Juventus FC key player

Having been S.S. Lazio's inspiration for so long, Pavel Nedved packed his bags and departed for Juventus FC in summer 2001. A €41.2m fee was paid, but judging by the Czech international's form behind the front two and on the wing this season, that was a more than fair price.

Cup Winners' Cup history
Rising to fame as the Czech Republic reached the final of EURO 96™, Nedved then left AC Sparta Praha to join Lazio. Five successful years followed, including Nedved making footballing history by scoring the clincher in the 1999 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final against RCD Mallorca, that competition's last ever goal. But the lure of Juve proved too tempting, and the hard-working, but superbly skilful, Nedved was inspirational as his side captured the Serie A title, and another crack at regaining the Champions League crown.

Risen to the challenge
Nedved had certainly risen to that challenge, too. Presciently, just three matches into the Champions League, he said: "I think that the Italian teams this year want to show that we are not as bad as the last few years have made us seem. I think that this will be the year of the Italian clubs in Europe." His performances against FC Dynamo Kyiv - a 5-0 win - and Newcastle United FC had already ensured that Juventus would share in that successful bounty.

Vital goals in Spain
That level of play did not drop as the competition progressed. His equaliser at RC Deportivo La Coruña ensured Juventus did not make a losing start to the second group stage, and gained them the point that saw them through to the quarter-finals. Once in the last eight, it was Nedved on target in the Camp Nou to put Juventus ahead in the tie - and cancel out FC Barcelona's away goal.

Versatile nature
Yet there is so much more to his play than that, as a man that can play anywhere in the midfield. He says: "I can play behind the strikers but also in all the other positions in midfield. In the end I will just play where the coach wants me to play."

Important factor
Most importantly, he invariably plays how his coach wants him to play, and that factor is as crucial any other in bringing Juventus their best season of recent years, both at home and in the Champions League.