Jirí Štajner
Encyclopedia
Jiří Štajner is a Czech footballer currently playing for FC Slovan Liberec
. Eight years a player for Hannover 96
, he is extremely popular with Hannover fans and is seen as a cult figure at the club.
.
In the late 90's, Štajner moved on to FK Baník Most in an attempt to advance his career. Though his breakthrough was to come at the beginning of the new millennium after signing for Slovan Liberec
, as he became known as an excellent goalscorer and attracted attention with his European performances in the UEFA Cup
. In the 2001/02 season he was the Gambrinus liga
's top goalscorer with 15 goals as Slovan secured the title. In the summer of 2002, Štajner was signed by German Bundesliga
side, Hannover 96
.
capital had to pay his former club €3.5 million, which made Štajner the most expensive player in the history of Hannover 96.
At the beginning of his spell in Germany
he had trouble adapting to the style of play, only becoming a regular starter in his second season. On 22 May 2003, Štajner helped cement his status as a cult hero for the club, notably scoring the decisive goal against Borussia Mönchengladbach
to retain Hannover's place in the top flight. The match ended 2-2.
On 15 May 2010 he announced his return to his former club Slovan Liberec.
.
FC Slovan Liberec
FC Slovan Liberec is a Czech football club founded in the city of Liberec. The club is one of the most successful in the Czech Republic, having won two league titles and the domestic cup since 1993. Slovan Liberec is also one of the richest clubs in the Czech league...
. Eight years a player for Hannover 96
Hannover 96
Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96, Hannover or simply 96, is a German association football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony.-Foundation to WWII:...
, he is extremely popular with Hannover fans and is seen as a cult figure at the club.
Czech Republic
Štajner started his active footballing career in the youth teams of SK Dynamo České Budějovice. At a young age, he was picked up by one of the league's best teams, Slavia Prague. He failed to make a breakthrough at Slavia, continuing his youth career with TJ Senohraby, an amateur club close to the city where he grew up - BenešovBenešov
Benešov is a town in the Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic, about southeast of Prague. The Konopiště castle and the Czech national mountain Blaník are near the town.-History:...
.
In the late 90's, Štajner moved on to FK Baník Most in an attempt to advance his career. Though his breakthrough was to come at the beginning of the new millennium after signing for Slovan Liberec
FC Slovan Liberec
FC Slovan Liberec is a Czech football club founded in the city of Liberec. The club is one of the most successful in the Czech Republic, having won two league titles and the domestic cup since 1993. Slovan Liberec is also one of the richest clubs in the Czech league...
, as he became known as an excellent goalscorer and attracted attention with his European performances in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
. In the 2001/02 season he was the Gambrinus liga
Gambrinus Liga
The Gambrinus liga is a Czech professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Czech football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Czech 2. Liga. Seasons run from August to May,...
's top goalscorer with 15 goals as Slovan secured the title. In the summer of 2002, Štajner was signed by German Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
side, Hannover 96
Hannover 96
Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96, Hannover or simply 96, is a German association football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony.-Foundation to WWII:...
.
Hannover 96
Štajner quickly became a favorite with coach Ralf Rangnick, although the club from the Lower SaxonianLower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
capital had to pay his former club €3.5 million, which made Štajner the most expensive player in the history of Hannover 96.
At the beginning of his spell in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
he had trouble adapting to the style of play, only becoming a regular starter in his second season. On 22 May 2003, Štajner helped cement his status as a cult hero for the club, notably scoring the decisive goal against Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
to retain Hannover's place in the top flight. The match ended 2-2.
On 15 May 2010 he announced his return to his former club Slovan Liberec.
International career
He is a member of the Czech national team, and played in the 2006 World Cup2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
.