Winning theBallon d'Or in 2003, Nedvěd was the second Czech player to win the award and the first since the breakup of Czechoslovakia. During his career, Nedvěd received many other individual awards, including the secondGolden Foot award in 2004,Czech Footballer of the Year (four times), and theGolden Ball (six times). He was also named byPelé as one of theFIFA 100 and was named in theUEFA Team of the Year in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Nedvěd retired from professional football after the2008–09 season. Nedvěd played 501 league matches at club level (scoring 110 goals) and wascapped 91 times for the Czech Republic (scoring 18 goals).
Born on 30 August 1972 inCheb and raised in nearbySkalná,[5][6] Nedvěd began his football career in his native Czechoslovakia. A football fan from an early age, he began playing for his hometown club Tatran Skalná in 1977 at the age of five.[7] Nedvěd moved on toRudá Hvězda Cheb in 1985, playing one season before spending five years withŠkoda Plzeň.[7] In 1990, Nedvěd was loaned toDukla Prague, a club run by theArmy, as part of hismilitary service.[8] During his first year at Dukla Prague, he played forVTJ Dukla Tábor [cs], a lower division club also operated by the Army. On 28 October 1991, Nedvěd played his first match for Dukla Prague.[9] He played one season for Dukla in 1991 before finishing his military service, thus ending his loan from Plzeň. He later transferred toSparta Prague in 1992.[10] Plzeň was about to receive 30% of the transfer fee if Nedvěd transferred to a foreign club.[11][12]
Early in his career at Sparta, Nedvěd was sent off three times in just six matches.[9] With Sparta, Nedvěd won oneCzechoslovak First League title, twoGambrinus liga titles and aCzech Cup.[10] In 1994, he received his first call up to theCzech Republic national team. His performance atUEFA Euro 1996, including a goal in the group stage againstItaly, attracted attention; despite a verbal agreement withPSV,[11][13] Nedvěd moved from Sparta Prague to ItalianSerie A clubLazio. Sparta first sold Nedvěd to Slovak club1. FC Košice, which had the same owner as Sparta, for a 1.5 millionCZK transfer fee. Immediately, Košice sold Nedvěd to Lazio.[11] Thus Sparta paid only a small fraction of the transfer fee to Plzeň.[11][14] After Plzeň's protest, theCzech football association ordered Sparta to pay Plzeň 35 million CZK in compensation.[12]
Nedvěd signed a four-year contract for a fee of₤1.2 million.[15]
Nedvěd made his league debut for Lazio on 7 September 1996 in a 1–0 away defeat againstBologna.[16][17] He scored his first league goal for the club againstCagliari on 20 October 1996, finishing the1996–97 season with seven goals.[17] Nedvěd became an integral part of the side, scoring four goals in three matches early in the 1997–98 season.[18] The club had a 24-match unbeaten streak from November 1997 to April 1998, ending with a league match againstJuventus in which Nedvěd was sent off.[19] That season, Lazio won the1997–98 Coppa Italia and reached the final of the1997–98 UEFA Cup.[20][21] Nedvěd and Lazio began the 1998–99 season with a victory in theSupercoppa Italiana, Nedvěd scoring as the club defeated Juventus 2–1.[22] He played a role in Lazio's road to the last-everCup Winners' Cup, scoring againstLausanne in the first round and in both legs of Lazio's 7–0 aggregate quarter-final victory overPanionios.[23] In the1999 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final, Nedvěd scored the decisive goal againstMallorca for Lazio's 2–1 victory.[24] This proved to be the last goal of the tournament, which was later discontinued.[25]
Nedvěd was one of the ten highest-paid footballers in the Italian league in 1999.[26] at a time when the players of the italian league were the highest paid players in Europe.[27]He played in the1999 UEFA Super Cup againstManchester United at the beginning of the season, where Lazio won the match by a single goal.[28] The club went on to win the Serie A title and Coppa Italia, completing adomestic double in 2000 with Nedvěd's help.[29] In 2000, he won the Supercoppa Italiana with Lazio for a second time.[22] WithSiniša Mihajlović, Nedvěd was one of two Lazio players sent off in the quarter-final of the 2000 Coppa Italia held in December, where the defending champions lost 5–3 on aggregate toUdinese.[30]
Nedvěd playedUEFA Champions League football with Lazio, scoring againstReal Madrid in a 2–2 draw in the second group stage[31] before the Italian side was eliminated. In Lazio's final Champions League match of the season, Nedvěd was criticised byLeeds United managerDavid O'Leary for a challenge onAlan Maybury (although the referee did not call a foul),[32] and he received a three-match suspension from European competitions fromUEFA.[33]
Despite Nedvěd's signing a new four-year contract with Lazio in April 2001, the club tried to sell him and teammateJuan Sebastián Verón that summer, triggering fan protests against club chairman Sergio Cragnotti.[34] The players were ultimately sold to Juventus and Manchester United respectively.
