Alex Král Explained

Alex Král
Full Name:Alex Král[1]
Birth Date:19 May 1998
Birth Place:Košice, Slovakia[2]
Height:1.87 m[3]
Position:Defensive midfielder[4]
Currentclub:Espanyol
(on loan from Union Berlin)
Youthyears1:2004–2007
Youthclubs1:Moravská Slavia Brno
Youthyears2:2007–2012
Youthclubs2:Zbrojovka Brno
Youthyears3:2012–2017
Youthclubs3:Slavia Prague
Years1:2017–2019
Clubs1:Teplice
Caps1:43
Goals1:1
Years2:2019
Clubs2:Slavia Prague
Caps2:18
Goals2:0
Years3:2019–2024
Clubs3:Spartak Moscow
Caps3:53
Goals3:0
Years4:2021–2022
Clubs4:West Ham United (loan)
Caps4:1
Goals4:0
Years5:2022–2023
Clubs5:Schalke 04 (loan)
Caps5:29
Goals5:0
Years6:2023–
Clubs6:Union Berlin
Caps6:24
Goals6:0
Years7:2024–
Clubs7:Espanyol (loan)
Caps7:0
Goals7:0
Nationalyears1:2014–2015
Nationalteam1:Czech Republic U17
Nationalcaps1:18
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2015–2016
Nationalteam2:Czech Republic U18
Nationalcaps2:13
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2016–2017
Nationalteam3:Czech Republic U19
Nationalcaps3:20
Nationalgoals3:1
Nationalyears4:2017
Nationalteam4:Czech Republic U20
Nationalcaps4:3
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2017–2018
Nationalteam5:Czech Republic U21
Nationalcaps5:9
Nationalgoals5:1
Nationalyears6:2019–
Nationalteam6:Czech Republic
Nationalcaps6:36
Nationalgoals6:2
Club-Update:5 May 2024
Nationalteam-Update:17 June 2023

Alex Král (born 19 May 1998) is a Czech professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Spanish club Espanyol on loan from German side Union Berlin, and the Czech Republic national team.

Early life

Born in Slovakia, Král's family moved to Štýřice, Brno in the Czech Republic, when he was a child. He began playing football at SK Moravská Slavia Brno aged six, before joining Zbrojovka Brno aged nine. At 14, he was scouted and recruited by Slavia Prague moving to Prague to continue his development.

Club career

Slavia Prague

In January 2019, he signed a four-year contract with Slavia Prague.[5]

Spartak Moscow

On 1 September 2019, he signed a five-year contract with the Russian Premier League club Spartak Moscow. He has since played for the club for several seasons, which included participation in the UEFA Champions League.[6]

Loan to West Ham United

On 31 August 2021, Král joined English side West Ham United on a season-long loan with an option to make the deal permanent.[7] He made his debut on 22 September in a 1–0 win against Manchester United in the EFL Cup at Old Trafford.[8] His league debut followed when he came on as a substitute in a 4–1 win at Watford on 28 December 2021.[9] Král made one appearance in the Premier League, three times in the Europa League and once in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup before his loan ended.[10]

Contract suspension and Schalke 04

On 1 July 2022, Spartak announced that Král suspended his contract with Spartak Moscow for the 2022–23 season using FIFA's special regulations related to the international response and other fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[11] On 14 July 2022, Schalke 04 announced the signing of Král to a one-year contract, and under FIFA regulations he remains a Spartak player temporarily playing for Schalke 04.[12]

Union Berlin

On 2 June 2023, Union Berlin announced the signing of Král ahead of the new season.[13] In his first season at the club, Král made 24 appearances in the Bundesliga, two appearances in the DFB-Pokal, and a further six appearances in Union Berlin's maiden campaign in the Champions League.[14]

On 7 August 2024, Král was loaned out to newly promoted La Liga side Espanyol.[15]

International career

Král made his debut for the Czech Republic national team on 26 March 2019 in a friendly against Brazil, as a 69th-minute substitute for David Pavelka.[16]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Teplice2016–17Czech First League300030
2017–18Czech First League23131262
2018–19Czech First League17020190
Total43151482
Slavia Prague2018–19Czech First League1203061211
2019–20Czech First League60201090
Total180308110301
Spartak Moscow2019–20Russian Premier League19040230
2020–21Russian Premier League29010300
2021–22Russian Premier League50002070
Total5305020600
West Ham United (loan)2021–22Premier League1010301060
Schalke 04 (loan)2022–23Bundesliga29020310
Union Berlin2023–24Bundesliga2402061321
Espanyol (loan)2024–25La Liga000000
Career total1681181192202074

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Czech Republic201992
202070
2021130
202250
202350
Total392

Scores and results list the Czech Republic's goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Alex Král! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
1. 14 October 2019 Generali Arena, Prague, Czech Republic align=center 2–3 align=center 2–3 Friendly
2. 14 November 2019 Doosan Arena, Plzeň, Czech Republic align=center 1–1 align=center 2–1 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Honours

Slavia Prague

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021/22 Premier League squads confirmed . Premier League . 10 September 2021 . 13 September 2021.
  2. https://footballtalentscout.net/2016/11/18/alex-kral/ Alex Král | Football Talent Scout
  3. Web site: Alex Král. FC Schalke 04. 31 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220831145131/https://schalke04.de/en/teams/profis/person/alex-kral/. 31 August 2022.
  4. https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/alex-kral/ Profile on WorldFootball
  5. Web site: Návrat Krále. Slavia hlásí posilu do defenzívy.. SK Slavia Praha. 2 January 2019. 12 March 2019.
  6. FC Spartak Moscow. Vítej, Алекс Крал!. Welcome, Alex Kral. 1 September 2019. ru.
  7. West Ham United bring in Czech Republic midfielder Alex Král on loan . West Ham United F.C.. 31 August 2021. 31 August 2021.
  8. News: Manchester United 0-1 West Ham United. BBC Sport. 23 September 2021. 22 September 2021.
  9. News: Watford 1-4 West Ham. BBC Sport. 16 March 2022. 28 December 2021.
  10. Web site: He Thought He’d Play More At West Ham – National Team Boss On Hammers Loanee. 30 May 2022. Inside Futbol. 3 June 2022.
  11. FC Spartak Moscow. Крал приостановил действие контракта со "Спартаком". 1 July 2022. 1 July 2022. ru.
  12. Alex Král joins Schalke 04 for 2022/23 . schalke04.de . . 14 July 2022 . 14 July 2022.
  13. Web site: Alex Kral moves to Köpenick. 1. FC Union Berlin. 2 June 2023. 12 August 2024.
  14. Web site: Alex Král to Espanyol. 1. FC Union Berlin. 7 August 2024. 12 August 2024.
  15. Web site: Espanyol. Král, nou jugador del RCD Espanyol. Král, new RCD Espanyol player. 7 August 2024. 7 August 2024. ca.
  16. Web site: ESPN. Czech Republic v Brazil game report. 26 March 2019.
  17. Web site: BANÍK OSTRAVA VS. SLAVIA PRAGUE 0 - 2. Soccerway. 22 May 2019. 30 September 2021.
  18. Web site: Technical Report. UEFA.com. 5 October 2017.