Editing Vratislav Lokvenc (section)

== Club career ==
===Early success===
Lokvenc was born into a football family; his father, also named Vratislav Lokvenc, played club football for [[FK Ústí nad Labem]] in the second football league of Czechoslovakia and later [[FK Náchod-Deštné|Náchod]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Radomír|last=Machek|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/lokvenc-daval-v-zacich-i-devadesat-golu-dyg-/fot_me2004.aspx?c=A040617_094627_fot_me2004_ot|title=Lokvenc dával v žácích i devadesát gólů|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=17 June 2004|access-date=7 May 2014}}</ref>
Born in 1973, Lokvenc started his professional career during the 1992–93 season with [[FC Hradec Králové|Hradec Králové]],<ref name=jerabek>{{cite book |last=Jeřábek|first=Luboš|title=Český a československý fotbal – lexikon osobností a klubů|year=2007|publisher=Grada Publishing|location=Prague|language=cs|isbn=978-80-247-1656-5|page=113}}</ref> joining [[AC Sparta Prague|Sparta Prague]] in October 1994.<ref name=away>{{cite web|first=Jaromír|last=Novák|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/lokvenc-kdyz-chce-mit-fotbalista-vystarano-musi-ven-fyu-/fotbal.aspx?c=A000410231049fotbal_sop|title=Lokvenc: Když chce mít fotbalista vystaráno, musí ven|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=11 April 2000|access-date=7 May 2014}}</ref> He featured in the [[1995–96 UEFA Cup]] for Sparta, scoring the first goal and providing the pass for the second in a 2–1 win against Danish club [[Silkeborg IF]], whereby Sparta qualified on the [[away goals rule]] for the second round.<ref name=uefa95>{{cite web|first=Sakis|last=Kondos|url=http://www.praguepost.cz/archivescontent/21141-three-musketeers-go-to-round-two.html|title='Three Musketeers' Go to Round Two|work=The Prague Post|date=4 October 1995|access-date=7 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508111737/http://www.praguepost.cz/archivescontent/21141-three-musketeers-go-to-round-two.html|archive-date=8 May 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> He scored a goal shortly after entering the game as a substitute in a first round match of the [[1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]] against Austrian side [[SK Sturm Graz|Sturm Graz]]; the match finished 2–2.<ref name=cwc96>{{cite web|first=Frantisek|last=Bouc|url=http://www.praguepost.cz/archivescontent/24697-crosstown-soccer-rivals-successful-in-theri-european-cup-excursions.html|title=Crosstown soccer rivals successful in their European Cup excursions|work=The Prague Post|date=18 September 1996|access-date=7 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508104642/http://www.praguepost.cz/archivescontent/24697-crosstown-soccer-rivals-successful-in-theri-european-cup-excursions.html|archive-date=8 May 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Lokvenc spent six seasons at Sparta Prague, with whom he won five league titles and the 1995–96 [[Czech Cup]].<ref name=jerabek/> In March 2000, in a match against [[SK České Budějovice|České Budějovice]], Lokvenc scored four times for Sparta as the match finished 4–1.<ref name=4goals>{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/lokvenc-hattrick-a-jeste-gol-navrch-dub-/fotbal.aspx?c=A000319183128fotbal_zej|title=Lokvenc: Hattrick a ještě gól navrch|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=19 March 2000|access-date=7 May 2014}}</ref> In doing so he became the third player in the Czech era to score four times in the same match, after [[Josef Obajdin]] and [[Robert Vágner]].<ref name=4goals/> Lokvenc scored twice in the [[Prague derby]] match against [[SK Slavia Prague|Slavia Prague]] in May 2000, in a 5–1 win which secured the league title for Sparta.<ref name=daughter>{{cite web|first=Frantisek|last=Bouc|url=http://www.praguepost.cz/archivescontent/31888-we-are-the-champions.html|title=We are the champions|work=The Prague Post|date=10 May 2000|access-date=7 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508102229/http://www.praguepost.cz/archivescontent/31888-we-are-the-champions.html|archive-date=8 May 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was top scorer of the [[Czech First League]] in the 1999–2000 season with 22 goals,<ref name=jerabek-topscorers>{{cite book |last=Jeřábek|first=Luboš|title=Český a československý fotbal – lexikon osobností a klubů|year=2007|publisher=Grada Publishing|location=Prague|language=cs|isbn=978-80-247-1656-5|page=232}}</ref> tying the league record, which stood until David Lafata scored 25 goals during the [[2011–12 Czech First League|2011–12 season]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Miloslav|last=Novák|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/vratislav-lokvenc-nominace-na-nejlepsiho-utocnika-gambrinus-ligy-1ce-/fotbal.aspx?c=A130506_184111_fotbal_min|title=Ukradli mě, vzpomíná Lokvenc, jak místo na Žižkov přestoupil do Sparty|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=7 May 2013|access-date=21 February 2015}}</ref>

