FK Viktoria Žižkov explained

Clubname:Viktoria Žižkov
Fullname:FK Viktoria Žižkov
Nickname:Viktorka
Founded:1903
Ground:FK Viktoria Stadion, Prague
Capacity:5,037
Manager:Marek Nikl
League:Czech National Football League
Season:2023–24
Position:8th of 16
Website:https://www.fkvz.cz/
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FK Viktoria Žižkov is a Czech professional football club from the district of Žižkov in Prague. The club competes in the Czech National Football League, the second tier of football in the country. It won the Czechoslovak First League title in the 1927–28 season, and has also won two editions of the Czech Cup.

History

Early years

The team was founded by students in 1903 in the town of Žižkov (since 1922 part of Prague).[1] At that time the students chose red and white striped shirts as their colours in honour of the colours of the Flag of Bohemia.[2] Those same colours remain today. Viktoria's main successes fall into the period between the world wars — until 1948 it was the third most successful Czechoslovak club, winning the Czechoslovak championship in 1928 and finishing as runners-up in 1929. It won the Czechoslovak Cup in 1913, 1914, 1916, 1921, 1929, 1933, and 1940, and came runners-up in 1919 and 1920. It successes gained international recognition, even as a result, giving the name to the Polish club Victoria Jaworzno.

Post-war era

After World War II and the beginning of communism in 1948 the club descended to the lower leagues and they didn't rejoin the top flight until 1993. In the 1950s the club underwent several name changes as a result of which the club briefly lost its historic name Viktoria; Sokol (1950), Sokol ČSAD (1951) and after a merger with Avia Čakovice the club was called TJ Slavoj Žižkov, a name which lasted until 1965 when the historic name was restored.

1990s and 2000s

In 1993 Viktoria was promoted again to the highest league as a result of the Velvet Divorce and the Slovak clubs walking away to form their own league. Viktoria was very successful between 1993 and 2003, competing in four European cups. Žižkov has won the national knock-out cup for the eighth time in 1994 and finished as runners-up in 1995.

In 2001 Viktoria Žižkov won their ninth cup in history followed by knocking Scottish team Rangers out of the UEFA Cup in 2002, going through on the away goals rule after extra time at Ibrox.[3] The team finished third in the league on two more occasions, in 2002 and 2003.

In 2004, after a string of poor results and a corruption scandal, the team was relegated again to the second league. In 2007 the team successfully made it back to the Czech First League, finishing the season as runaway champions of the 2nd league. After finishing mid-table in their first season back in the top flight, in 2009 they were relegated back to the second league after struggling all season, with one of the only highlights being Petr Švancara winning Czech Television's goal of 2008 (gol roku), with his stunning individual effort to open the scoring in Žižkov's 4–2 home victory against FK Bohemians Prague (Střížkov).[4]

Žižkov bounced back to the top flight after finishing runners-up to FK Dukla Prague in 2011. Their season started with just seven points from the opening 14 rounds of the 2011–12 Czech First League, resulting in the club parting company with coach Martin Pulpit on 23 November.[5] In January, with the club bottom of the league, it was revealed that only ten players from the first half of the season were still at the club.[6] A particular loss was goalkeeper Tomáš Vaclík moving to Sparta Prague. Žižkov finished bottom of the league with 19 points, and were relegated to the second division.

Historical names

Stadium

See main article: FK Viktoria Stadion. The club's original stadium was located in the Ohrada region, but this was closed down in 1928.[7] Viktoria's present ground, FK Viktoria Stadion, was opened in 1952 and is situated on Seifertova třída, just a short walk (one tram stop) from Prague's main railway station. It has a capacity of 5,037. In 2007 the club opened a fanshop at the ground for the sale of club mementos.

Players

Current squad

.[8]

Notable former players

In popular culture

The very popular 1931 Czech comedy film Muži v offsidu is centered largely on the culture and fans of Viktoria Žižkov and features unique footage of several matches from that time. The book, on which the film is based, was written by Karel Poláček.

The Czech film actor Vlasta Burian played as the regular goalkeeper for Žižkov around 1916 before setting out on his acting career. A plaque in FK Viktoria Stadion now commemorates his appearances for the club.[9]

Managers

History in domestic competitions

  • 1981–1989 2.ČNL (tier 3)
  • 1989–1991 Divize (tier 4)
  • 1991–1992 Bohemian Football League
  • 1992–1993 ČMFL (tier 2)
  • 1993–2004 Czech First League
  • 2004–2007 Czech 2. Liga
  • 2007–2009 Czech First League
  • 2009–2011 Czech 2. Liga
  • 2011–2012 Czech First League
  • 2012–2015 Czech 2. Liga / Czech National Football League
  • 2015–2016 Bohemian Football League
  • 2016–2022 Czech National Football League
  • 2022–2023 Bohemian Football League
  • 2023– Czech National Football League

