May 2002	{{fb\|ITA}}	1–0	Win	Friendly
21.	6 September 2002	{{fb\|FRY}}	5–0	Win	Friendly
22.	30 April 2003	{{fb\|TUR}}	4–0	Win	Friendly
23.	11 June 2003	{{fb\|MDA}}	5–0	Win	UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
24.	6 September 2003	{{fb\|BLR}}	3–1	Win	UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
25.	19 June 2004	{{fb\|NED}}	3–2	Win	UEFA Euro 2004
26.	4 June 2005	{{fb\|AND}}	8–1	Win	2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
27.	12 November 2005	{{fb\|NOR}}	1–0	Win	2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifier

Honours

Slavia Prague

Gambrinus liga: 1995–96, 2007–08, 2008–09

Lens

Liverpool

FA Cup: 2000–01
Football League Cup: 2000–01,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/worthington_cup/1187654.stm |title=Blues shot down as Liverpool lift cup |website=BBC Sport |date=25 February 2001 |access-date=28 March 2024}} 2002–03{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2811805.stm |title=Liverpool lift Worthington Cup |website=BBC Sport |date=2 March 2003 |access-date=27 March 2024}}
UEFA Champions League: 2004–05
UEFA Cup: 2000–01

Bordeaux

Coupe de la Ligue: 2006–07

Czech Republic

UEFA European Football Championship runner-up: 1996

References

External links

{{FIFA player}}
{{UEFA player}}
{{Premier League player}}
[http://www.lfchistory.net/player_profile.asp?player_id=412 Player profile at LFChistory.net]
{{FACR player|new_id=627|old_id=SmicerVladimir}}
{{Soccerbase}}
[http://www.sitercl.com/Fichejo/S/smicervl.htm Profile and pictures on Sitercl.com]

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