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Vratislav Lokvenc

{{Short description|Czech footballer (born 1973)}}

{{good article}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Vratislav Lokvenc

|image = Vratislav Lokvenc 2013.JPG

|upright = 0.9

|caption = Lokvenc in 2013

|full_name = Vratislav Lokvenc{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players |publisher=FIFA |page=8 |date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2019}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|9|27|df=y}}

|birth_place = Náchod, Czechoslovakia

|height = 1.96 m{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Schaub|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01cb-0f84d1b033ae-aabe9ee2bc9c-1000--beleaguered-basel-opt-for-brute-force/|title=Beleaguered Basel opt for brute force|work=UEFA|date=14 March 2008|access-date=4 February 2015}}

|position = Forward

|youthyears1 = 1980–1986

|youthclubs1 = Náchod

|youthyears2 = 1986–1992

|youthclubs2 = Hradec Králové

|years1 = 1992–1994

|clubs1 = Hradec Králové

|caps1 = 55

|goals1 = 8

|years2 = 1994–2000

|clubs2 = Sparta Prague

|caps2 = 163

|goals2 = 74

|years3 = 2000–2004

|clubs3 = 1. FC Kaiserslautern

|caps3 = 116

|goals3 = 36

|years4 = 2004–2005

|clubs4 = VfL Bochum

|caps4 = 32

|goals4 = 10

|years5 = 2005–2008

|clubs5 = Red Bull Salzburg

|caps5 = 45

|goals5 = 8

|years6 = 2008

|clubs6 = → FC Basel (loan)

|caps6 = 6

|goals6 = 0

|years7 = 2008–2009

|clubs7 = FC Ingolstadt

|caps7 = 23

|goals7 = 6

|totalcaps = 440

|totalgoals = 142

|nationalyears1 = 1993–1996

|nationalteam1 = Czech Republic U21

|nationalcaps1 = 13

|nationalgoals1 = 7

|nationalyears2 = 1995–2006

|nationalteam2 = Czech Republic

|nationalcaps2 = 74

|nationalgoals2 = 14

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

{{medal|Country|{{fb|CZE}}}}

{{Medal|Comp|UEFA European Championship|}}

{{Medal|B|2004 Portugal|}}

}}

Vratislav Lokvenc ({{IPA|cs|ˈvracɪslaf ˈlokvɛnts}}, born 27 September 1973) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a forward. After playing youth football for Náchod and Hradec Králové, he began his senior club career with the latter team. After moving to Sparta Prague he won five league titles and one cup, as well as the 1999–2000 league top scorer award. He subsequently played abroad, playing club football in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for 1. FC Kaiserslautern, VfL Bochum, Red Bull Salzburg, FC Basel and FC Ingolstadt 04. He retired in 2009.

Lokvenc played international football for the Czech Republic. He played at the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup before going on to take part in three major competitions. He made three substitute appearances at Euro 2000 and played in one game at Euro 2004. His last international tournament was the 2006 World Cup, where he played in two group matches before missing the third through suspension. The Czech Republic did not qualify for the next round of the competition and Lokvenc subsequently retired from international football in 2006.

Club career

=Early success=

Lokvenc was born into a football family; his father, also named Vratislav Lokvenc, played club football for FK Ústí nad Labem in the second football league of Czechoslovakia and later Náchod.{{cite web|first=Radomír|last=Machek|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/lokvenc-daval-v-zacich-i-devadesat-golu-dyg-/fot_me2004.aspx?c=A040617_094627_fot_me2004_ot|title=Lokvenc dával v žácích i devadesát gólů|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=17 June 2004|access-date=7 May 2014}}

