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AC Sparta Praha (English: Sparta Prague) is a top Czech football club.
It is the most successful club in the Czech Republic and one of the most successful clubs in Central and Eastern Europe[citation needed]. Sparta was long the main source for the Czechoslovakia national football team[citation needed] and, after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic national football team, however lately this has ceased to be the case, as the best Czech players almost all now play in higher-paying foreign leagues. There are a number of outstanding players who have played for the Sparta over the years. Sparta play at Prague's AXA Arena (called Letná Stadium).
The club was founded in 1893. For the first time, in 1906, Sparta played in their typical dark, red jerseys (one of the club's symbols). Beginning from 1919, Sparta got its nickname "Iron Sparta". The only time that Sparta were relegated to a lower league was in 1975. Historical names:
- 1893 — Athletic Club Královské Vinohrady
- 1894 — Athletic Club Sparta
- 1948 — Athletic Club Sparta Bubeneč
- 1949 — Sokol Bratrství Sparta
- 1951 — Sparta ČKD Sokolovo
- 1953 — TJ Spartak Praha Sokolovo
- 1965 — TJ Sparta ČKD Praha
- 1990 — TJ Sparta Praha
- 1991 — AC Sparta Praha
- 1993 — AC Sparta Praha fotbal, a.s.
Supporters of AC Sparta. Derby AC Sparta-SK Slavia 2:1 (2006)
The name Sparta was inspired by the fighting spirit and courage of the people from the ancient city of Sparta. From the very beginning, the colours of Sparta were blue (symbolizing Europe), red (symbolizing the royal city), and yellow (together with red, the official colours of Prague). In 1906, one of the members of the committee brought (from his trip to England) jerseys of the London club Arsenal. From that time, Sparta has typically played in their red (or, to be more precise, dark red or maroon) colours. Another symbol of Sparta is the big "S" (Sparta); thus, Sparta and Slavia Prague are usually collectively called the Prague "S".
- Mitropa Cup Winner (3 times): 1927, 1935, 1964
- Czech Champion (10 times): 2007, 2005, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1995, 1994
- Czechoslovakia´s Champion (24 times): 1993, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1985, 1984, 1967, 1965, 1954, 1952, 1948, 1946, 1944, 1939, 1938, 1936, 1932, 1927, 1926, 1922, 1919 and 1912.
- Czech Football Cup Winner (4 times): 2007, 2006, 2004, 1996
- Czechoslovak Football Cup Winner (12 times): 1992, 1989, 1988, 1984, 1980, 1976, 1972, 1964, 1946, 1944, 1943, 1909
Outstanding former Sparta players include:
As of August 20, 2007:
In
Out
Interior of
AXA Arena at the start of a game, Nov 2002
Except AXA Arena in Letná district - Sparta use a new football center in Strahov Stadium (the second largest stadium in the world) whose space was rebuilt to 8 football fields (6 fields of standard sizes and 2 futsal).
The Czech movie Horem pádem (Up and Down) takes the culture of Sparta fandom as one of its subjects.
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Michal Bílek
Pavel Nedvěd
Andrej Kvašňák
Raymond Braine
