Patrik Berger
Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Use dmy dates Template:Good article Template:Infobox football biography
Patrik Berger ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}; born 10 November 1973) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He started his career in his own country with Slavia Prague and spent a season in Germany playing for Borussia Dortmund. He moved to England in 1996, where he spent seven years with Liverpool, winning four trophies in his time there. This was followed by spells at Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Stoke City. He spent the last two years of his career back in his native Czech Republic playing for Sparta Prague.
Internationally, Berger played in two major tournaments for the Czech Republic. He played an important part in his nation's Euro 1996 campaign, scoring in the final as the Czech Republic finished runners-up to Germany. He took a 17-month break from the national team between 1997 and 1998 after a dispute with manager Dušan Uhrin, returning to the setup following Uhrin's departure from the post. His second and final major tournament was Euro 2000, but due to suspension and his country's early exit, he only played one match. He retired from the national team in 2002 at the age of 28 with a total of 44 senior international caps and 18 goals.
Capable of occupying midfield and forward positions, Berger became noted for his powerful strikes, surging runs, and strong left foot. Berger was beset with injuries throughout his career and received specialist treatment in the United States. He retired on 6 January 2010 due to knee injuries.
Personal lifeEdit
Berger was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia.<ref name=Hugman/> His uncle is the Czech footballer Jan Berger.<ref name=age40>Template:Cite news</ref> He married wife Jaroslava, and has two children, son Patrik and daughter Valentýnka.<ref name=family>Template:Cite news</ref> He gained a British passport in 2001 after having spent five years playing club football in England.<ref name=passport>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> This enabled him to play without needing a work permit,<ref name=passport/> which he had previously required due to the Premier League's rules on non-EU players.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Club careerEdit
Early careerEdit
He began his footballing career as a youth player at Sparta Prague in 1989, securing a professional contract two years later with rivals Slavia Prague.<ref name="LFCTV">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Establishing himself as a senior regular, Berger competed in Europe and earned selection for Czechoslovakia and, following its establishment, the Czech Republic.<ref name="LFCTV"/><ref name="WHO">Matthews, p. 29.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Borussia DortmundEdit
After 90 league appearances and 24 goals, Berger was purchased by Ottmar Hitzfeld's Borussia Dortmund in 1995 for a reported £500,000.<ref name="WHO"/> In August 1995 he played in the DFL-Supercup, as Dortmund beat Borussia Mönchengladbach to win the title.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> While Dortmund went on to win the Bundesliga title in the 1995–96 season, Berger was frequently used as a substitute, making 14 of his 27 league appearances from the bench. Hitzfeld preferred to employ Berger as a defensive midfielder as he considered him to be most suited to the role.<ref name=LFCH>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Berger scored four goals for Dortmund in the German top-flight.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Liverpool's interest in Berger was stimulated by the performances of the Czech Republic during Euro 1996, organised in England, where he scored a penalty in the final.<ref name="WHO"/> The club approached both Berger and Karel Poborský, who elected to transfer to Manchester United after the competition's conclusion.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> Berger did accept Liverpool's contract offer and completed his transfer in August 1996 for £3.25 million.