Born in 1973, Lokvenc started his professional career during the 1992–93 season with Hradec Králové,{{cite book |last=Jeřábek|first=Luboš|title=Český a československý fotbal – lexikon osobností a klubů|year=2007|publisher=Grada Publishing|location=Prague|language=cs|isbn=978-80-247-1656-5|page=113}} joining Sparta Prague in October 1994.{{cite web|first=Jaromír|last=Novák|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/lokvenc-kdyz-chce-mit-fotbalista-vystarano-musi-ven-fyu-/fotbal.aspx?c=A000410231049fotbal_sop|title=Lokvenc: Když chce mít fotbalista vystaráno, musí ven|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=11 April 2000|access-date=7 May 2014}} He featured in the 1995–96 UEFA Cup for Sparta, scoring the first goal and providing the pass for the second in a 2–1 win against Danish club Silkeborg IF, whereby Sparta qualified on the away goals rule for the second round.{{cite web|first=Sakis|last=Kondos|url=http://www.praguepost.cz/archivescontent/21141-three-musketeers-go-to-round-two.html|title='Three Musketeers' Go to Round Two|work=The Prague Post|date=4 October 1995|access-date=7 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508111737/http://www.praguepost.cz/archivescontent/21141-three-musketeers-go-to-round-two.html|archive-date=8 May 2014|url-status=dead}} He scored a goal shortly after entering the game as a substitute in a first round match of the 1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup against Austrian side Sturm Graz; the match finished 2–2.{{cite web|first=Frantisek|last=Bouc|url=http://www.praguepost.cz/archivescontent/24697-crosstown-soccer-rivals-successful-in-theri-european-cup-excursions.html|title=Crosstown soccer rivals successful in their European Cup excursions|work=The Prague Post|date=18 September 1996|access-date=7 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508104642/http://www.praguepost.cz/archivescontent/24697-crosstown-soccer-rivals-successful-in-theri-european-cup-excursions.html|archive-date=8 May 2014|url-status=dead}}

Lokvenc spent six seasons at Sparta Prague, with whom he won five league titles and the 1995–96 Czech Cup. In March 2000, in a match against České Budějovice, Lokvenc scored four times for Sparta as the match finished 4–1.{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/lokvenc-hattrick-a-jeste-gol-navrch-dub-/fotbal.aspx?c=A000319183128fotbal_zej|title=Lokvenc: Hattrick a ještě gól navrch|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=19 March 2000|access-date=7 May 2014}} In doing so he became the third player in the Czech era to score four times in the same match, after Josef Obajdin and Robert Vágner. Lokvenc scored twice in the Prague derby match against Slavia Prague in May 2000, in a 5–1 win which secured the league title for Sparta.{{cite web|first=Frantisek|last=Bouc|url=http://www.praguepost.cz/archivescontent/31888-we-are-the-champions.html|title=We are the champions|work=The Prague Post|date=10 May 2000|access-date=7 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508102229/http://www.praguepost.cz/archivescontent/31888-we-are-the-champions.html|archive-date=8 May 2014|url-status=dead}} He was top scorer of the Czech First League in the 1999–2000 season with 22 goals,{{cite book |last=Jeřábek|first=Luboš|title=Český a československý fotbal – lexikon osobností a klubů|year=2007|publisher=Grada Publishing|location=Prague|language=cs|isbn=978-80-247-1656-5|page=232}} tying the league record, which stood until David Lafata scored 25 goals during the 2011–12 season.{{cite web|first=Miloslav|last=Novák|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/vratislav-lokvenc-nominace-na-nejlepsiho-utocnika-gambrinus-ligy-1ce-/fotbal.aspx?c=A130506_184111_fotbal_min|title=Ukradli mě, vzpomíná Lokvenc, jak místo na Žižkov přestoupil do Sparty|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=7 May 2013|access-date=21 February 2015}}

