Back on the throne
Fans of Czech Republic’s most successful club, which was founded in 1893, finally celebrated a national league title again in 2023 after a nine-year wait. Sparta defended their crown last season.
Danes bringing back success
Dane Brian Priske, who moved to Prague from Royal Antwerp in summer 2022, is regarded as the saviour of recent years. During his two seasons in charge, there was no stopping Sparta in the Fortuna liga (as of this season the Chance liga), where they twice pipped city rivals Slavia to the title in the play-offs. However, Priske’s achievements, which also included the Czech Cup last season and a run to the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League, did not go unnoticed by other clubs and the 47-year-old left this summer to take over at Feyenoord. They continue to rely on Danish coaching skills in Prague, though, because unlike his boss, assistant coach Lars Friis, 48, stayed in the Czech capital and is now in charge of the record champions.
Perfect start
Before this season, Sparta hadn’t progressed beyond the qualification rounds of the Champions League since the 2005/06 campaign. In eight appearances in total in the competition, the Czechs have twice made it as far as the last 16: in 1993/94 they lost 5-3 on aggregate to RSC Anderlecht, and in 2003/04 they were knocked out by AC Milan (4-1).
Friis’ side got off to a good start in the new UCL season with a commanding 3-0 victory at home to FC Salzburg. Kaan Kairinen (2’), Victor Olatunji (42’) and Qazim Laci (58’) scored the goals to make it a comfortable win. Sparta come up against Inter Milan, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, Feyenoord, Stade Brest and Bayer Leverkusen in their remaining fixtures in the league phase.
Key facts and figures at a glance
The Letenští won the Mitropa Cup on 3 occasions. The competition was held from 1927 to 1992 between teams from Central Europe and was one of the first international club competitions.
It’s 19 years since Sparta Praha last competed in a Champions League group or league phase. Just like VfB, a long wait has ended for supporters of the Czech capital club this year.
Sparta Praha have won 38 Czechoslovakian/Czech championships since being founded, making them the record champions. On top of that are 19 cup successes.
In 1893, brothers Václav, Bohumil and Rudolf Rudl founded “Athletic Club Královské Vinohrady”, now known as Sparta Praha.