===Germany===
Lokvenc joined [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]] of the German [[Bundesliga]] in 2000, agreeing to the move before the 2000 European Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/teams/czech_rep/758273.stm|title=Czech squad players on the move|work=BBC Sport|date=21 May 2000|access-date=7 May 2014}}</ref> Around the same time, a daughter was born to Lokvenc in May 2000.<ref name=daughter/> He scored six goals in an 11–1 friendly match win against an amateur side before the start of the season.<ref name=6friendly>{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/pan-zdvorily-strili-goly-i-v-kaiserslauternu-fax-/fotbal.aspx?c=A000718130008fotbal_jir|title=Pan Zdvořilý střílí góly i v Kaiserslauternu|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=18 July 2000|access-date=7 May 2014}}</ref> In December 2000 Lokvenc scored in the [[UEFA Cup]] against [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]], helping his team qualify for the last 16 of the competition.<ref name=uefacup00>{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/lokvencuv-gol-pomohl-k-postupu-d3d-/fotbal.aspx?c=A001207_220330_fotbal_hdv|title=Lokvencův gól pomohl k postupu|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=7 December 2000|access-date=7 May 2014}}</ref> In the following round Kaiserslautern were paired with Slavia Prague; after the first match had finished goalless, Lokvenc scored the only goal in the second leg of their [[two-legged tie]] to eliminate the Czech team.<ref name=uefaslavia>{{cite web|first=Jaromír|last=Novák|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/slavii-vyradil-byvaly-spartan-lokvenc-dhy-/fot_pohary.aspx?c=A010222_222322_fot_pohary_ber|title=Slavii vyřadil bývalý sparťan Lokvenc|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=22 February 2001|access-date=7 May 2014}}</ref> He scored a [[hat-trick]] in the [[2002–03 DFB-Pokal]] quarter-final against [[VfL Bochum|Bochum]], a game which finished 3–3 but was won by Kaiserslautern after a [[penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]].<ref name=pokalhattrick>{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/lokvenc-se-blyskl-hattrickem-di8-/fot_zahranici.aspx?c=A030205_231554_fot_zahranici_rou|title=Lokvenc se blýskl hattrickem|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=5 February 2003|access-date=7 May 2014}}</ref> Lokvenc played in the final of the competition at the end of May 2003, but his side were beaten 3–1 by league winners [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] as the latter claimed [[double (association football)|the double]].<ref name=gercup03>{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/dfb-pokalfinale-bayern-muehelos-zum-double-a-251119.html|title=DFB-Pokalfinale: Bayern mühelos zum Double|language=de|work=[[Spiegel Online]]|date=31 May 2003|access-date=18 May 2015}}</ref>

Kaiserslautern announced that Lokvenc would be sold in April 2004, citing his salary demands as reasons for his sale.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rp-online.de/sport/fussball/vratislav-lokvenc-verlaesst-den-fck-aid-1.1565439|title=Vratislav Lokvenc verlässt den FCK|language=de|work=Rheinische Post|date=29 April 2004|access-date=7 May 2014}}</ref> He joined [[VfL Bochum]] of the Bundesliga in the summer of 2004, agreeing the transfer before the European Championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/019d-0f90238380ca-040217ed559b-1000--lokvenc-bound-for-bochum/|title=Lokvenc bound for Bochum|work=[[UEFA]]|date=10 May 2004|access-date=21 February 2015}}</ref> Bochum were relegated from the league after 33 games of the 34-game season, with Lokvenc scoring his tenth goal of the season in a 2–0 win at third placed [[VfB Stuttgart|Stuttgart]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/lokvencuv-gol-uz-bochum-nespasil-dqc-/fot_zahranici.aspx?c=A050514_175724_fot_zahranici_mn|title=Lokvencův gól už Bochum nespasil|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=14 May 2005|access-date=21 February 2015}}</ref>