=Germany=

Lokvenc joined 1. FC Kaiserslautern of the German Bundesliga in 2000, agreeing to the move before the 2000 European Championship.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/teams/czech_rep/758273.stm|title=Czech squad players on the move|work=BBC Sport|date=21 May 2000|access-date=7 May 2014}} Around the same time, a daughter was born to Lokvenc in May 2000. He scored six goals in an 11–1 friendly match win against an amateur side before the start of the season.{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/pan-zdvorily-strili-goly-i-v-kaiserslauternu-fax-/fotbal.aspx?c=A000718130008fotbal_jir|title=Pan Zdvořilý střílí góly i v Kaiserslauternu|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=18 July 2000|access-date=7 May 2014}} In December 2000 Lokvenc scored in the UEFA Cup against Rangers, helping his team qualify for the last 16 of the competition.{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/lokvencuv-gol-pomohl-k-postupu-d3d-/fotbal.aspx?c=A001207_220330_fotbal_hdv|title=Lokvencův gól pomohl k postupu|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=7 December 2000|access-date=7 May 2014}} In the following round Kaiserslautern were paired with Slavia Prague; after the first match had finished goalless, Lokvenc scored the only goal in the second leg of their two-legged tie to eliminate the Czech team.{{cite web|first=Jaromír|last=Novák|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/slavii-vyradil-byvaly-spartan-lokvenc-dhy-/fot_pohary.aspx?c=A010222_222322_fot_pohary_ber|title=Slavii vyřadil bývalý sparťan Lokvenc|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=22 February 2001|access-date=7 May 2014}} He scored a hat-trick in the 2002–03 DFB-Pokal quarter-final against Bochum, a game which finished 3–3 but was won by Kaiserslautern after a penalty shoot-out.{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/lokvenc-se-blyskl-hattrickem-di8-/fot_zahranici.aspx?c=A030205_231554_fot_zahranici_rou|title=Lokvenc se blýskl hattrickem|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=5 February 2003|access-date=7 May 2014}} Lokvenc played in the final of the competition at the end of May 2003, but his side were beaten 3–1 by league winners Bayern Munich as the latter claimed the double.{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/dfb-pokalfinale-bayern-muehelos-zum-double-a-251119.html|title=DFB-Pokalfinale: Bayern mühelos zum Double|language=de|work=Spiegel Online|date=31 May 2003|access-date=18 May 2015}}

Kaiserslautern announced that Lokvenc would be sold in April 2004, citing his salary demands as reasons for his sale.{{cite web|url=http://www.rp-online.de/sport/fussball/vratislav-lokvenc-verlaesst-den-fck-aid-1.1565439|title=Vratislav Lokvenc verlässt den FCK|language=de|work=Rheinische Post|date=29 April 2004|access-date=7 May 2014}} He joined VfL Bochum of the Bundesliga in the summer of 2004, agreeing the transfer before the European Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/019d-0f90238380ca-040217ed559b-1000--lokvenc-bound-for-bochum/|title=Lokvenc bound for Bochum|work=UEFA|date=10 May 2004|access-date=21 February 2015}} Bochum were relegated from the league after 33 games of the 34-game season, with Lokvenc scoring his tenth goal of the season in a 2–0 win at third placed Stuttgart.{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/lokvencuv-gol-uz-bochum-nespasil-dqc-/fot_zahranici.aspx?c=A050514_175724_fot_zahranici_mn|title=Lokvencův gól už Bochum nespasil|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=14 May 2005|access-date=21 February 2015}}

= Late career =

Lokvenc signed for Red Bull Salzburg in the summer of 2005, rejecting offers from Portsmouth and Hertha Berlin.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/4617261.stm|title=Czech striker snubs Pompey offer|work=BBC Sport|date=7 June 2005|access-date=7 May 2014}} He described his move to Salzburg as "the best transfer of my life", arriving around the same time as Germany national team players Thomas Linke and Alexander Zickler.{{cite web|first=Paul|last=Joyce|url=http://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/18-letter-from/1554-austria--red-bull-salzburg|title=Austria – Red Bull Salzburg|work=When Saturday Comes|date=September 2005|access-date=24 February 2015}} Lokvenc only played four league matches in his first season with the club before requiring surgery on an injury to his right knee in November.{{cite web|url=http://ihned.cz/c4-10107050-17173200-000000_d|title=Operace vyřadí Lokvence na půl roku|language=cs|work=Hospodářské noviny|date=9 November 2005|access-date=21 February 2015}} He returned to the team in May 2006, taking part in a match for the first time since July 2005, as he made an appearance as a substitute in a 2–1 home loss against Pasching.{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/sionkuv-gol-nasmeroval-austrii-k-oslavam-f14-/fot_zahranici.aspx?c=A060505_231814_fot_zahranici_ot|title=Sionkův gól nasměroval Austrii k oslavám|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=7 May 2006|access-date=21 February 2015}} The club finished the season as league runners-up, behind Austria Vienna.{{cite web|last1=Exenberger|first1=Andreas|last2=Stokkermans|first2=Karel|year=2006|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oost06.html|title=Austria 2005/06|work=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=19 May 2015}}

