Tomáš Rosický

Tomáš Rosický

Personal information
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10½ in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Arsenal
Number	7
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 8, 2007

Tomáš Rosický (pronounced /ˈto̞.maːʃ ˈro̞.sɪʦˌkɪ/ (Tom-aash Ro-sits-kii); born October 4, 1980 in Prague) is a Czech international football player, who currently plays his club football for English Premiership side Arsenal. He is married to Jana Kocurova.

Club career

An attacking midfielder nicknamed 'the Little Mozart', Rosický is known for his phenomenal work-rate and his eye for a pass. He started his career with Sparta Prague in 1998, where he won three Czech League titles, and became the youngest-ever winner of the Czech Player of the Year award. He joined Sparta at the age of 18 in what he later called "a present with my brother". Sparta were greatly interested in his older brother Jiri Rosický, at the time one of the hottest prospects in former Czechoslovakia, however their father insisted they could only have Jiri if they signed Tomas as well.

In 2001 he moved on to Borussia Dortmund; helping Dortmund to a Bundesliga title in 2002, and reached the UEFA Cup final (which Dortmund lost 3-2 to Feyenoord) the same season. His solid form in the 2004-05 season helped Dortmund climb the Bundesliga table and away from potential relegation. In all he played nearly 150 Bundesliga games for Dortmund and 23 games in the Champions League and UEFA Cup.

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; they 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, 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 Rosicky's departure.

On May 23, 2006, Arsenal confirmed that they had signed Rosický on a long-term contract. The transfer fee was undisclosed but was rumoured to be in the region of £6.8 million due to a get-out clause in his contract at Borussia Dortmund. Rosický took over the number 7 shirt which was formerly worn by Frenchman Robert Pirès.

On August 8, 2006, Rosický made his competitive debut for Arsenal in their first leg Champions League third round qualifier against Dinamo Zagreb, playing on the left-wing. On 13 September, Rosický scored his first goal for Arsenal in an away game at Hamburger SV, with a spectacular long-range effort from 30 yards.

Rosicky is preferred as a left-winger at Arsenal, as some of his play resembles his predecessor of his position, Robert Pires. Both first choice wingers at Arsenal, Hleb and Rosicky have played in the Bundesliga as attacking midfielders, but Arsene Wenger prefers to play both in wide positions, and have full-backs such as Clichy and Eboue overlapping down the wings.

International career

Rosický made his international debut in 2000 aged 19, against the Republic of Ireland, and has recorded over 50 caps overall. 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 in their opening match, on June 12, 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.

Arsenal Career Statistics

(correct as of 7 January 2007)

Club	Season	League			Cup			Europe			Total
		Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists
Arsenal	2006-07	15	0	2	1	2	0	5	1	0	21	3	2
Career totals											21	3	2

External links

• Tomáš Rosický's career timeline and detailed statistics
• Tomáš Rosický's statistics at Football Association of the Czech Republic webpage
• "10 interesting facts about Tomas Rosicky" at football365.com
• Tomáš Rosický at Soccerbase
• Photos and stats at sporting-heroes.net
• Tomas Rosicky at AskMen.com
• Arsenal Website Profile and statistics at the Arsenal web site.
• Tomas Rosicky Fansite
• Website with large photo archive
• Tomáš Rosický Youtube video archive