LiverpoolEdit
Berger and his family settled in Southport, Merseyside, where they resided near retired players Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen.<ref name="Times">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Debuting as a substitute in a 2–1 home win against Southampton on 7 September 1996, Berger performed well in his first month with the club, endearing him to supporters and earning praise from colleagues.<ref name="LFCTV"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In his second match, he replaced Stan Collymore as half time substitute, going on to score two goals in a 3–0 win against Leicester City.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A second double was registered against Chelsea in the latter's 5–1 defeat at Anfield, which he followed with a fifth goal in four matches in a Cup Winners' Cup match against MYPA.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The series of displays were recognised in October 1996 with the FA's Player of the Month award for September.<ref name="Player of the Month">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
First-team opportunities became limited in Berger's second season. Despite scoring a hat-trick against Chelsea in October 1997,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> he often found himself named as a substitute.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His dissatisfaction at manager Roy Evans placed his Liverpool career in jeopardy.<ref name="Hou">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> Evans criticised Berger's perceived indifference to teamwork and publicly expressed a willingness to sell after he refused to be used as a substitute against Bolton Wanderers in March 1998.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Berger was linked with a move away from Liverpool in May 1998, with Italian club Roma, the manager of which was his countryman Zdeněk Zeman, and Portuguese club Benfica both mentioned as possible destinations.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The appointment of Gérard Houllier as co-manager before the 1998–99 season and subsequent departure of Evans proved to be pivotal in Berger's decision to remain with the club.<ref name="Hou"/>
|
You know, the greatest day in my football life was the day I signed for Liverpool. I couldn't believe it. When I was young in Czechoslovakia, we didn't see much European football, but my father's friend went to England and he watched Liverpool. When he came back, he gave me the programme, the ticket and a scarf. I still have them all. When I moved to Southport to live, my neighbour was Kenny Dalglish. Alan Hansen lived around the corner. I met them, they were normal guys, but they were my heroes. To me, it's the best club in the world and when I am finished playing and I'm telling my children about it I will be proud to say that for seven years I was a Liverpool player. |
| The Sunday Times, 8 February 2004.<ref name="Times"/> |
Playing regularly in his first season under Houllier's reign, Berger scored nine goals and improved as a player.<ref name=LFCH/> An injury sustained in a 4–3 defeat to Leeds United in November 2000 rendered Berger unavailable for much of the 2000–01 season and required specialist treatment in the United States from knee surgeon Richard Steadman.<ref name="LFCTV" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By March 2001, Berger had recovered and he went on to feature in the final of both the UEFA Cup and the FA Cup, with Liverpool winning both trophies. In the 2001 FA Cup Final, he provided the assist for Michael Owen to score the deciding goal against Arsenal.<ref name="LFCTV"/>
He appeared in the 2001 FA Charity Shield, coming on as a substitute as Liverpool won the competition.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He then underwent knee surgery in August 2001, ruling him out of the 2001 UEFA Super Cup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Recurring injuries between 2001 and 2003 continued to disrupt Berger's career and deprived him of a presence in the first team, resulting in his decision to leave Liverpool after the expiration of his contract following the conclusion of the 2002–03 season.<ref name=LFCH/><ref name="Por">Template:Cite news</ref> Berger had been confined to the bench for the duration of his final season when selected, limiting him to four appearances.<ref name="Por"/> He left Liverpool, having scored 35 goals during his seven seasons with the club.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
PortsmouthEdit
Newly promoted to the Premier League, Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp signed Berger on a free transfer.<ref name="Por"/> Redknapp said of the deal: "Patrik's a quality player, free – and the type of player who'll bring good experience to Portsmouth. I had a bit of competition for him but he's looked round the area and is very happy to join us."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Berger made his first appearance for Portsmouth on the opening day against Aston Villa; he scored the club's second goal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Berger scored the winning goal in Portsmouth's victory over his former club Liverpool in October 2003.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A month later, he set up the first and fourth Portsmouth goals and scored the fifth in Portsmouth's 6–1 win against Leeds United.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On Boxing Day 2003, Berger helped Portsmouth to a 2–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur, scoring both goals of the match from free kicks, the first of which was scored from Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Berger underwent an operation upon his knee in February 2004, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Berger started the 2004–05 season with note, scoring August's contender for Goal of the Season against Charlton Athletic.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His second goal of the campaign came in a 3–1 win away to Crystal Palace, striking from Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> October 2004 saw his final league goal for Portsmouth in a 2–2 away draw at Norwich, scoring a 25-yard free kick.