Lokvenc scored his first league goal of the 2006–07 Austrian Football Bundesliga in a December match against Altach, levelling the scores as the game finished 1–1.{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/kanonadu-ajaxu-nastartoval-grygeruv-gol-ff7-/fot_zahranici.aspx?c=A061202_181922_fot_zahranici_min|title=Kanonádu Ajaxu nastartoval Grygerův gól|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=4 December 2006|access-date=21 February 2015}} The club went on to win the league in April 2007 with five matches of the season remaining.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01c0-0f8eef79579a-a55236b0a629-1000--salzburg-sizzling-after-title-triumph/|title=Salzburg sizzling after title triumph|work=UEFA|date=29 April 2007|access-date=21 February 2015}}

In October 2007 Lokvenc scored the only goal in Salzburg's 1–0 UEFA Cup first round win against AEK Athens This was not enough for his team to advance, having lost 3–0 in the first leg of their two-legged tie.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01c6-0e6e9de18fa8-5100e182f8e1-1000--ajax-follow-french-pair-out-of-europe/|title=Ajax follow French pair out of Europe|work=UEFA|date=5 October 2007|access-date=28 February 2015}} Lokvenc featured less for Salzburg in the 2007–08 season,{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/lokvenc-odchazi-hostovat-do-basileje-dse-/fot_zahranici.aspx?c=A080216_132133_fot_zahranici_rou|title=Lokvenc odchází hostovat do Basileje|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=16 February 2008|access-date=1 March 2015}} prompting him to join Swiss Super League team Basel on loan in February 2008 for the remainder of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01ca-0e6efcb6f4db-69e562e5ee2c-1000--costanzo-counted-out-for-basel/|title=Costanzo counted out for Basel|work=UEFA|date=15 February 2008|access-date=24 February 2015}} He scored in Basel's 1–0 semi-final Swiss Cup victory against Thun. The club went on to win the 2008 league championship title and the 2008 Swiss Cup.{{cite web|last=Stokkermans|first=Karel|year=2008|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zwit08.html|title=Switzerland 2007/08|work=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=4 February 2015}}

Lokvenc returned to Germany in the summer of 2008, joining Ingolstadt of the 2. Bundesliga.{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/lokvenc-bude-hrat-druhou-nemeckou-ligu-za-ingolstadt-pcv-/fot_zahranici.aspx?c=A080616_174417_fot_zahranici_mah|title=Lokvenc bude hrát druhou německou ligu za Ingolstadt|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=16 June 2008|access-date=24 February 2015}} On 17 August 2008, the Czech played his first competitive match for FC Ingolstadt in a 3–2 victory against SpVgg Greuther Fürth on the first matchday of the second German Bundesliga.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/ingolstadt-gegen-fuerth-2008-bundesliga-863420/analyse|title=Fink-Elf siegt zum Auftakt|work=Kicker-Sportmagazin|publisher=Olympia Verlag GmbH|date=17 August 2008|access-date=29 March 2020|language=de}} Lokvenc scored his first two goals on 5 October 2008 in a 4–2 win on the seventh matchday against Hansa Rostock (a relegated team from the Bundesliga).{{Cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/ingolstadt-gegen-rostock-2008-bundesliga-863765/analyse|title=Leitl wendet das Blatt|work=Kicker-Sportmagazin|publisher=Olympia Verlag GmbH|date=5 October 2008|access-date=29 March 2020|language=de}} Vratislav Lokvenc played in 23 games and scored six goals. Nevertheless, FC Ingolstadt relegated from the second German Bundesliga at the end of the season. After the relegation, Lokvenc left the Bavarians and retires.

