Zdeněk Grygera facts for kids

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Zdeněk Grygera

Personal information
Full name	Zdeněk Grygera
Date of birth	(1980-05-14) 14 May 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth	Přílepy, Czechoslovakia
Height	1.84 m (6 ft +1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Defender
Youth career
1987–1990	TJ Holešov
1990–1997	FK Svit Zlín
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1997–1998	Svit Zlín	20	(1)
1998–2000	Petra Drnovice	54	(3)
2000–2003	Sparta Prague	65	(2)
2003–2007	Ajax	78	(8)
2007–2011	Juventus	87	(3)
2011–2012	Fulham	5	(0)
Total		309	(17)
National team
2001–2009	Czech Republic	65	(2)
Honours Men's football Representing  Czech Republic UEFA European Championship Bronze 2004 Portugal UEFA European Under-21 Championship Winner 2002 Switzerland
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Zdeněk Grygera (Czech pronunciation: [ˈzdɛɲɛk ˈɡrɪɡɛra]; born 14 May 1980) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Club career

Early club career

Grygera began his career at Petra Drnovice before moving to Sparta Prague.

Grygera (fourth from left) played for Ajax from 2003 to 2007.

In July 2003, Grygera was signed by Dutch club Ajax for an undisclosed fee, estimated to be around €3.5 million. His first goal came for the club came in September 2004, a 5–0 thrashing away at Den Bosch. He soon became a fan favorite, especially after scoring against bitter rivals Feyenoord in the April Klassieker.

On 10 January 2007, Ajax Technical Director Martin van Geel announced that Grygera left Juventus on a Bosman transfer when his contract with Ajax expired in June 2007. He was supposed to transfer after the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but the Calciopoli scandal prevented him from doing so. On 18 April 2019, Grygera scored a last-gasp equalizer in the club's Derby d'Italia fixture against rivals Internazionale on 18 April 2009.

Fulham

In summer 2011, Grygera still had one year left to run on his contract at Juventus, but it was rescinded by mutual consent the same year on 30 August. The following day, he joined Premier League club Fulham. He received the number 26 jersey and made his Fulham debut on 15 September 2011 in the UEFA Europa League against Twente. Grygera suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture during a league match against Tottenham Hotspur on 6 November 2011, which kept him out for the rest of the season.

Grygera's contract with Fulham was up for renewal at the end of the 2011–12 season. Manager Martin Jol said: "Hopefully he can prove himself before the end of August. If he proves he's, fit I would like to keep him." On 6 December 2012, Jol confirmed that Grygera had decided to retire from football to concentrate instead on returning to full fitness.

International career

Grygera was part of the which won the UEFA U-21 Championships in 2002. In 2001, he debuted for the senior squad during a friendly match against South Korea. At the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Grygera's run and cross set up the opening goal for Jan Koller in the Czechs' first match against the United States, which they 3–0. At UEFA Euro 2008 Grygera was involved in a rough challenge with Swiss striker Alexander Frei during the first half of the tournament's opening game, which tore Frei's knee ligaments and forced the person out for the rest of the tournament.

Style of play

Grygera was known for his work-rate, competitiveness, and versatility, and usually played as a full-back, wing-back, or winger along right flank, although he was also capable of playing on the left, or as a centre-back; while being solid defensively, he was also known for his ability to get forward and for his all-round good quality of play.

Honours

Sparta Prague

• Gambrinus Liga: 2000–01, 2002–03

Ajax

• Eredivisie: 2003–04
• KNVB Cup: 2005–06, 2006–07
• Johan Cruijff Shield: 2005

See also

In Spanish: Zdeněk Grygera para niños