en Michal Kadlec

Michal Kadlec
	Kadlec playing for Sparta Prague in 2017
Personal information
Date of birth	13 December 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth	Vyškov, Czechoslovakia
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Left back, centre back
Youth career
1991–1993	SV Alsenborn
1993–1998	1. FC Kaiserslautern
1998–2001	Slovácko
Senior career*
Years	Team
2001–2005	Slovácko
2005–2008	Sparta Prague
2008–2013	Bayer Leverkusen
2013–2016	Fenerbahçe
2016–2018	Sparta Prague
2018–2024	Slovácko
International career
2002	Czech Republic U18
2002–2003	Czech Republic U19
2004–2007	Czech Republic U21
2007–2016	Czech Republic
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 June 2024

Michal Kadlec (born 13 December 1984) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a defender for 1. FC Slovácko, Sparta Prague, Bayer Leverkusen^[1] and Fenerbahçe.

Having made his senior national team debut in 2007, Kadlec has scored eight goals in 67 caps for the Czech Republic, representing the country at three UEFA European Championships between 2008 and 2016.

Early life

Kadlec was born in 1984 in Vyškov. After his father, Miroslav Kadlec, joined 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 1990, the family moved to Germany in the Kaiserslautern area. Kadlec learned German in kindergarten^[2] before he went to school one year later. After his time in Grundschule, he went to the Gymnasium.^{[citation needed]} When Kadlec's father signed for FK Drnovice in 1998, his son returned to the Czech Republic.^{[citation needed]}

Club career

Kadlec playing for Bayer Leverkusen in 2011

Kadlec started his professional career in Slovácko and made his league debut against Baník Ostrava.^[when?] He joined Sparta Prague in 2005.^{[citation needed]}

On 14 June 2013, he joined Fenerbahçe for a €4.5 million transfer fee,^[3] signing a three-year contract worth €2.1 million per season.^[4]

On 12 May 2024, Kadlec announced end of his football career.^[5]

International career

On 17 November 2007, Kadlec was called up to the Czech national team in a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying against Slovakia, and debuted in a 3–1 victory where he scored an own goal.^[6] Kadlec scored his first goal in the same 3–1 victory, this time against Scotland on 30 May 2008.^[7]

On 16 June 2012, against Poland in the European Championship, Kadlec headed a ball off the line in the dying seconds, preserving the Czechs' spot in the quarter-finals of the tournament.^[8] The striker had beaten goalkeeper Petr Čech and appeared to be headed to the inside of the far post; if it had been scored, Poland would ensure a draw, and the Czech Republic would be eliminated from the tournament.^[9]

Sponsorship

On 11 July 2013, EA Sports announced that Kadlec would feature on the Czech cover of FIFA 14, alongside global cover star Lionel Messi.^[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of 30 July 2021

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Slovácko	2001–02	Fortuna liga	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
	2002–03		3	0	0	0	—		—		3	0
	2003–04		15	1	0	0	1	0	—		16	1
	2004–05		15	0	0	0	—		—		15	0
	Total		34	1	0	0	1	0	—		35	1
Sparta Prague	2004–05	Fortuna liga	10	1	0	0	—		—		10	1
	2005–06		29	0	0	0	6	0	—		35	0
	2006–07		22	0	0	0	6	0	—		28	0
	2007–08		29	3	1	0	8	0	—		38	3
	2008–09		4	3	—		4	0	—		8	3
	Total		94	7	1	0	24	0	—		119	7
Bayer Leverkusen	2008–09	Bundesliga	30	3	5	2	—		—		35	5
	2009–10		23	1	1	0	—		—		24	1
	2010–11		32	2	2	0	9	3	—		43	5
	2011–12		29	1	1	0	8	1	—		38	2
	2012–13		14	1	1	0	3	0	—		18	1
	Total		128	8	10	2	20	4	—		158	14
Fenerbahçe	2013–14	Süper Lig	9	2	1	0	3	0	1	0	14	2
	2014–15		12	1	10	1	—		1	0	23	2
	2015–16		10	0	11	0	5	0	—		26	0
	Total		31	3	22	1	8	0	2	0	63	4
Sparta Prague	2016–17	Fortuna liga	28	3	1	0	12	0	—		41	3
	2017–18	Fortuna liga	8	0	1	0	1	0	—		10	0
	Total		36	3	2	0	13	0	—		51	3
Slovácko	2018–19	Fortuna liga	14	0	0	0	—		—		14	0
	2019–20		27	0	2	0	—		—		29	0
	2020–21		32	1	1	1	—		—		33	1
	2021–22		0	0	0	0	2	0	—		2	0
	Total		73	1	3	1	2	0	—		78	1
Career total			396	23	38	4	68	4	2	0	504	30

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	30 May 2008	Prague, Czech Republic	Scotland	3–1	Win	Friendly
2.	29 March 2011	České Budějovice, Czech Republic	Liechtenstein	2–0	Win	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group I
3.	3 September 2011	Glasgow, Scotland	Scotland	2–2	Draw	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group I
4.	6 September 2011	Prague, Czech Republic	Ukraine	4–0	Win	Friendly
5.	6 September 2011	Prague, Czech Republic	Ukraine	4–0	Win	Friendly
6.	11 October 2011	Kaunas, Lithuania	Lithuania	1–4	Win	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group I
7.	11 October 2011	Kaunas, Lithuania	Lithuania	1–4	Win	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group I
8.	1 June 2012	Prague, Czech Republic	Hungary	1–2	Loss	Friendly