After five seasons with Lazio, Nedvěd was speculatively linked to several clubs (including Manchester United andChelsea)[35] before moving to Juventus in July 2001 for 75 billionlire (€38.7 million by fixed exchange rate).[36][37][38] At Juventus, he replacedZinedine Zidane, who had transferred to Real Madrid that summer.[39] Nedvěd was a regular on Juventus' 2001–02 and 2002–03Scudetto-winning teams.[40] Although he was a substantial part of the club's championship season in 2003, he was also the subject of controversy. Nedvěd quit theItalian Footballers' Association in protest of the union's limit on non-European Union (EU) players;[41] his native Czech Republic did not become an EU member until 2004.[42] Nedvěd perfectly led Juventus to the2003 UEFA Champions League final againstMilan,[43] but had to sit out the final due to an accumulation ofyellow cards after his semi-final booking for a foul on Real Madrid midfielderSteve McManaman.[44]
In December 2003, Nedvěd was named World Footballer of the Year byWorld Soccer magazine.[45] Later that month, he won theEuropean Footballer of the Year award overThierry Henry andPaolo Maldini, the second Czech to win the award afterJosef Masopust in 1962.[46] Nedvěd received further recognition in his home country when he won the 2004 Golden Ball, awarded by Czech sportswriters, for the fifth time in seven years.[47]
The 2004–05 season was frustrating for Nedvěd, who was sidelined for two months by knee and head injuries[48] and first considered retirement in April 2005.[48] Although Juventus won Serie A titles that year and in 2006, the titles were revoked after theCalciopolimatch fixing scandal. After the 2005–06 season, which ended with Juventus' relegation from Serie A despite its first-place finish,[49] many stars (such asFabio Cannavaro andLilian Thuram) left the club and the remaining players' future was uncertain.[50] After the 2006 World Cup, Nedvěd dispelled rumours about his departure by reiterating his desire to help Juventus regain promotion to Serie A, citing his family and his commitment to the club as reasons for his decision.[43] He received a five-match ban after a red card againstGenoa in December 2006,[51] and repeated his threat to retire.[52] However, he remained with the club until the end of the season and scored 11 league goals in the2006–07 Serie B.[40]
Nedvěd playing for Juventus in training, July 2007
For the 2007–08 season, Juventus again played in Serie A. Nedvěd played frequently for theBianconeri, contributing as the team's first-choice left winger and scoring two goals that season. He was again controversial: in November 2007, his tackle ofInter Milan midfielderLuís Figo broke Figo'sfibula.[53] In April 2008, Nedvěd was hospitalised overnight for a concussion sustained in a collision withRoberto Guana during a match againstPalermo.[54]
Nedvěd scored Juventus' first league goal of the 2008–09 season in a 1–1 away draw withFiorentina,[55] and scored twice against Bologna in a 2–1 away win in October.[55] On 26 February 2009, Nedvěd announced he would retire at the end of 2008–09 season[56][57] to spend more time with his family.[58] On 10 March 2009, he came off as a substitute due to injury after 12 minutes of the Champions League round of 16 second leg match against Chelsea.[59] Due to his impending retirement and his club's 3–2 loss on aggregate, it was his last European match for Juventus. Nedvěd retired at the end of the season, captaining the final match against his former team Lazio and setting upVincenzo Iaquinta's goal for a 2–0 victory.[60] As of April 2024, Nedvěd has made the most appearances for the Turin side as a non–Italian player (327).[61]
On 23 September 2017, Nedvěd transferred to FK Skalná, based in his native village ofSkalná. The club plays in the 1. B class of in theKarlovy Vary Region (7th level of Czech football hierarchy).[62] Chairman of the club had said: "It was Pavel's dream to play with his son and now it will come true". He further added that it seems likely that his planned fielding on 2 June 2018 in a home fixture against TJ Baník Královské Poříči B is a one-off event, due to Nědved's residency in Italy and employment as vice-president ofJuventus.[63] Nedvěd was in the starting line-up, but Skalná lost the home fixture 1–4, and neither Nedvěd nor his son scored a goal.