= Post-playing career =

After finishing his professional playing career, Lokvenc worked as a scout in the Czech Republic and Slovakia for his former team, Basel.{{cite web|first=Lothar|last=Martin|url=http://www.radio.cz/de/rubrik/sport/ex-fussballprofi-lokvenc-tschechien-muss-nachwuchsarbeit-nach-deutschem-vorbild-ausrichten|title=Ex-Fußballprofi Lokvenc: Tschechien muss Nachwuchsarbeit nach deutschem Vorbild ausrichten|language=de|work=Radio Prague|date=19 October 2011|access-date=24 February 2015}} He also played football in the amateur Czech Fourth Division for Union Čelákovice. He continued to be physically active after his football career, taking part in the 2010 Prague Half Marathon in the same field as former international teammate Pavel Nedvěd.{{cite web|url=http://www.praha.eu/jnp/en/about_prague/city_hall/mayor_of_prague/mayor_of_prague_in_half_marathon.html|title=Mayor of Prague in Half Marathon|work=Portal of Prague|date=5 April 2010|access-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924083010/http://www.praha.eu/jnp/en/about_prague/city_hall/mayor_of_prague/mayor_of_prague_in_half_marathon.html|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}} He was again involved in the Prague Half Marathon in 2015, taking part in a relay alongside Nedvěd, fellow footballer Tomáš Hübschman and 2014 Miss Czech Republic, Tereza Skoumalová.{{cite web|first=Petr|last=Šedivý|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/fotbaliste-nedved-hubschman-a-lokvenc-pobezi-propagovat-mistrovstvi-evropy-do-21-let-gnr-/fot_reprez.aspx?c=A150325_105351_fot_reprez_pes|title=Nedvěd či česká miss na půlmaratonu: Běžíme na mistrovství Evropy|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=25 March 2015|access-date=26 August 2015}}

International career

Lokvenc represented his country at under-21 level, scoring seven goals in 13 matches between 1993 and 1995.

He first played for the senior Czech national team in 1995. Lokvenc was part of the Czech Republic squad at the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup in Saudi Arabia. He took part as a substitute in the group stage match against United Arab Emirates and started the third place play-off game versus Uruguay, which the Czech Republic won to finish third overall in the tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/confederationscup/saudiarabia1997/matches/round=1979/match=17309/index.html|title=FIFA Confederations Cup Saudi Arabia 1997 - United Arab Emirates 1:6 (0:4) Czech Republic - Overview |publisher=fifa.com|access-date=21 February 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/confederationscup/saudiarabia1997/matches/round=1983/match=17488/index.html|title=FIFA Confederations Cup Saudi Arabia 1997 - Czech Republic 1:0 (0:0) Uruguay - Overview |publisher=fifa.com|access-date=21 February 2015}}

=Euro 2000=

At Euro 2000, Lokvenc made a substitute appearance in the Czech Republic's opening game against the Netherlands, replacing Pavel Nedvěd after 89 minutes as the match resulted in a 1–0 win for the Dutch.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/64864--netherlands-vs-czechia/|title=De Boer on the spot as Oranje leave it late|work=UEFA|date=6 October 2003|access-date=7 May 2014}} He replaced Radek Bejbl in the second group match, against France, coming on after 49 minutes in the 2–1 loss.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/64865--czechia-vs-france/|title=France through after edging Czech thriller|work=UEFA|date=6 October 2003|access-date=7 May 2014}} Lokvenc appeared in the third group match against Denmark, although due to both teams having lost both of their previous matches, neither team could advance to the next round of the competition. He came on after 79 minutes, replacing Vladimír Šmicer in a 2–0 win for his nation.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/800887.stm|title=Smicer brace gives Czechs win|work=BBC Sport|date=21 June 2000|access-date=7 May 2014}}

=Euro 2004=

Lokvenc scored twice as a substitute in a June 2003 qualification match against Moldova, scoring both goals with his head in a 5–0 win for his country.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7b32663607-c502cffb30d9-1000--czech-changes-prove-decisive/|title=Czech changes prove decisive|work=UEFA|date=11 June 2003|access-date=21 February 2015}}

He played in one match at Euro 2004. He started the group match against Germany among a group of players which was described by the BBC as "very much a Czech second string", but failed to score and was replaced by Milan Baroš after 59 minutes. The Czech Republic won the match, 2–1.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2004/3787551.stm|title=Germany 1–2 Czech Rep|work=BBC Sport|date=23 June 2004|access-date=7 May 2014}}

