Tomáš Rosický

Personal information
Full name	Tomáš Rosický
Date of birth	4 October 1980 (1980-10-04) (age 29)
Place of birth	Prague, Czechoslovakia
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)1
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club	Arsenal
Number	7
Youth career
1986–1988	ČKD Kompresory Prague
1988–1998	Sparta Prague
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1998–2001	Sparta Prague	41	(8)
2001–2006	Borussia Dortmund	149	(20)
2006–	Arsenal	59	(12)
National team‡
1999	Czech Republic U-21	2	(0)
2000–	Czech Republic	71	(19)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:42, 1 February 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:42, 1 February 2010 (UTC)

Tomáš Rosický (Czech pronunciation: [ˈtomaːʃ roˈsɪtsˌkiː]; born 4 October 1980 in Prague) is a Czech footballer who currently plays for Arsenal and the Czech national team. He has a brother named Jiří who used to be a footballer as well. A versatile attacking midfielder nicknamed "The Little Mozart," Rosický is known for his skill and his ability to orchestrate the midfield with good passing and Arsène Wenger described him as player with remarkable vision and touch.²

Club career

Borussia Dortmund

When Rosický first arrived at Borussia Dortmund, his arrival cost the team €14.5 million, a Bundesliga record transfer when he arrived from Sparta Prague in 2001.³ Rosický's reputation grew during his time at Dortmund and, during the latter stages of his spell at the club, Dortmund were in substantial financial trouble and could not hold onto him despite recognising his influence on the team. Press reports linked him with big money transfers to Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Arsenal. Rosický expressed a desire for Dortmund to allow him to leave at the end of the 2005–06 season, and the arrival of South African Steven Pienaar was made in preparation for Rosický's departure.

Arsenal

2006–07 season

On 23 May 2006, Arsenal confirmed that they had signed Rosický on a long-term contract.³⁴ Rosický took over the number 7 shirt.

He scored his first Premiership goal against Wigan Athletic on 11 February 2007⁵ and scored again against Bolton on 14 April 2007.⁶ In the FA Cup he scored a double against Liverpool.⁷

In Germany, Rosický gained the nickname "The Little Mozart" and "The Mozart of Football" for his ability to orchestrate play on the pitch.⁸

2007–08 season

On 29 August, he scored in a game against his former club Sparta Prague, scoring after seven minutes with a low drive from inside the box.⁹ Rosický scored his first Premier League goal of the season against Portsmouth.¹⁰ Against Bolton Wanderers in a Premier League match he combined with Theo Walcott to score,¹¹ then once again against Wigan Athletic.¹² He netted again in an away game at Middlesbrough which Arsenal lost 2–1¹³ and was on the scoresheet again against Everton with a low drive from the edge of the box in a 4–1 victory.¹⁴ He again scored in the away match against Fulham. The match ended in a 3–0 victory for Arsenal.¹⁵

2009–10 season

Rosický didn't feature for Arsenal during the 2008–09 season due to a long-term injury. He eventually returned to full training in May 2009, after eighteen months of absence. In early August 2009, he had again picked up another niggling injury, this time straining his hamstring, and it was thought he will be out for about six weeks.¹⁶ He returned to first team action as a substitute in the league on 12 September 2009, setting up the first goal and scoring the second in a 4–2 defeat away to Manchester City.¹⁷ On 4 January 2010, Rosický signed a new deal with Arsenal.¹⁸ Rosický scored a 93rd minute equalizer in a 2-2 draw at The Emirates Stadium against Everton to give Arsenal a crucial point. His third goal of the season came against Bolton Wanderers in a 4–2 victory after Arsenal had gone down 2–0.

International career

Rosický made his international debut in 2000 at 19 years-of-age against the Republic of Ireland. He played for his country at Euro 2000 and Euro 2004 and helped the side qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Rosický shone for his country in the group stages of the qualification campaign, scoring several goals from the penalty spot and setting up Milan Baroš and Jan Koller in particular with accurate and precise passing. He also scored the winning goal in the second leg of the Czech Republic's play-off against Norway to ensure qualification for the finals.

In the 2006 World Cup finals, Rosický scored two goals in the Czech Republic's 3–0 victory over the United States, one of which was nominated for the 2006 World Cup best goal in their opening match on 12 June 2006. The Czech Republic went out at the World Cup in the group stages, with Rosický forced to move into the attack after injuries to both of the country's star strikers, Jan Koller and Milan Baroš.

At the beginning of the 2006–07 season, Rosický was made captain of the Czech Republic national side, replacing the retiring Pavel Nedvěd, which he has taken up very well, greatly helping the Czech Republic qualify for Euro 2008.

Rosický missed Euro 2008 due to injury. He made his return to the international fold when he started for Czech Republic on the 9 September 2009, in a World Cup qualifier against San Marino.

Honours

Sparta Prague

• Czech Liga: 3
  

1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01

Borussia Dortmund

• Bundesliga: 1
  

2001–02

Individual

• Czech Player of the Year: 1
  

2002, 2006

Career statistics

(correct as of 31 January 2010)

References

External links

• Official website (Czech) (English)
• Tomáš Rosický's career timeline and detailed statistics
• Tomáš Rosický's statistics at Football Association of the Czech Republic webpage
• Tomáš Rosický career stats at Soccerbase
• Profile at Arsenal.com

v • d • e Czech Republic squad – UEFA Euro 2000 1 Srníček • 2 Řepka • 3 Látal • 4 Nedvěd • 5 Fukal • 6 Vlček • 7 Němec • 8 Poborský • 9 Kuka • 10 Koller • 11 Rosický • 12 Lokvenc • 13 Bejbl • 14 Horváth • 15 Jankulovski • 16 Maier • 17 Šmicer • 18 Novotný • 19 Rada • 20 Berger • 21 Gabriel • 22 Blažek • Coach: Chovanec

v • d • e Czech Republic squad – UEFA Euro 2004 semi-finalists 1 Čech • 2 Grygera • 3 Mareš • 4 Galásek • 5 Bolf • 6 Jankulovski • 7 Šmicer • 8 Poborský • 9 Koller • 10 Rosický • 11 Nedvěd • 12 Lokvenc • 13 Jiránek • 14 Vachoušek • 15 Baroš • 16 Blažek • 17 Hübschman • 18 Heinz • 19 Týce • 20 Plašil • 21 Ujfaluši • 22 Rozehnal • 23 Kinský • Coach: Brückner

v • d • e Czech Republic squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Čech • 2 Grygera • 3 Mareš • 4 Galásek • 5 Kováč • 6 Jankulovski • 7 Sionko • 8 Poborský • 9 Koller • 10 Rosický • 11 Nedvěd • 12 Lokvenc • 13 Jiránek • 14 Jarolím • 15 Baroš • 16 Blažek • 17 Štajner • 18 Heinz • 19 Polák • 20 Plašil • 21 Ujfaluši • 22 Rozehnal • 23 Kinský • Coach: Brückner