Nedvěd began playing for Czechoslovakia national youth teams in 1988, representing his country in the under-15 age group before progressing to 16, 17 and 18.[10] In 1992, he debuted for theunder-21 team, playing seven times between 1992 and 1993.[10]
Nedvěd debuted for the reformedCzech Republic national team in June 1994 in a 3–1 victory over theRepublic of Ireland.[64] His first major tournament was Euro 1996, where he scored his first senior international goal and helped his team reachthe final.[65]
The Czech Republic were not expected to make an impact against the favouredGermany side in their opening match; Nedvěd missed two scoring chances and was one of ten players to receive a yellow card as Germany won 2–0.[66] However, he contributed defensively, clearing a goal-bound shot fromChristian Ziege off theline.[66]
Nedvěd scored his first senior international goal in his nation's Group C match against Italy, putting the Czech Republic in the lead 1–0 after four minutes.[67] Although Italy scored an equaliser during the first half, they were reduced to ten men and the Czech Republic scored again before half-time for a 2–1 victory.[68] Nedvěd played in the third group match, againstRussia, receiving his second yellow card of the tournament as the Czechs tied 3–3 to advance to the knockout stage.[69]
Due to a suspension, Nedvěd missed the Czech Republic's quarter-final match againstPortugal.[70] The Czechs won in his absence and progressed.[71] In the semi-final againstFrance, Nedvěd was namedman of the match as the Czech Republic advanced to the final after apenalty shoot–out,[72] where he scored his nation's second penalty shot.[73] He and the Czech Republic team lost 2–1 in the final to Germany, who scored agolden goal.[74]
BeforeEuro 2000, Nedvěd could not train normally due to an ankle injury.[75] The Czechs' first match (against theNetherlands) saw him and international teammateJan Koller hit thewoodwork without scoring, before the Dutch scored a controversial penalty to win 1–0.[76] In the second match, against France, he was fouled, where the resultant Czech penalty was converted byKarel Poborský to even the score at 1–1.[77] Despite two shots on goal, Nedvěd could not beat French goalkeeperFabien Barthez and France won the match 2–1.[77] Already eliminated after two matches, he played in the third group match, against Denmark; the Czechs achieved a 2–0 victory.[76] After Euro 2000, Nedvěd took over the national team captaincy fromJiří Němec.[78]
Nedvěd was instrumental in theEuro 2004 group stage match against the Netherlands. With two goals down after 19 minutes, he gave a man of the match performance as the Czechs rebounded to win 3–2.[79] Nine players, including Nedvěd, were rested for the group match against Germany, with the Czechs already qualified for the knockout stage.[80] He received a yellow card, upheld on appeal, in the quarter-final match againstDenmark.[81] This meant Nedvěd would miss the final if he received another yellow card in the semi-final againstGreece.[81] However, Greece defeated the Czechs, and Nedvěd came off as a substitute after a knee injury.[82] After their exit from the tournament, Nedvěd announced his retirement from the national team;[82] he was named to the Team of the Tournament alongside countrymenPetr Čech andMilan Baroš.[83]
Nedvěd was persuaded by coachKarel Brückner and his teammates to come out of international retirement in time for the2006 World Cup qualification playoffs againstNorway,[84] in which the Czech Republic qualified for the final tournament for the first time since thedissolution of Czechoslovakia.[85] Although Nedvěd's World Cup participation was jeopardised by a June knee injury,[86] he was able to play.
