Founded by students in 1892, Slavia Prague is considered to be a middle-class club of intellectuals in comparison to the workers’ club Sparta Prague. In footballing terms, Slavia long stood in the shadow of the big city rivals. In the first 15 years after the introduction of the first Czech Republic league in 1993, the club finished second nine times – mostly behind the almost perennial champions Sparta Prague. One exception was in 1995/96 when Slavia were the Czech champions for the first time in 49 years with a team that included international players Jan Suchoparek, Karel Poborsky (later at Manchester United, Benfica and Lazio), Vladimir Smicer (Liverpool and Bordeaux) and Robert Vagner (Energie Cottbus). They also reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup were they lost to Bordeaux. The Prague team that traditionally plays in red and white qualified for the Champions League for the first time in the 2007/08 season. In recent years the club has again and again found itself in financial difficulties and that has forced them to sell many of their best players. They now benefit from finance from Chinese investors.
Slavia won the Czech league title for the sixth time in 2019/20 – and they were awarded the trophy at the local derby against Sparta Prague (0-0). In the play-offs for the Champions League they went out against the champions of Denmark FC Midtjylland (0-0, 1-4). Last season, the Czechs achieved two draws in Group F of the Champions League away to Inter Milan (1-1) and at Barcelona (0-0). They lost both games against the third group opponents Borussia Dortmund (0-2, 1-2). Slavia finished bottom of the group and were knocked out. But the Czechs proved they could compete with top European clubs in 2018/19. In the Europa League, they knocked out serial winners Sevilla in the Round of 16 (2-2, 4-3 a.e.t.) but then went out at the quarter-final stage against the eventual winners Chelsea (0-1, 3-4).
The most well-known players in the team are Czech Republic goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar (25), the Romanian attacking midfielder Nicolae Stanciu (27), the Nigerian striker Peter Olayinka (24), the Ivorian Ibrahim Traoré (32) and the captain of the team, left-back Jan Boril (29). Tomas Soucek, last season’s top goalscorer, and right-back Vladimir Coufal are now playing for the Premier League club West Ham United. The Slavia Prague coach since 2017 is Jindrich Trpisovsky, a man with an interesting CV. Seven years ago, the coach, who described Jürgen Klopp as his big role model, was still working as a waiter in a gambling hall at a hotel. After coaching second division Viktoria Zizkov and Slovan Liberec, Trpisovsky finally ended up at Slavia Prague where he led the club to the first double in 77 years in the 2018/19 season. Currently, the five-time Czech cup winners are in second place behind Sparta Prague in the national league competition after six games (five wins, one draw). Sparta beat Banik Ostrava 1-0 thanks to a Stanciu penalty in their last outing.
Slavia Prague have played their home games at the Eden Aréna in the suburb of Vrsovice/Werschowitz since 2008. The stadium has a capacity of 20,617.
They had their hands full in the VAR centre in Cologne: eight goals were scored at the MEWA Arena on Saturday afternoon, but only four of them were allowed in the end as the Werkself and 1. FSV Mainz 05 closed the season with a 2-2 draw. It means Bayer 04 end the 2024/25 campaign as runners-up with 69 points, representing the fourth-best season in the club's history. What's more, the Werkself are now unbeaten away from home in two whole Bundesliga seasons, with their last away defeat coming exactly two years ago on Matchday 34 of the 2022/23 season at VfL Bochum. The Black-and-Reds can continue the record run next season - albeit without Alonso and Tah. Read what else the eventful final game for the head coach and the defensive leader had to offer in the Werkself Review.
Show moreWerkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-2 draw at Mainz 05 on the 34th matchday of the Bundesliga 2024/25...
Show moreBayer 04’s final game of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season saw VAR drama and produced a new record for away results with a 2-2 draw in Mainz. The hosts had several goals ruled out before Paul Nebel put them ahead. Patrik Schick’s brace then turned things around in the second half before Jonathan Burkardt’s penalty levelled the game again. It means Leverkusen have now gone 34 away games without defeat in the Bundesliga, which no team has ever done before.
Show moreThe Werkself bring down the curtain on their 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign with a game away at Mainz on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 34 meeting at the MEWA Arena.
Show moreXabi Alonso is leaving Leverkusen at the end of the season. In his final interview as Werkself coach, he talks about his two-and-a-half years at the helm, the greatest moments of his historic tenure and his appreciation of the connection with the fans and players throughout their remarkable progress together.
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