Čišovský honoured as Plzeň regain Czech crown

FC Viktoria Plzeň dedicated their third Czech title to Marián Čišovský after wrapping it up with two matches to spare.

First-half headers from Roman Hubník and František Rajtoral in Monday's 2-0 victory over FC Vysočina Jihlava left Miroslav Koubek's charges with a six-point advantage over AC Sparta Praha with two rounds remaining. Plzeň have a superior head-to-head record against their nearest rivals having beaten them 2-0 home and away.

Plzeň dedicated their triumph to Slovakian defender Marián Čišovský, a former team-mate battling serious illness who joined the celebrations at full-time. It was also an emotional moment for captain Pavel Horváth, 40, having announced he will retire after a farewell match on 2 June. He was given a long standing ovation when he came on as a substitute.

It is Horváth's fifth Czech title, his third with Plzeň; for Koubek it was a first. The 63-year old returned to the club in August 2014, replacing Dušan Uhrin Jr. Plzeň will now hope to complete a hat-trick of UEFA Champions League group stage appearances having qualified in 2011 and 2013. They enter in the third qualifying round.

"I am a hard man, but I had tears in my eyes because of Marián," said Koubek. "If I could swap the title I have been waiting for for 32 years, for his health, I would do it immediately."