=== Late career ===
Lokvenc signed for [[FC Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg]] in the summer of 2005, rejecting offers from [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] and [[Hertha BSC|Hertha Berlin]].<ref name=salztrans>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/4617261.stm|title=Czech striker snubs Pompey offer|work=BBC Sport|date=7 June 2005|access-date=7 May 2014}}</ref> He described his move to Salzburg as "the best transfer of my life",<ref name=salztrans/> arriving around the same time as Germany national team players [[Thomas Linke]] and [[Alexander Zickler]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Paul|last=Joyce|url=http://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/18-letter-from/1554-austria--red-bull-salzburg|title=Austria – Red Bull Salzburg|work=When Saturday Comes|date=September 2005|access-date=24 February 2015}}</ref> Lokvenc only played four league matches in [[2005–06 Austrian Football Bundesliga|his first season]] with the club before requiring surgery on an injury to his right knee in November.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ihned.cz/c4-10107050-17173200-000000_d|title=Operace vyřadí Lokvence na půl roku|language=cs|work=Hospodářské noviny|date=9 November 2005|access-date=21 February 2015}}</ref> He returned to the team in May 2006, taking part in a match for the first time since July 2005, as he made an appearance as a substitute in a 2–1 home loss against [[ASKÖ Pasching|Pasching]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/sionkuv-gol-nasmeroval-austrii-k-oslavam-f14-/fot_zahranici.aspx?c=A060505_231814_fot_zahranici_ot|title=Sionkův gól nasměroval Austrii k oslavám|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=7 May 2006|access-date=21 February 2015}}</ref> The club finished the season as league runners-up, behind [[FK Austria Wien|Austria Vienna]].<ref name=league0506>{{cite web|last1=Exenberger|first1=Andreas|last2=Stokkermans|first2=Karel|year=2006|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oost06.html|title=Austria 2005/06|work=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=19 May 2015}}</ref>

Lokvenc scored his first league goal of the [[2006–07 Austrian Football Bundesliga]] in a December match against [[SC Rheindorf Altach|Altach]], levelling the scores as the game finished 1–1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/kanonadu-ajaxu-nastartoval-grygeruv-gol-ff7-/fot_zahranici.aspx?c=A061202_181922_fot_zahranici_min|title=Kanonádu Ajaxu nastartoval Grygerův gól|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=4 December 2006|access-date=21 February 2015}}</ref> The club went on to win the league in April 2007 with five matches of the season remaining.<ref name=league07>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01c0-0f8eef79579a-a55236b0a629-1000--salzburg-sizzling-after-title-triumph/|title=Salzburg sizzling after title triumph|work=[[UEFA]]|date=29 April 2007|access-date=21 February 2015}}</ref>

In October 2007 Lokvenc scored the only goal in Salzburg's 1–0 UEFA Cup first round win against [[AEK Athens F.C.|AEK Athens]] This was not enough for his team to advance, having lost 3–0 in the first leg of their two-legged tie.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01c6-0e6e9de18fa8-5100e182f8e1-1000--ajax-follow-french-pair-out-of-europe/|title=Ajax follow French pair out of Europe|work=[[UEFA]]|date=5 October 2007|access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref> Lokvenc featured less for Salzburg in the 2007–08 season,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/lokvenc-odchazi-hostovat-do-basileje-dse-/fot_zahranici.aspx?c=A080216_132133_fot_zahranici_rou|title=Lokvenc odchází hostovat do Basileje|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=16 February 2008|access-date=1 March 2015}}</ref> prompting him to join [[Swiss Super League]] team [[FC Basel|Basel]] on loan in February 2008 for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01ca-0e6efcb6f4db-69e562e5ee2c-1000--costanzo-counted-out-for-basel/|title=Costanzo counted out for Basel|work=[[UEFA]]|date=15 February 2008|access-date=24 February 2015}}</ref> He scored in Basel's 1–0 semi-final [[Swiss Cup]] victory against [[FC Thun|Thun]].<ref name=Schaub/> The club went on to win the [[2007–08 Swiss Super League|2008 league championship]] title and the [[2007–08 Swiss Cup|2008 Swiss Cup]].<ref name=basel08>{{cite web|last=Stokkermans|first=Karel|year=2008|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zwit08.html|title=Switzerland 2007/08|work=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=4 February 2015}}</ref>

