Biography
Who is Vladimír Šmicer?
Early career and French success
Vladimír Šmicer started his professional path with Slavia Prague in his home country of Czechia. He became well-known during the 1996 UEFA Cup run and the 1996 European Championships. Before that tournament finished, he signed a contract with the French team Lens. His time in France proved successful, as he helped the club secure their first-ever French league title during the 1997–98 season. He played a central role in the squad, scoring seven league goals that year. He later played for Bordeaux in France, though his time there involved a major knee injury that kept him off the field for over a year.
Liverpool career highlights
In June 1999, he transferred to the English club Liverpool for a fee of 4.2 million pounds. He wore the number 7 shirt initially, later switching to number 11. His time at Anfield included several significant trophies, especially a treble win in 2001 that consisted of the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the UEFA Cup. He experienced various injury setbacks during these years, which affected his consistency in the starting lineup.
Despite this, he managed to score key goals, such as a long-range shot against Chelsea and a volley versus Borussia Dortmund. His most famous match for the club was the 2005 UEFA Champions League final against Milan. Entering the game as a substitute for the injured Harry Kewell, he scored a goal from 20 yards out to help level the score. He also successfully converted a penalty during the shootout, which secured the trophy for Liverpool. This game marked his final appearance for the club.
Return to Slavia Prague and retirement
After leaving France, Vladimír Šmicer returned to Slavia Prague in July 2007 on a one-year agreement. His homecoming was popular with the fans. During this period, the team won their first league title in 12 years. He faced ongoing injury issues but still earned the Personality of the League award in 2008. He officially ended his playing career in 2009 after a match against Viktoria Plzeň.
A farewell game took place in May 2010 at the Synot Tip Arena in Prague, where he played alongside legends from Slavia Prague and Sparta Prague. Following his retirement, he immediately began working as a sports manager for the Czech national team.
International achievements and family
He earned 80 caps for the Czech Republic and one cap for the combined Czechoslovakian side. He participated in three European Championships, scoring goals in 1996, 2000, and 2004. He remains one of the few players to score at three different European Championships. In his personal life, he is married to Pavlína Vízková, who is the daughter of former footballer Ladislav Vízek. They share two children, a daughter named Natalie and a son named Jiří. Vladimír Šmicer also attempted to enter politics by running for the VIZE 2014 party in a European Parliament election, focusing his platform on child obesity.
Birthday and age
Vladimír Šmicer was born on May 24, 1973, which makes Vladimír 53 years old today. That birthday falls under the Gemini sign. Vladimír shares the date with 38 other famous people.
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