=2006 World Cup=

During the qualification process for the forthcoming World Cup, Lokvenc scored five goals for his country. In a November 2004 match, away at Macedonia, he entered the game in the 76th minute as a substitute for Zdeněk Grygera with the game goalless. He scored the first goal of the game with his head, before Jan Koller made the score 2–0 to win the match.{{cite web|first=Igor|last=Panevski|url=https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/0254-0d7b6833af85-8ea21a6feb93-1000--czech-republic-leave-it-late/|title=Czech Republic leave it late|work=UEFA|date=17 November 2004|access-date=21 February 2015}} In March 2005, Lokvenc again scored the deciding goal, this time against Finland in Teplice. In a game in which the Czechs had led 3–1, Finland scored twice to level the scores, however Lokvenc made the score 4–3 with three minutes remaining.{{cite web|first=Ian|last=Willoughby|url=http://www.radio.cz/en/section/sport/sports-news-2005-03-29|title=Sports News|work=Radio Prague|date=29 March 2005|access-date=7 May 2014}} Four days later, Lokvenc scored another goal, heading in a cross from Baroš, in a 4–0 away win against Andorra.{{cite web|first=Ladislav|last=Josef|url=https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/01a7-0f846d3bd81e-ee56a0e33d89-1000--czechs-cheered-by-brilliant-baros/|title=Czechs cheered by brilliant Baroš|work=UEFA|date=30 March 2005|access-date=21 February 2015}} In June of the same year, Lokvenc scored the first and last goals for his nation in an 8–1 home win, also against Andorra.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/01aa-0f8474bd0a3a-f447ee9cb832-1000--czechs-canter-to-emphatic-victory/|title=Czechs canter to emphatic victory|work=UEFA|date=4 June 2005|access-date=21 February 2015}}

At the 2006 World Cup, Lokvenc replaced the injured Jan Koller as a substitute in the first group match, against the USA.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4852720.stm|title=USA 0–3 Czech Republic|work=BBC Sport|date=12 June 2006|access-date=7 May 2014}} He didn't score but received a yellow card as his nation won 3–0. He started the second group match, against Ghana, in the absence of fellow strikers Koller and Baroš due to injury.{{cite web|first=Mitch|last=Phillips|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/17/worldcup2006.sport9|title=Lokvenc ready to plug gap in Czechs' forward line|work=The Guardian|date=17 June 2006|access-date=20 May 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853102.stm|title=Czech Republic 0–2 Ghana|work=BBC Sport|date=17 June 2006|access-date=7 May 2014}} He received another yellow card in the match, which Ghana won 2–0. Due to having received two yellow cards, he was suspended for his country's final group match, against Italy.{{cite web|first=Karel|last=Janicek|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/21/worldcup2006.sport16|title=Baros could be fit to lead the Czech line|work=The Guardian|date=21 June 2006|access-date=24 February 2015}} The Czech Republic lost to Italy and therefore failed to progress to the next stage of the competition.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853358.stm|title=Czech Republic 0–2 Italy|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 June 2006|access-date=7 May 2014}} Lokvenc announced his retirement from international football in September 2006, becoming the third player from the World Cup team to retire after Karel Poborský and Pavel Nedvěd.{{cite web|first=Karel|last=Felt|url=http://www.sport.cz/fotbal/me-2008/clanek/94859-vreprezentaci-zrejme-skoncim-rika-lokvenc.html|title=V reprezentaci zřejmě skončím, říká Lokvenc|language=cs|work=sport.cz|date=5 September 2006|access-date=7 May 2014}} He finished his international career with figures of 14 goals in 74 matches.

Style of play

Lokvenc was particularly noted for his height, being referred to as a "towering forward",{{cite web|first=Ladislav|last=Josef|url=http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=347452.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928010112/http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=347452.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 September 2015|title=Czech lose two towers|work=UEFA|date=29 September 2005|access-date=24 February 2015}} and having "a similar aerial threat" to international teammate Jan Koller. His strength was noted as another of his assets.{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Severn|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=galatasaray-striker-hunt-continues-2002-07-24|title=Galatasaray striker hunt continues|work=Hurriyet Daily News|date=24 July 2002|access-date=24 February 2015}}

Career statistics

=Club=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{NFT|1823}}. Retrieved 13 June 2014.