The Czechs won the first match of the2006 World Cup 3–0 against theUnited States,[87] but key players were injured. They later lost their next two group matches againstGhana and eventual winners Italy, finishing third in their group.[88][89] Nedvěd's apparent goal at the beginning of the second half in the match against Ghana was ruled offside.[88] His shots on goal against Italy were saved by Juventus teammateGianluigi Buffon.[89] Nedvěd again announced his retirement from the international scene before the August 2006 friendly match againstSerbia, in which he made his 91st and final appearance.[90] He refused to reverse his decision beforeEuro 2008 despite requests from teammates and Brückner.[91] In total, Nedvěd made 91 appearances and scored 18 goals.
Nedvěd was known for his trademark long blonde hair, which made him a highly recognisable player on the pitch,[104][105] and was known for his tackling and work-rate, which allowed him to win possession of the ball and provide stability to the defenders.[108] His former Lazio bossSven-Göran Eriksson described him as "an atypical midfielder, totally complete".[109] Despite his ability, Nedvěd's tenacious playing style and disciplinary record has been criticised by the football media, who accused him of being overly aggressive in his tackles; he has also been accused ofdiving.[105][110]
Nedvěd was named International Personality at the 2012FAI International Football Awards in February.[113] In January 2013, he was banned from attending Serie A matches for three weeks after he insulted refereePaolo Valeri during Juventus' match againstSampdoria.[114]
On 28 November 2022, the entire Juventus board of directors resigned due to thePlusvalenza scandal, in which Juventus had committed capital gain violations.[120] On 20 January 2023, Nedvěd was suspended from holding office in Italian football for eight months due to his involvement in the scandal.[121][122]
On 8 January 2025, Nedvěd became sporting director of Saudi clubAl Shabab.[123]
As part of business group Fotbal HK 1905, Nedved will take control of the ownership ofFC Hradec Králové as of 1st January 2026.[124]
Nedvěd has lived with his wife Ivana since 1992.[125][126] The couple have two children who are named Ivana and Pavel after their parents.[126] The couple split in 2019 and Nedvěd started dating an equestrian.[127] Nedvěd's 2010 autobiography was published in Italian asLa mia vita normale. Di corsa tra rivoluzione, Europa e Pallone d'oro. It was translated intoCzech asMůj obyčejný život and released in the Czech Republic in 2011.[128]
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^ab"Nedvěd, addio alla Juve".La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). RCS MediaGroup. 30 May 2009. Archived fromthe original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved21 September 2014.
^abSéverac, Dominique (23 December 2003)."Nedvěd devance Henry".Le Parisien (in French).LMVH.Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved29 February 2020.
^"Nedvěd se stal členem představenstva Juventusu Turín" [Nedvěd became a member of the board of directors at Juventus Turin].Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech). Czech Republic. 27 October 2010.Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved4 January 2013.
^"Jak rostou nové hvězdy fotbalu?" [How do the new stars of football grow?].Mladá fronta DNES (in Czech). Czech Republic. 29 June 2006.Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved4 March 2013.
^abMoravec, Martin (16 June 2006)."Ivana Nedvědová: Můj život s Pavlem" [Ivana Nedvědová: My life with Pavel].Mladá fronta DNES (in Czech). Czech Republic.Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved4 January 2013.
