Football in the Czech Republic
Eden Aréna, SK Slavia's Stadium
CountryCzech Republic
Governing bodyFAČR
National team(s)Czech Republic
First played1892 (1892)
Registered players280,000
Clubs15,378
National competitions
Club competitions
International competitions

This article discusses the structure of football leagues in the Czech Republic.[1] These leagues are organised by The Football Association of the Czech Republic (FAČR) (Czech: Fotbalová asociace České republiky).[2] Football is the most popular sport in the Czech Republic.[3]

History

Bohemia was an early adopter of football.[4][5][6] In the Czech Republic, football originated in Bohemia between 1890 and 1900, mainly played by Germans (the country was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire). The best German club was called Regatta Prag. The first known football match in the Czech Republic occurred on the islet located in the Labe River in Roudnice nad Labem in 1887.[7] In 1896 the first derby between SK Slavia Prague and AC Sparta Prague was disputed with the result of 0–1. In 1896, the first Czech championship, won by CFK Kickers Prague (spring) and Deutscher FC Prag (autumn) was disputed. In 1897 the Czech Crown championship was won, won by Slavia and in 1902 the Czech Football Association championship won by the Cesky AFC Vinohrady. Czechoslovak First League was the premier football league in the Czechoslovakia from 1925 to 1993.

In 1901 the Czech Football Federation was created.[8] Between 1903 and 1908, the selection of soccer of Bohemia disputed seven international parties. Subsequently, between 1922 and 1993, the selection and federation of the Czech Republic became the respective ones of Czechoslovakia. As of this last year, the organizations of the Czech Republic revived, again as an independent state.

League system

The highest level is also known as 1st league (Czech: První liga) – officially Fortuna: liga.[9] The winner and team finishing second are promoted from the 2nd Division.

The 2. liga (Second Division) is at the second tier of the football pyramid. The winners of the ČFL and MSFL are promoted to this division, making two clubs in total. Sometimes when two clubs are relegated to the same 3rd division (for example to MSFL), the MSFL relegates three clubs instead of the usual two (example: we have got two downward clubs from 2nd league – from Moravia – to MSFL. From MSFL one club will be promoted and three clubs will be relegated to Moravia-Silesia Divisions (D and E) for the next season. Normally two teams are relegated from the MSFL and three from the ČFL).

Winners of the Czech Fourth Division Bohemian groups (A, B, C) are promoted to the ČFL, whilst in Moravia-Silesia groups (D,E) the teams are promoted to the MSFL.

Winners of Regional Championships are promoted to the Fourth Division (example: winner of the Prague Championship is promoted to Division A).

Level League(s)/Division(s)
1 Czech First League
16 clubs
2 Czech Second Division
16 clubs
3 ČFL (Bohemian Football League)
18 clubs		 MSFL (Moravian–Silesian Football League)
16 clubs
4 Czech Division A
16 clubs		 Czech Division B
16 clubs		 Czech Division C
16 clubs		 Moravia-Silesia Division D
16 clubs		 Moravia-Silesia Division E
16 clubs
5 Prague Championship
16 clubs		 Přebor Středočeského kraje
16 clubs		 Přebor Jihočeského kraje
16 clubs		 Přebor Plzeňského kraje
16 clubs		 Přebor Karlovarského kraje
18 clubs		 Přebor Ústeckého kraje
16 clubs		 Přebor Libereckého kraje
14 clubs		 Přebor Královéhradeckého kraje
16 clubs		 Přebor Pardubického kraje
16 clubs		 Přebor kraje Vysočina
14 clubs		 Přebor Jihomoravského kraje
16 clubs		 Přebor Zlínského kraje
16 clubs		 Přebor Olomouckého kraje
16 clubs		 Přebor Moravskoslezského kraje
16 clubs
6 Level A2 - I.A třída
7 Level A3 - I.B třída
8 Level A4 - II. třída
9 Level A5 - III. třída

National team

Before the break-up of the country, Czech players represented Czechoslovakia, whose national team was for many years one of the leading teams in the world.[10][3] Since the break-up of Czechoslovakia the Czech national team has had success in Euro 96[11] and Euro 2004.[12][13] The selection of the Czech Republic national teams is controlled by the Football Federation of the Czech Republic.

The Czech team played their first official game on February 23, 1994 in Istanbul against Turkey, winning 4-1. The Czech Republic has managed to qualify for one FIFA World Cup and five European Championships. The greatest achievement of the Czech team was reaching the final of Euro 96 in England, eliminating Portugal and France to reach the final against Germany. On June 30, 1996 at Wembley Stadium, the Czech team lost the final 2-1 to Germany after taking the lead with a goal from Patrik Berger, before losing to an extra-time golden goal scored by Oliver Bierhoff. The following year they participated in the FIFA Confederations Cup held in Saudi Arabia, being eliminated in the semifinals after a 2-0 defeat to Brazil.