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The club endured a difficult end to the season, winning just once in a period of 12 matches, which prompted the appointment of Alain Perrin as Portsmouth's new manager.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> Berger was one of a number of players including Steve Stone and Shaka Hislop whose contracts were due to expire in the summer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Portsmouth successfully avoided relegation close to the end of the season, following a 2–0 loss away at Manchester City on 30 April.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In spite of Portsmouth having retained their Premier League status, Berger then joined Aston Villa on a two-year deal, citing manager David O'Leary as the main reason for choosing Villa.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Aston Villa and Stoke City (loan)Edit
Berger was hampered by injury during his early Villa career, making few league appearances.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During the first part of his second season, he only played two matches under new manager Martin O'Neill. In November 2006, he was sent to Championship club Stoke City on loan until 4 January 2007,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> following a fine of two weeks' wages for refusing to play in a reserve match.<ref name=loanspell>Template:Cite news</ref> During his time at Stoke, he started just one match and took part in a further six as a substitute.<ref name=loanspell/> Following his return from Stoke, Berger was commended by O'Neill on his fitness and on 7 April 2007, Berger started his first match for Villa since October 2005.<ref name=birm-mail>Template:Cite news</ref> He marked this occasion by scoring a goal in a 2–1 victory against Blackburn Rovers.<ref name=birm-mail/> Berger scored again on 5 May 2007 in the penultimate match of the season against Sheffield United.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 28 May 2007, Berger agreed to sign a one-year contract extension with Aston Villa.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Berger was injured in the pre-season of the 2007–08 Premier League, keeping him out of league matches until October 2007.<ref name=oct07injury>Template:Cite news</ref> He then suffered a recurrence of the same injury and was ruled out for a further period of time.<ref name=oct07injury/> On 6 May 2008, Berger was told he had played his last match for Aston Villa after urging captain Gareth Barry to move to Liverpool.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This came just days after manager Martin O'Neill claimed he was "desperate" to keep Barry following interest from Premier League rivals Chelsea and Liverpool.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the end of his contract Berger was released by the club, having appeared in just 29 league matches in three seasons.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Return to Sparta PragueEdit
On 29 May 2008, Berger returned to Prague as a free agent, signing a two-year contract with boyhood club Sparta Prague,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> also becoming captain of the club for the 2008–09 Gambrinus liga.<ref name="end0809">Template:Cite news</ref> In November 2008, Berger scored a hat-trick against SK Kladno in a 5–0 Sparta victory.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sparta went on to finish the season in second place, thus ensuring qualification for the following season's UEFA Champions League tournament. Berger was the club's top league goal scorer with six goals.<ref name="end0809"/>
During the 2009–10 season, Berger played just two league matches before undergoing more knee surgery.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 6 January 2010 he announced his retirement after failing to recover from a ligament injury.<ref name=bbcretire>Template:Cite news</ref>
Post-professional careerEdit
Berger continued playing football on an amateur basis in August 2010 for sixth-tier Czech Republic club Dolní Chabry.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the age of 40 he was still playing for the team.<ref name=age40/>
International careerEdit
Berger represented the youth teams of Czechoslovakia from the under-15 level, working his way up through under-16, under-17 and under-18 between 1988 and 1991.<ref name=jerabek>Jeřábek, p. 18.</ref> For these junior teams he had a record of a total of six goals in 49 appearances.<ref name=jerabek/> During this time, he won the 1990 UEFA European Under-16 Championship with the under-16 team, scoring in the final against Yugoslavia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In a FIFA World Cup qualifier on 23 March 1993, Berger debuted for the Czechoslovakia against Cyprus, which ended in a 1–1 draw.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In October 1995, he scored the second goal in a qualification match for Euro 1996 against Belarus, which the Czechs won 2–0.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Berger was part of the Czech Republic team who took part in Euro 1996, but Martin Frýdek was preferred to Berger in the starting lineup for the first match against Germany.<ref name="intl_retirement">Template:Cite news</ref> Berger went on to play in all of his nation's matches in the tournament, scoring the famous penalty spot in the final to give the Czech Republic a 1–0 lead against Germany. However, the Czech Republic ultimately lost on the golden goal rule in extra time.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Between 1997 and 1998, Berger boycotted the Czech national team due to a conflict with head coach Dušan Uhrin.<ref name="intl_retirement"/> He returned to the national set-up after a 17-month absence following the appointment of Jozef Chovanec as Uhrin's replacement.<ref name="intl_retirement"/> He made a notable return to the national team, scoring two goals from free kicks in a qualification match against Estonia.<ref name=euro2000profile>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The next major international tournament Berger took part in was Euro 2000. Having been suspended for his nation's first two matches after being sent off in a qualifier against the Faroe Islands, Berger played just one match.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Berger announced his retirement from international football in March 2002 at the age of 28.<ref name="intl_retirement"/>