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

DivisionAppsGoals
rowspan="4"|Fomei Hradec Králové

|1992–93

|Czechoslovak First League

|17

0
1993–94

|rowspan="2"|Czech First League

|29

5
1994–95

|9

3
colspan="2"|Total

!55

8
rowspan="7"|Sparta Prague

|1994–95

|rowspan="6"|Czech First League

|21

8
1995–96

|29

9
1996–97

|30

12
1997–98

|29

12
1998–99

|29

11
1999–00

|25

22
colspan="2"|Total

!163

74
rowspan="5"|1. FC Kaiserslautern

|2000–01

|rowspan="4"|Bundesliga

|30

9
2001–02

|31

11
2002–03

|30

8
2003–04

|25

8
colspan="2"|Total

!116

36
VfL Bochum

|2004–05

|Bundesliga

|32

10
rowspan="4"|Red Bull Salzburg

|2005–06

|rowspan="3"|Austrian Bundesliga

|5

0
2006–07

|23

6
2007–08

|17

3
colspan="2"|Total

!45

9
FC Basel

|2007–08

|Super League

|6

0
FC Ingolstadt

|2008–09

|2. Bundesliga

|23

6
colspan="3"|Career total

!440

143

=International=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year

National teamYearAppsGoals
rowspan="11"|Czech Republic

|1995

20
199740
1998101
199981
2000100
2001113
200251
200352
200491
200554
200651
colspan="2"|Total7414

:Scores and results list the Czech Republic's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lokvenc goal.

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Vratislav Lokvenc{{FACR player|LokvencVratislav}}. Retrieved 13 June 2014.

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

style="text-align:center"|127 May 1998{{fb|KOR}}style="text-align:center"|2–2Friendly
style="text-align:center"|228 April 1999{{fb|POL}}style="text-align:center"|1–2Friendly
style="text-align:center"|315 August 2001{{fb|KOR}}style="text-align:center"|5–0Friendly
style="text-align:center"|45 September 2001{{fb|MLT}}style="text-align:center"|3–22002 FIFA World Cup qualification
style="text-align:center"|56 October 2001{{fb|BUL}}style="text-align:center"|6–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
style="text-align:center"|613 February 2002{{fb|CYP}}style="text-align:center"|4–3Friendly
style="text-align:center"|7rowspan="2"|11 June 2003rowspan="2"|{{fb|MDA}}rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|5–0rowspan="2"|UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
style="text-align:center"|8
style="text-align:center"|917 November 2004{{fb|MKD}}style="text-align:center"|2–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
style="text-align:center"|1026 March 2005{{fb|FIN}}style="text-align:center"|4–32006 FIFA World Cup qualification
style="text-align:center"|1130 March 2005{{fb|AND}}style="text-align:center"|4–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
style="text-align:center"|12rowspan="2"|4 June 2005rowspan="2"|{{fb|AND}}rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|8–1rowspan="2"|2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
style="text-align:center"|13
style="text-align:center"|1430 May 2006{{fb|CRI}}style="text-align:center"|1–0Friendly

Honours

Sparta Prague

1. FC Kaiserslautern

Red Bull Salzburg

FC Basel

Czech Republic

Individual

  • Czech First League top scorer: 1999–2000

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • {{Fortunaliga.cz|151-vratislav-lokvenc}}
  • {{Fotbal DNES|id=3001090|new_id=11202}}
  • {{FACR player|new_id=648|old_id=LokvencVratislav}}
  • {{Soccerway|vratislav-lokvenc/273}}

{{Czech First League top scorers}}

{{Navboxes colour

|title= Czech Republic squads

|bg= #DD0000

|fg= White

|list1=

{{Czech Republic squad 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup}}

{{Czech Republic squad UEFA Euro 2000}}

{{Czech Republic squad UEFA Euro 2004}}

{{Czech Republic squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lokvenc, Vratislav}}

Category:1973 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Náchod

Category:Czech men's footballers

Category:FK Náchod players

Category:FC Hradec Králové players

Category:AC Sparta Prague players

Category:1. FC Kaiserslautern players

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Category:Czech Republic men's international footballers

Category:1997 FIFA Confederations Cup players

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Category:Men's association football forwards

Category:Czech expatriate men's footballers

Category:Czech expatriate sportspeople in Germany

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany

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Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Austria

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Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Switzerland

Category:Footballers from the Hradec Králové Region

Category:21st-century Czech sportsmen