Luboš Kubík
Encyclopedia
Luboš Kubík is a Czech
former professional footballer
and former manager of Torquay United
, who played sweeper for the Czechoslovakia
and Czech Republic
national teams, winning 56 caps in total, and a number of notable clubs. He is currently an assistant coach with the United States men's national soccer team
.
, Pardubice Region
and began his career in 1981 with Hradec Králové, and moved to local powers Slavia Praha
the following year. He made his international debut for Czechoslovakia in 1985. In 1989, he was bought by Serie A
club Fiorentina
, and played there for two years. He moved to French
club FC Metz
in 1991, and then to Bundesliga team 1. FC Nuremberg in 1993, before returning to the Czech Republic
with Drnovice FK, SK Slavia Praha
, and AFK Lázně Bohdaneč.
Kubík moved to Major League Soccer
in 1998, joining the expansion team Chicago Fire
, and soon became recognized as one of the best defenders in the league. While helping the Fire to win both the MLS Cup
and the U.S. Open Cup in their inaugural year, Kubík was named the MLS Defender of the Year for his role in marshalling the Chicago defence; he started 31 games for the Fire, and scored 7 goals and 8 assists, tremendous numbers for a defender. Kubík continued to be a valuable attacking force from the back in 1999, registering 5 goals and 8 assists, and was named in the MLS Best XI
for a second time. He struggled with injuries in 2000, playing in only 13 games, but was effective when able to play, scoring 3 goals and 6 assists.
The Fire traded Kubík to the Dallas Burn
during the 2001 offseason in exchange for Sergi Daniv. Kubík's final year was again beset by injuries, and he only managed to play 11 games for the Burn. Kubík retired due to injury at the end of the 2001 MLS season and returned to the Czech Republic.
Kubík was also a stalwart for the Czechoslovakian
and Czech Republic's national team
s, representing Czechoslovakia in the 1990 FIFA World Cup
and the Czech Republic in Euro 96
. He played in last international game in 1997.
side Śląsk Wrocław. However he was sacked in October 2006 after just 11 league games in charge.
He was appointed manager of the English
Football League Two
side Torquay United
on 27 November 2006 through his close friendship with Torquay chairman Chris Roberts
.
. Despite his impressive playing career, his lack of managerial experience and contacts in England
was a problem, not aided by Roberts appointing Richard Hancox
as Kubik's assistant. Torquay struggled under Kubik, winning just twice in 15 games, and he left club by mutual consent on 5 February 2007, with Torquay deep in relegation trouble. Roberts also resigned as chairman later that month. Torquay would be relegated at the end of the season, ending a 79 year spell in the Football League.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
former professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and former manager of Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
, who played sweeper for the Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
and Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
national teams, winning 56 caps in total, and a number of notable clubs. He is currently an assistant coach with the United States men's national soccer team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
.
Playing career
Kubík was born in Vysoké MýtoVysoké Mýto
Vysoké Mýto is a town in the Pardubice Region, Czech Republic. Founded in 1262 by the Bohemian king, Přemysl Otakar II, it is situated near its original location, called Vraclav. Vysoké Mýto is a centre of tourism, due to its architectural monuments and the nature that surrounds it. Industrial...
, Pardubice Region
Pardubice Region
Pardubice Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located mainly in the eastern part of its historical region of Bohemia, with a small part in northwestern Moravia. It is named after its capital Pardubice. "There are a total of 452 municipalities in the region...
and began his career in 1981 with Hradec Králové, and moved to local powers Slavia Praha
SK Slavia Praha
Sportovní Klub Slavia Praha is a Czech professional football club founded in 1892 in the city of Prague.They play in the Gambrinus liga—the highest competition in the Czech Republic. Alongside Sparta Prague, they are considered one of the top Czech clubs and the rivalry between the two clubs is...
the following year. He made his international debut for Czechoslovakia in 1985. In 1989, he was bought by Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
club Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
, and played there for two years. He moved to French
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
club FC Metz
FC Metz
Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its...
in 1991, and then to Bundesliga team 1. FC Nuremberg in 1993, before returning to the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
with Drnovice FK, SK Slavia Praha
SK Slavia Praha
Sportovní Klub Slavia Praha is a Czech professional football club founded in 1892 in the city of Prague.They play in the Gambrinus liga—the highest competition in the Czech Republic. Alongside Sparta Prague, they are considered one of the top Czech clubs and the rivalry between the two clubs is...
, and AFK Lázně Bohdaneč.
Kubík moved to Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
in 1998, joining the expansion team Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire (soccer)
Chicago Fire Soccer Club is an American professional soccer club based in the Chicago suburb of Bridgeview, Illinois. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top soccer league in the United States and Canada...
, and soon became recognized as one of the best defenders in the league. While helping the Fire to win both the MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
and the U.S. Open Cup in their inaugural year, Kubík was named the MLS Defender of the Year for his role in marshalling the Chicago defence; he started 31 games for the Fire, and scored 7 goals and 8 assists, tremendous numbers for a defender. Kubík continued to be a valuable attacking force from the back in 1999, registering 5 goals and 8 assists, and was named in the MLS Best XI
MLS Best XI
The MLS Best XI is an acknowledgement of the best eleven players in the league in a given season for Major League Soccer in Canada and the United States.-Winners:*Players in bold text also won the Major League Soccer MVP Award award for that season....
for a second time. He struggled with injuries in 2000, playing in only 13 games, but was effective when able to play, scoring 3 goals and 6 assists.
The Fire traded Kubík to the Dallas Burn
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
during the 2001 offseason in exchange for Sergi Daniv. Kubík's final year was again beset by injuries, and he only managed to play 11 games for the Burn. Kubík retired due to injury at the end of the 2001 MLS season and returned to the Czech Republic.
Kubík was also a stalwart for the Czechoslovakian
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
and Czech Republic's national team
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
s, representing Czechoslovakia in the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
and the Czech Republic in Euro 96
1996 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1996 UEFA European Football Championship was hosted by England, who won the right to host the tournament ahead of bids from Austria, Portugal and the Netherlands. It was the tenth European Football Championship, which is held every four years and endorsed by UEFA. It was the first to use the...
. He played in last international game in 1997.
Coaching and Managerial Career
He had a brief spell working for Hradec Králové and in the summer of 2006 was appointed as manager of PolishPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
side Śląsk Wrocław. However he was sacked in October 2006 after just 11 league games in charge.
He was appointed manager of the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Football League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
on 27 November 2006 through his close friendship with Torquay chairman Chris Roberts
Chris Roberts (chairman)
Chris Roberts is an English businessman, who served as chairman of Torquay United Football Club between October 2006 and February 2007.-Torquay United chairmanship:...
.
. Despite his impressive playing career, his lack of managerial experience and contacts in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
was a problem, not aided by Roberts appointing Richard Hancox
Richard Hancox
Richard Hancox is an English former professional footballer, and is married to the daughter of former Torquay United chairman Mike Bateson. He currently coaches at Plymouth Argyle. He has held various roles at Torquay United in his career.-Career:Hancox was born in Stourbridge and first joined...
as Kubik's assistant. Torquay struggled under Kubik, winning just twice in 15 games, and he left club by mutual consent on 5 February 2007, with Torquay deep in relegation trouble. Roberts also resigned as chairman later that month. Torquay would be relegated at the end of the season, ending a 79 year spell in the Football League.