Czech Republic

SeasonLeaguePlacedPldWDLGFGAGDPtsCup
1993–941. liga8th3012994028+1233Winners
1994–951. liga5th30154116138+2349Runners-up
1995–961. liga10th30910113843style="text-align:center"-537Round of 32
1996–971. liga12th30611131733style="text-align:center"-1629Round of 16
1997–981. liga8th30116132634style="text-align:center"-839Round of 16
1998–991. liga10th30115143147style="text-align:center"-1638Round of 64
1999–001. liga9th30910113741style="text-align:center"-437Quarter-finals
2000–011. liga5th30121084540+546Winners
2001–021. liga3rd3019654220+2263Round of 16
2002–031. liga3rd3014883833+550Quarter-finals
2003–041. liga15th3069151834style="background: #FFCCCC; text-align:center"-1627Round of 32
2004–052. liga6th28144104236+646Round of 64
2005–062. liga5th30121084233+946Quarter-finals
2006–072. liga1st3019745523+3264Round of 16
2007–081. liga10th30107133548style="text-align:center"-1337Quarter-finals
2008–091. liga16th3057182745style="background: #FFCCCC; text-align:center"-1822Round of 64
2009–102. liga5th30137104241+146Round of 32
2010–112. liga2nd3016774431+1355Round of 16
2011–121. liga16th3054212355style="background: #FFCCCC; text-align:center"-3219Round of 16
2012–132. liga8th3012993830+845Round of 32
2013–142. liga5th30145113930+947Round of 16
2014–152. liga4th3016775023+2755Round of 16
2015–163. liga3rd3624668732+5579First round
2016–172. liga9th30109114941+839Round of 64
2017–182. liga12th30105154252style="text-align:center"-1035Round of 32
2018–192. liga14th3076173359style="text-align:center"-2627Round of 32
2019–202. liga5th30154114540+549Round of 16
2020–212. liga4th26133104238+442Round of 32
2021–222. liga16th3039182043−2318Round of 64
2022–233. liga1st3022626619+4772Round of 64
2023–242. liga8th30116134451−739Round of 32
Notes

History in European competitions

UEFA Cup

Season Round Country Club Score Goals
1994–95Qualifying RoundIFK Norrköping4–3 (1–0, 3–3) Poborský, Trval, Kordule, Vrabec (pen.)
1st roundChelsea F.C.2–4 (2–4, 0–0) Majoroš
2001–021st roundFC Tirol Innsbruck0–1 (0–0, 0–1)
2002–03Qualifying RoundSP Domagnano5–0 (2–0, 3–0) Sabou, Stracený, Chihuri, Janoušek, Krutý
1st roundRangers F.C.3–3 (2–0, 1–3 A) Pikl, Stracený, Marcel Lička
2nd roundReal Betis0–4 (0–1, 0–3)
2003–04Qualifying RoundZhenis Astana6–1 (3–0, 3–1) Dirnbach, Chihuri, Mikolanda, Pikl, Oravec
1st roundBrøndby IF0–2 (0–1, 0–1)

Mitropa Cup

In 1928 Žižkov took part in the Mitropa Cup, reaching the semi-final stage, where they lost in a play off to SK Rapid Wien after the initial two-legs between the teams produced a tie. At the quarter-final stage Žižkov knocked out Građanski Zagreb (later to become Dinamo Zagreb) over two legs, winning the home tie 6–1.

Honours

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jeřábek, Luboš. Český a československý fotbal – lexikon osobností a klubů. Grada Publishing. cs. 2007. Prague, Czech Republic. 978-80-247-1656-5. 229.
  2. Web site: Prague City Line » Stadium of the Football Club Viktoria Žižkov. 25 December 2020. 28 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200928155612/https://www.praguecityline.com/prague-monuments/stadium-of-the-football-club-viktoria-zizkov. live.
  3. News: Graham. Clark. Rangers fall to extra Czech strike. The Guardian. 4 October 2002. 6 April 2013.
  4. Web site: - Žižkovský útočník Švancara vyhrál anketu Gól roku - FotbalPortal.cz. www.fotbalportal.cz. 2 March 2009. 21 February 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090221174341/http://www.fotbalportal.cz/cesko/gambrinus-liga/15004-zizkovsky-utocnik-svancara-vyhral-anketu-gol-roku/. live.
  5. Web site: Trenér Pulpit na Žižkově končí, zatím ho střídá Nádvorník. cs. 23 November 2011. idnes.cz. 27 November 2011.
  6. Web site: Martin. Mls. Fotbalový Žižkov hledá novou tvář. Z Vaclíka je "rudej ďábel". cs. 10 January 2012. idnes.cz. 14 January 2012. 13 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120113072839/http://fotbal.idnes.cz/fotbalovy-zizkov-hleda-novou-tvar-z-vaclika-je-rudej-dabel-pno-/fotbal.aspx?c=A120110_133924_fotbal_mah. live.
  7. Web site: Prague City Line » Stadium of the Football Club Viktoria Žižkov. 25 December 2020. 28 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200928155612/https://www.praguecityline.com/prague-monuments/stadium-of-the-football-club-viktoria-zizkov. live.
  8. Web site: Soupiska A-tým 2024/25. FK Viktoria Žižkov.
  9. Web site: FK VIKTORIA ?I?KOV - ofici?ln? STR?nky . 30 December 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304203027/http://www.fkvz.cz/novinka.asp?id=13724&typ=clanky . 4 March 2016 .
  10. News: U týmu Viktorie Žižkov skončil trenér Mikolanda, vystřídá ho Miloš Sazima . 4 March 2019 . FK Viktoria Žižkov . cs . 6 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043235/https://www.fkvz.cz/clanek.asp?id=U-tymu-Viktorie-Zizkov-skoncil-trener-Mikolanda-vystrida-ho-Milos-Sazima-804 . live .
  11. News: Káva. Michal. Změna na Žižkově. Šmarda končí, týmu se ujímá Horňák. 3 February 2023. Deník. cs. Vltava Labe Media. 17 June 2023. 17 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230617185907/https://prazsky.denik.cz/fotbal-cfl-msfl/zmena-na-zizkove-smarda-konci-tymu-se-ujima-hornak-20230203.html. live.