Luboš Kubík

Football player infobox
playername = Luboš Kubík


fullname = Luboš Kubík
height = height|meter=1.88
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1964|1|20
cityofbirth = Vysoké Mýto
countryofbirth = Czechoslovakia
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Midfielder or Libero
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1981-1982
1982-1988
1989-1991
1991-1993
1993-1995
1995-1996
1996-1997
1997-1998
1998-2000
2001
clubs = Spartak Hradec Králové
TJ Slavia Praha IPS
Fiorentina
FC Metz
Nuremberg
FK Drnovice
Slavia Prague
Lázně Bohdaneč
Chicago Fire
Dallas Burn
caps(goals) = 028 0(2)
133 (33)
050 0(8)
070 (14)
021 0(4)
014 0(2)
014 0(1)
002 0(0)
080 (17)
011 0(1)
nationalyears = 1985-1997
nationalteam = Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic
nationalcaps(goals) = 56 (13)
manageryears = ???
2006
2006-2007
2007
managerclubs = FC Hradec Králové
Śląsk Wrocław
Torquay United
SK Týniště nad Orlicí
pcupdate = December 1, 2006
ntupdate = December 1, 2006

Luboš Kubík (born January 20, 1964 in Vysoké Mýto) is a Czech former professional footballer and former manager of Torquay United, who played sweeper for the Czechoslovakia and Czech Republic national teams, winning 56 caps in total, and a number of notable clubs. He is currently an assistant coach with the United States Under-23 Men's national team under former teammate Piotr Nowak.

Playing career

Kubík was born in Vysoké Mýto, Pardubice Region and began his career in 1981 with "Hradec Králové", and moved to local powers Slavia Praha the following year. He made his international debut for Czechoslovakia in 1985. In 1989, he was bought by Serie A club Fiorentina, and played there for two years. He moved to French club FC Metz in 1991, and then to Bundesliga team 1. FC Nuremberg in 1993, before returning to the Czech Republic with Drnovice FK, SK Slavia Praha, and AFK Lázně Bohdaneč.

Kubík moved to Major League Soccer in 1998, joining the expansion team Chicago Fire, and soon became recognized as one of the best defenders in the league. While helping the Fire to win both the MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup in their inaugural year, Kubík was named the MLS Defender of the Year for his role in marshalling the Chicago defence; he started 31 games for the Fire, and scored 7 goals and 8 assists, tremendous numbers for a defender. Kubík continued to be a valuable attacking force from the back in 1999, registering 5 goals and 8 assists, and was named in the MLS Best XI for a second time. He struggled with injuries in 2000, playing in only 13 games, but was effective when able to play, scoring 3 goals and 6 assists.

The Fire traded Kubík to the Dallas Burn during the 2001 offseason in exchange for Sergi Daniv. Kubík's final year was again beset by injuries, and he only managed to play 11 games for the Burn. Kubík retired due to injury at the end of the 2001 MLS season and returned to the Czech Republic.

Kubík was also a stalwart for the Czechoslovakian and Czech Republic's national teams, representing Czechoslovakia in the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the Czech Republic in Euro 96. He played in last international game in 1997.

Coaching and Managerial Career

He had a brief spell working for Hradec Králové and in the summer of 2006 was appointed as manager of Polish side Śląsk Wrocław. However he was sacked in October 2006 after just 11 league games in charge.

He was appointed manager of the English Football League Two side Torquay United on November 27, 2006 through his close friendship with Torquay chairman Chris Roberts.cite news
title = Czech star Kubik named Gulls boss
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/torquay_united/6189216.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2006-11-27
accessdate =2007-04-19] . Despite his impressive playing career, his lack of managerial experience and contacts in England was a problem, not aided by Roberts appointing Richard Hancox as Kubik's assistant. Torquay struggled under Kubik, winning just twice in 15 games, and he left club by mutual consent on 5 February, 2007,cite news
title = Lee given Torquay caretaker role
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/torquay_united/6332369.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-02-07
accessdate =2007-04-19] with Torquay deep in relegation trouble. Roberts also resigned as chairman later that month.cite news
title = Torquay chairman Roberts resigns
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/torquay_united/6383613.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-02-21
accessdate =2007-04-19] Torquay would be relegated at the end of the season, ending a 79 year spell in the Football League.cite news
title = Torquay lose Football League spot
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/6534985.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-04-14
accessdate =2007-04-19]

References

External links

*soccerbase (manager)|2068|Luboš Kubík