Czech football mourns Václav Drobný

Czech football is mourning former international Václav Drobný, who has died in a skiing accident at the age of 32.

Drobný counted FK Chmel Blšany, RC Strasbourg, Aston Villa FC, AC Sparta Praha, FK Jablonec, FC Augsburg, FC Spartak Trnava and FK Bohemians Praha among his clubs. Perhaps his greatest success came on the international stage, however, as captain of the Czech Republic squad that lifted the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, although injury meant he appeared in only two matches in the finals in Switzerland.

Capped twice by the senior side, against Japan and Italy in 2004, Drobný won the 2006/07 Czech league title at Sparta before hanging up his boots in 2011 after a short spell at Bohemians and going on to become a popular television commentator.

"I was deeply sorry to learn such sad news," said Petr Čech, goalkeeper in the Czech U21 side in 2002. "I knew Václav very well; we used to play together for Blšany and for the national youth teams. His life was football, that is why he started coaching and commentating after ending his career. His death came too much early. It is a great pity that he will not have more time to follow his plans. It is a very sad moment, a tremendous loss, especially for his family and closest ones. I would like to express my deepest sympathy to his family."