Style of playEdit
Berger played mainly as an attacking midfielder,<ref name=bbcretire/> also being known as a winger.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> He became noted for his powerful strikes, surging runs, and strong left foot.<ref name="WHO"/><ref name=LFCH/> Teammate at Liverpool Steven Gerrard said of Berger that "he was the best left-footed striker of a ball I have seen".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Career statisticsEdit
ClubEdit
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| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Slavia Prague | 1991–92 | Czechoslovak First League | 20 | 3 | — | — | — | 20 | 3 | |||
| 1992–93 | Czechoslovak First League | 29 | 10 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 31 | 10 | |||
| 1993–94 | Czech First League | 12 | 4 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 14 | 5 | |||
| 1994–95 | Czech First League | 29 | 7 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 33 | 8 | |||
| Total | 90 | 24 | — | — | 8 | 2 | 98 | 26 | ||||
| Borussia Dortmund | 1995–96 | Bundesliga | 27 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | 36 | 4 | |
| Liverpool | 1996–97 | Premier League | 23 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 34 | 9 |
| 1997–98 | Premier League | 22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 4 | |
| 1998–99 | Premier League | 32 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 41 | 9 | |
| 1999–2000 | Premier League | 34 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 37 | 9 | ||
| 2000–01 | Premier League | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 2 | |
| 2001–02 | Premier League | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 31 | 1 | |
| 2002–03 | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| Total | 148 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 29 | 4 | 195 | 35 | ||
| Portsmouth | 2003–04 | Premier League | 20 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 23 | 5 | |
| 2004–05 | Premier League | 32 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 37 | 3 | ||
| Total | 52 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 60 | 8 | |||
| Aston Villa | 2005–06 | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | |
| 2006–07 | Premier League | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 14 | 2 | ||
| 2007–08 | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 32 | 2 | |||
| Stoke City (loan) | 2006–07 | Championship | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| Sparta Prague | 2008–09 | Czech First League | 21 | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | 4 | 0 | 29 | 8 | |
| 2009–10 | Czech First League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Total | 23 | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | 5 | 0 | 32 | 8 | |||
| Career total | 376 | 72 | 18 | 2 | 18 | 3 | 48 | 6 | 460 | 83 | ||
InternationalEdit
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Czechoslovakia | 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 | |
| Czech Republic | 1994 | 3 | 1 |
| 1995 | 7 | 7 | |
| 1996 | 12 | 3 | |
| 1997 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1998 | 4 | 2 | |
| 1999 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2000 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2001 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 42 | 18 | |
- Scores and results list Czech Republic's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Berger goal.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 September 1994 | Bazaly, Ostrava | Template:Fb | 6–1 | 6–1 | Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 2 | 8 March 1995 | Stadion Za Lužánkami, Brno | Template:Fb | 1–0 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 2–0 | |||||
| 4 | 29 March 1995 | Bazaly, Ostrava | Template:Fb | 2–0 | 4–2 | Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 5 | 3–1 | |||||
| 6 | 26 April 1995 | Letná Stadium, Prague | Template:Fb | 3–1 | 3–1 | Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 7 | 7 October 1995 | Dinamo Stadium, Minsk | Template:Fb | 2–0 | 2–0 | Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 8 | 15 November 1995 | Letná Stadium, Prague | Template:Fb | 3–0 | 3–0 | Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 9 | 30 June 1996 | Wembley Stadium, London | Template:Fb | 1–0 | 1–2 | Euro 1996 |
| 10 | 18 September 1996 | Na Stínadlech, Teplice | Template:Fb | 1–0 | 6–0 | 1998 World Cup qualification |
| 11 | 3–0 | |||||
| 12 | 26 February 1997 | Stadion FK Bohemia, Poděbrady | Template:Fb | 4–1 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 13 | 14 October 1998 | Na Stínadlech, Teplice | Template:Fb | 2–0 | 4–1 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 14 | 3–0 | |||||
| 15 | 27 March 1999 | Na Stínadlech, Teplice | Template:Fb | 2–0 | 2–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 16 | 5 June 1999 | Kadrioru Stadium, Tallinn | Template:Fb | 1–0 | 2–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 17 | 8 September 1999 | Na Stínadlech, Teplice | Template:Fb | 2–0 | 3–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 18 | 3 June 2000 | Frankenstadion, Nuremberg | Template:Fb | 2–2 | 2–3 | Friendly |
HonoursEdit
Borussia Dortmund
Liverpool
Individual
- Premier League Player of the Month: September 1996<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Czech Footballer of the Year: 1996 (shared with Karel Poborský)
- Czech Golden Ball: 1999
ReferencesEdit
Cited textsEdit
External linksEdit
- Profile at the Liverpool F.C. website
- Template:FACR player
- Template:FIFA player
- Template:UEFA player
- Template:Premier League player