Radoslav Kováč

Radoslav Kováč (Czech pronunciation: [ˈradoslaf ˈkovaːtʃ]; born 27 November 1979) is a Czech former professional footballer and currently a manager. Kováč played both in midfield and in defence for Sigma Olomouc, Sparta Prague, Spartak Moscow, West Ham United, FC Basel and Slovan Liberec. At international level, he represented the Czech Republic's U-21 and senior team.

Radoslav Kováč
Kováč at West Ham, November 2009
Personal information
Full name Radoslav Kováč
Date of birth (1979-11-27) 27 November 1979[1]
Place of birth Šumperk, Czechoslovakia
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Centre back / Defensive midfielder
Youth career
1988–1990 Spartak Loučná nad Desnou
1990–1992 TJ Šumperk
1992–1995 Velké Losiny
1995–1997 Sigma Olomouc
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2003 Sigma Olomouc 127 (3)
2003–2005 Sparta Prague 46 (3)
2005–2009 Spartak Moscow 101 (9)
2009 → West Ham United (loan) 9 (1)
2009–2011 West Ham United 44 (2)
2011–2012 Basel 19 (1)
2013–2014 Slovan Liberec 37 (1)
2014–2016 Sparta Prague 21 (0)
National team
1999–2002 Czech Republic U-21 15 (0)
2004–2009 Czech Republic 30 (2)
Teams managed
2020– SFC Opava
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career
Kováč, playing for Spartak Moscow

Early career

Having come through the ranks of Sigma Olomouc, Kováč joined Sparta Prague in 2004. In July 2005, he moved to Russia, where he signed for Spartak Moscow. During a Moscow derby against Lokomotiv Moscow on 20 July 2008, Kováč received a yellow card for tackling a fan who invaded the pitch.[2]

West Ham United

On 30 January 2009, he moved on loan to West Ham United for the remainder of the 2008–09 season.[3] He made his debut for West Ham on 25 February 2009 in a 2–0 FA Cup defeat to Middlesbrough.[4] His first goal for West Ham came in their 3–1 away defeat to Everton on 16 May 2009.[5]

Kováč signed a permanent contract with West Ham United on 11 August 2009 on a three-year contract.[6] He scored his first goal of the 2009–10 season against Portsmouth in the 89th minute on 26 December, playing 90 minutes in a 2–0 win at Upton Park. At the end of the 2010–11 season, with twelve months left on his contract and after 62 league and cup appearances,[7] Kováč left West Ham United.

Basel

In July 2011 Kováč joined reigning Swiss Super League champions F.C. Basel for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract.[8] He made his debut for his new club on 16 July 2011 in the Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf in the 1–1 away draw against BSC Young Boys. At the end of the 2011–12 season he won the Double, the League Championship title[9] and the Swiss Cup[10] with Basel. Kováč scored his first goal for Basel in the 1–1 away draw against Sion on 4 August 2012.[11]

International career

Kováč made his debut on 9 October 2004 in a 1–0 friendly win against Romania. Kováč appeared for his nation in the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008. With the Czech Republic failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, Kováč announced his retirement from international football in January 2010, in order to focus on his club career.[12][13]

International goals
Scores and results list Czech Republic's goal tally first.
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
128 March 2007Liberec, Czech Republic Cyprus1–0WinUEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
219 November 2008Serravalle, San Marino San Marino3–0Win2010 World Cup qualifying

Coaching career

In 2016-2019 Kováč worked as an assistant manager at AC Sparta Praha. In June 2020 he was hired as SFC Opava football manager replacing sacked Jiří Balcárek.[14][15]

Honours

Basel

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References
  1. "Radoslav Kováč". AC Sparta Praha. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  2. Addison, Joe (23 July 2008). "Yellow card for taking down intruder". Soccer America. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  3. "Czech Kovac joins Hammers on loan". BBC Sport. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  4. "Middlesbrough 2–0 West Ham". BBC Sport. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
  5. Everton 3–1 West Ham www.bbc.co.uk
  6. Ashley Gray (11 August 2009). "West Ham sign Czech hardman Radoslav Kovac on permanent deal from Spartak Moscow". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  7. "Welcome to the Wonderful World of West Ham United Statistics Radoslav Kovac". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  8. "Kovac departs". www.whufc.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  9. "Jetzt hat Basel den Titel auf sicher" (in German). football.ch. 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  10. "Matchtelegram FC Basel 1893 5:3 FC Luzern" (in German). football.ch. 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  11. Meister, Remo (2012). "Der FCB holt beim Leader ein Remis" (in German). FC Basel1893. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  12. West Ham and Czech Republic midfielder Radoslav Kovac calls time on international career www.football.co.uk
  13. "West Ham's Radoslav Kovac retires from Czech Republic". BBC Sport. 6 January 2010.
  14. Opava mění trenéra, odvrátit sestup se pokusí bývalý reprezentant Kováč, fotbal iDNES.cz, 10 June 2020.
  15. Opava potvrdila změny. Balcárek končí, mužstvo převezmou Kováč a Skácel, fotbal iDNES.cz, 11 June 2020.
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