Full name   SK Slavia Praha

Nickname    Sešívaní (seweds)

Founded     1892

Ground      Stadion Evžena Rošického, Prague

Capacity    19,032

Chairman   Petr Doležal

Manager     Karel Jarolím

League      Gambrinus liga

2006-07     Gambrinus liga, 2nd

SK Slavia Praha (English: Slavia Prague) is a Czech football club founded 1892 in Prague. Together with Sparta Prague it is the most traditional Czech football club.

History and current situation

Slavia Prague was founded in 1892 in Vinohrady, Prague. From the very beginning it was the elite Czech club (together with Sparta Prague) and their matches (derby) were the most famous in Czech football. Slavia won 17 titles, several Czech cups and one time the Mitropa Cup (Central European Cup) in 1938. The latest big success is almost 10 years old: in 1996 Slavia managed to win the Czech 1st League and they also advanced to the UEFA Cup semi-finals.

Currently there are economic problems in Slavia, mainly because their repeated failures to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Slavia is building on young players, many of them are representing their countries in "Under-21" teams. Biggest young hopes are now 18-year old Marek Suchý (U-19), 23-year old Slovak goalkeeper Matuš Kozáčik who represents Slovakia in the U-21 team, and Dušan Švento (21yrs), also Slovak U-21 representative. 

Slavia Prague were drawn against Tottenham Hotspur in the first round of the 2006-07 UEFA Cup. In the first leg, played in Prague on 14 September 2006, Slavia lost 1-0, with Jermaine Jenas scoring the only goal of the game in the 37th minute. In the second leg, played in London on 28 September 2006, Slavia again lost 1-0, this time Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane smashing home an 80th minute winner. Slavia lost the tie 2-0 on aggregate and were knocked out of the UEFA Cup.

The Slavia coach had previously said that his side would have needed "a small miracle" in order to progress to the UEFA Cup Group Stages.

In October 2006, the construction of new and long-awaited stadium at Eden for 21,000 spectators has started. The stadium is to be finished in March 2008.

Ownership

The club are 96.2% owned by ENIC Sports Ltd, who also have significant or controlling stakes in Tottenham Hotspur and AEK Athens. Despite ENIC managing director Daniel Levy being chairman of Tottenham and the registered address of ENIC at Tottenham Hotspur's ground, UEFA have not raised any question of a potential conflict in their 1st round UEFA Cup match.

Notable players

The best known Slavia player of all time is perhaps forward Josef "Pepi" Bican, one of the most prolific goalscorers in the history of football. Other famous players include forward Antonín Puč, goalkeeper František Plánička (both of them members of the Czech national team in two World Cups) and midfielder František Veselý.

Players for Slavia in the 1990s include Patrik Berger, Karel Poborský and Pavel Kuka, who closed his career in 2005. Among current notable players are forwards Vladimír Šmicer (2005 UEFA Champions League winner) and Stanislav Vlček.

Major trophies