At the time when the country was part of Czechoslovakia, the national team achieved victory in the 1976 European Championship against Germany in a penalty shoot-out, thanks to the famous penalty of Antonin Panenka.[14] The Czechoslovak team qualified for the World Cup on eight occasions, finishing runners-up in both 1934 and 1962, as well as appearing in three other European Championships.

Women's football

Women's football is well organised in the Czech republic.[15] The women's team debuted on July 21, 1993, before the Slovak national team, in a match won by the Czechs 6–0. The women's team of the Czech Republic has not yet participated in a final phase of the World Cup or the European Championship.[16]

Prague

Prague has six professional football teams and a total of 14 in the top four divisions of national competition.

Below the fourth tier, the Prague Football Association organises the fifth-tier Prague Championship, which is contested by 16 teams, all of which are based in Prague.[17]

Stadia and locations

Locations of Prague clubs in 2022–23 football competitions (top four tiers only, excludes "B" teams)

Clubs

The table below lists all Prague clubs excluding "B" teams in the top four tiers of the Czech football league system: from the top division (the Czech First League), down to the Czech Fourth Division. League status is correct for the 2022–23 season.

ClubStadiumCapacityFoundedNotes
Czech First League (1)
Bohemians 1905 Ďolíček 7,500 1905
Slavia Prague Eden Arena 20,800 1892
Sparta Prague Generali Arena 19,416 1893
Czech 2. Liga (2)
Dukla Prague Stadion Juliska 8,150 1959
Bohemian Football League (3)
Viktoria Žižkov FK Viktoria Stadion 5,037 1903
Admira Prague Stadion v Kobylisích 4,000 1907
Loko Vltavín Stadion na Plynárně 1,500 1898
Motorlet Prague Stadion Motorlet 5,000 1912
Divize A (4)
Aritma Prague Areál SK Aritma 2,000 1908
Meteor Prague Areál Libeň 3,500 1896
Újezd Prague 4 Hřiště SK Újezd 0 1937

Administration

Prague is the location of the headquarters of the Football Association of the Czech Republic, in Diskařská street.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Football in Prague - Sports and Recreation Articles for Prague, Czech Republic". Prague.tv. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  2. ↑ "A new chapter for the Czech Republic :: Total Football Magazine - Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two, Non-League News". Totalfootballmag.com. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  3. 1 2 Goldblatt, David; Acton, Johnny; Garland, Mike (1 September 2009). The Football Book. Dorling Kindersley Limited. ISBN 9781405337380. Retrieved 14 October 2017 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ Josef SMOLÕK. "Football fan culture in the Czech Republic : Development, problems, causes" (PDF). Uff.br. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  5. ↑ Harvey, Adrian (13 May 2013). Football: The First Hundred Years: The Untold Story. Routledge. ISBN 9781134269129. Retrieved 14 October 2017 – via Google Books.
  6. ↑ "Tribute to Czech football legend Josef Masopust (1931 – 2015) - Radio Prague". Radio.cz. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  7. ↑ "PC Sokol Lipník - VIII. - Vědomice". www.petanquelipnik.banda.cz. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  8. ↑ "Czechs maintain impressive tradition | Inside UEFA". UEFA.com. July 9, 2018.
  9. ↑ Seznam.cz. "Nové logo fotbalové ligy zvládne nakreslit i malé dítě. Jakou má podobu?". www.sport.cz. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  10. ↑ Kennedy, Peter; Kassimeris, Christos (22 March 2016). Exploring the Cultural, Ideological and Economic Legacies of Euro 2012. Routledge. ISBN 9781317602149. Retrieved 14 October 2017 – via Google Books.
  11. ↑ "Euro 1996: When football came home". Bbc.co.uk. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  12. ↑ McCarra, Kevin (2 July 2004). "Czech Republic 0 - 1 Greece (aet)". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  13. ↑ "Delaney: Best teams to never win Euros". Espn.co.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  14. ↑ "Euro 2016: Yugoslavia 1976: Panenka's penalty gives Czechoslovakia the title - MARCA English". Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  15. ↑ Hong, Fan (14 October 2017). Soccer, Women, Sexual Liberation: Kicking Off a New Era. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780714684086. Retrieved 14 October 2017 – via Google Books.
  16. ↑ "Czech women will not take the field at Women's World Cup, but ambitious for 2025 Euros". Radio Prague International. July 21, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Pražský fotbalový svaz". Pražský fotbalový svaz.
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