Lokvenc returned to Germany in the summer of 2008, joining [[FC Ingolstadt 04|Ingolstadt]] of the [[2. Bundesliga]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/lokvenc-bude-hrat-druhou-nemeckou-ligu-za-ingolstadt-pcv-/fot_zahranici.aspx?c=A080616_174417_fot_zahranici_mah|title=Lokvenc bude hrát druhou německou ligu za Ingolstadt|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=16 June 2008|access-date=24 February 2015}}</ref> On 17 August 2008, the Czech played his first competitive match for FC Ingolstadt in a 3–2 victory against SpVgg Greuther Fürth on the first matchday of the second German Bundesliga.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/ingolstadt-gegen-fuerth-2008-bundesliga-863420/analyse|title=Fink-Elf siegt zum Auftakt|work=Kicker-Sportmagazin|publisher=Olympia Verlag GmbH|date=17 August 2008|access-date=29 March 2020|language=de}}</ref> Lokvenc scored his first two goals on 5 October 2008 in a 4–2 win on the seventh matchday against Hansa Rostock (a relegated team from the Bundesliga).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/ingolstadt-gegen-rostock-2008-bundesliga-863765/analyse|title=Leitl wendet das Blatt|work=Kicker-Sportmagazin|publisher=Olympia Verlag GmbH|date=5 October 2008|access-date=29 March 2020|language=de}}</ref> Vratislav Lokvenc played in 23 games and scored six goals. Nevertheless, FC Ingolstadt relegated from the second German Bundesliga at the end of the season. After the relegation, Lokvenc left the Bavarians and retires.

=== Post-playing career ===
After finishing his professional playing career, Lokvenc worked as a [[scout (sport)|scout]] in the Czech Republic and Slovakia for his former team, Basel.<ref name=rp11>{{cite web|first=Lothar|last=Martin|url=http://www.radio.cz/de/rubrik/sport/ex-fussballprofi-lokvenc-tschechien-muss-nachwuchsarbeit-nach-deutschem-vorbild-ausrichten|title=Ex-Fußballprofi Lokvenc: Tschechien muss Nachwuchsarbeit nach deutschem Vorbild ausrichten|language=de|work=Radio Prague|date=19 October 2011|access-date=24 February 2015}}</ref> He also played football in the amateur [[Czech Fourth Division]] for [[SK Union Čelákovice|Union Čelákovice]].<ref name=rp11/> He continued to be physically active after his football career, taking part in the 2010 [[Prague Half Marathon]] in the same field as former international teammate Pavel Nedvěd.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.praha.eu/jnp/en/about_prague/city_hall/mayor_of_prague/mayor_of_prague_in_half_marathon.html|title=Mayor of Prague in Half Marathon|work=Portal of Prague|date=5 April 2010|access-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924083010/http://www.praha.eu/jnp/en/about_prague/city_hall/mayor_of_prague/mayor_of_prague_in_half_marathon.html|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was again involved in the Prague Half Marathon in 2015, taking part in a relay alongside Nedvěd, fellow footballer [[Tomáš Hübschman]] and 2014 Miss Czech Republic, [[Tereza Skoumalová]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Petr|last=Šedivý|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/fotbaliste-nedved-hubschman-a-lokvenc-pobezi-propagovat-mistrovstvi-evropy-do-21-let-gnr-/fot_reprez.aspx?c=A150325_105351_fot_reprez_pes|title=Nedvěd či česká miss na půlmaratonu: Běžíme na mistrovství Evropy|language=cs|work=Mladá fronta DNES|date=25 March 2015|access-date=26 August 2015}}</ref>