Michal Bílek
Encyclopedia
Michal Bílek is a retired Czech
football right midfielder
, and a current coach
of the Czech Republic national football team
.
In 1990, he had his first and only abroad experience, in Spain
with Real Betis
, being relegated in his first season, and returning to Sparta after another year. He then played for FK Viktoria Žižkov
and FK Teplice
until 2000, appearing once again for his main club in between.
Immediately after retiring, Bílek began coaching, precisely with Teplice. After a brief stint in Costa Rica
, he returned home, going on to manage FK Chmel Blšany
, FC Viktoria Plzeň
and MFK Ružomberok
. From 2006–08, he took charge of Sparta, winning the league
in his first year and finishing second in the following.
, and later briefly for the independent Czech Republic
; for both he played a total of 35 matches and scored 11 goals, being an offensive mainstay for the former at the 1990 FIFA World Cup
, scoring twice for the quartefinalists.
In late October 2009, after having coached the nation's U19 team seven years earlier, former assistant Bílek was named, alongside Vladimír Šmicer
, the new coach of the senior side, following Ivan Hašek
's resignation after the failure to qualify
for the World Cup
in South Africa
.
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....
football right midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, and a current coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
of the Czech Republic national football 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...
.
Club career
During his career, Bílek was mainly associated with Sparta Prague, which he represented on four separate occasions, starting with the first team aged only 17.In 1990, he had his first and only abroad experience, in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
with Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
, being relegated in his first season, and returning to Sparta after another year. He then played for FK Viktoria Žižkov
FK Viktoria Žižkov
FK Viktoria Žižkov ranks among the oldest football clubs in the Czech Republic. It plays in the Gambrinus liga, the top level of football in the country.The team was founded by a group of students in 1903 in the town of Žižkov...
and FK Teplice
FK Teplice
FK Teplice is a Czech football club based in the city of Teplice, 80 km north of Prague. The club currently plays in the Gambrinus liga.The club was founded after World War II in 1945. The club advanced to the Czechoslovak First League in just three years after being founded and played mostly...
until 2000, appearing once again for his main club in between.
Immediately after retiring, Bílek began coaching, precisely with Teplice. After a brief stint in Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, he returned home, going on to manage FK Chmel Blšany
FK Chmel Blšany
FK Chmel Blšany is a Czech football club based in the village of Blšany. The club plays at the Městský Stadion with capacity of 2.300 seats. That means with every citizen of Blšany village on the tribune, there will be still about 1,500 seats free. It currently plays in Divize B in the Czech Fourth...
, FC Viktoria Plzeň
FC Viktoria Plzen
FC Viktoria Plzeň is a Czech professional football club based in Plzeň. They currently play in the Gambrinus liga, the top division of football in the country....
and MFK Ružomberok
MFK Ružomberok
MFK Ružomberok is a Slovak football club, playing in the city of Ružomberok.-History:Established in 1906, the club's colours have been traditionally white, yellow and red, which are also featured on the town's flag...
. From 2006–08, he took charge of Sparta, winning the league
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,...
in his first year and finishing second in the following.
International career
Bílek played for CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia 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 later briefly for the independent 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...
; for both he played a total of 35 matches and scored 11 goals, being an offensive mainstay for the former at 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...
, scoring twice for the quartefinalists.
In late October 2009, after having coached the nation's U19 team seven years earlier, former assistant Bílek was named, alongside Vladimír Šmicer
Vladimír Šmicer
Vladimír Šmicer is a former Czech football midfielder and forward player. Šmicer was a devout player of Slavia Prague, the only Czech club he ever played for. He also played notably for Lens in France, with whom he won the Ligue 1 title. In 1999, Šmicer moved to England, where he played several...
, the new coach of the senior side, following Ivan Hašek
Ivan Hašek
Ivan Hašek is a retired Czech footballer who played as a central midfielder.He spent 11 years of his career with Sparta Prague, appearing in more than 300 official games with the club, and later acting as its manager....
's resignation after the failure to qualify
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The European zone of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw 53 teams competing for 13 places at the finals. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008, and ended on 18 November 2009. The qualification process saw the first competitive matches of...
for the World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.