Adam Karabec Explained

Adam Karabec
Birth Date:2 July 2003
Birth Place:Prague, Czech Republic
Height:1.86 m
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Hamburger SV
(on loan from Sparta Prague)
Clubnumber:17
Youthyears1:2009–2016
Youthclubs1:Bohemians 1905
Youthyears2:2016–2020
Youthclubs2:Sparta Prague
Years1:2019–
Caps1:107
Goals1:12
Years2:2022–2023
Caps2:5
Goals2:0
Years3:2024–
Clubs3:Hamburger SV (loan)
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Nationalyears1:2017–2018
Nationalteam1:Czech Republic U15
Nationalcaps1:10
Nationalgoals1:3
Nationalyears2:2018–2019
Nationalteam2:Czech Republic U16
Nationalcaps2:14
Nationalgoals2:3
Nationalyears3:2019–2020
Nationalteam3:Czech Republic U19
Nationalcaps3:8
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2020–
Nationalteam4:Czech Republic U21
Nationalcaps4:22
Nationalgoals4:4
Club-Update:13:26, 30 June 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:26 March 2024

Adam Karabec (born 2 July 2003) is a Czech professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for German club Hamburger SV on loan from Sparta Prague. He was included in The Guardians "Next Generation" list for 2020.[1]

Club career

After a long spell in the youth academy of Bohemians 1905, which he had joined at the age of six, in 2016 Karabec gained a move to fellow Prague-based club Sparta Prague and began making it through the Letenští's youth squads. By the beginning of the 2019–20 season, Karabec was already a member of Sparta's under-19 squad, despite being only sixteen. In July 2019, he was named "Player of the Tournament" in the CEE Cup.[2] By September 2019, he had also begun to play for the reserve team in their regional group of the national third division.

It took less than five months to the midfielder to impress the then head coach Václav Jílek and gain a call-up to join the first team. Karabec subsequently made his professional debut on 23 February 2020, coming on as a replacement for David Moberg Karlsson at the 88th minute of his side's 1–0 loss against Sigma Olomuc. After collecting other three appearances as a substitute and scoring his first goal in a 4–1 win against Karviná, he also made his first start on 10 June 2020, as he featured in Sparta's 2–0 win against Opava and was replaced by Georges Mandjeck at the 76th minute.[3]

On 4 July 2024, Karabec joined German 2. Bundesliga club Hamburger SV on a loan with option to make the move permanent.[4]

International career

A youth international for Czech Republic at several levels, in September 2020, Karabec got called-up for the first time both by the Under-21 and the senior national teams.

On 2 September 2020, he made his debut for the former squad against San Marino, registering an assist for Václav Drchal's opener (the match ended up in a 6–0 win); exactly one week later, he was featured on the bench in the latter side's UEFA Nations League match against Scotland.

In March 2021, he was selected to take part in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Hungary and Slovenia.[5]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCzech CupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sparta Prague2019–20Czech First League10100101
2020–212333050313
2021–223024080422
2022–232323020282
2023–242142170305
Total1071212122014112
Sparta Prague B2022–23Czech National Football League5050
Career total1121212122014612

Honours

Sparta Prague

2022–23,[6] 2023–24[7]

2023–24[8]

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Next Generation 2020: 60 of the best young talents in world football . 8 October 2020 . 9 October 2020 . The Guardian.
  2. Web site: AWARDS CEE Cup 2019 U19 Football Tournament 24-30.7.2019 . 30 November 2022 . CEE Cup.
  3. Web site: Jan Vacek. 10 June 2020. Karabec prvně v základu: Rozkoukával jsem se, ale nervozitu jsem odboural. Blesk.
  4. Web site: 4 July 2024. HSV sign Karabec. Hamburger SV. 4 July 2024.
  5. Web site: Nominace na EURO hráčů do 21 let Reprezentace. 16 March 2021. FAČR.
  6. News: Czech News Agency. 23 May 2023. 23 May 2023. Sparta v euforii! Remíza na Slovácku odstartovala mistrovské oslavy. Sport.cz. cs. Borgis.
  7. News: SESTŘIH: Boleslav - Sparta 0:5. Titul pro Letenské! Kuchta dal čtyři góly. Blesk. 18 May 2024. cs. Czech News Center. Czech News Agency. 19 May 2024.
  8. News: Neumann. Robert. Sparta slaví double! Triumf v nervózním finále trefil Birmančevič. Sport.cz. 22 May 2024. cs. Borgis. 23 May 2024.
  9. Web site: Nejlepším fotbalovým starším dorostencem byl zvolen sparťan Karabec. cs. ceskenoviny.cz. Czech News Agency. 9 January 2022. 9 January 2022.