Sparta's success story

uefa.com charts the history of Czech champions AC Sparta Praha to begin our series of histories of the 18 clubs involved in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.

AC Sparta Praha were founded in 1893, when 26 footballers left Athletic Club Praha. Initially named AC Královské Vinohrady, the club took on its current name in August 1894, paying homage to ancient Greece. England, though, was the inspiration behind their red shirts, adopted in 1906 after Sparta president Petr Petrik watched Arsenal FC on a trip to London.

Prague rivalry
Controversy marred their first official match, on 29 March 1896 against SK Slavia Praha. Sparta won 1-0, only for the referee to disallow the goal several hours after the match, marking the beginning of the rivalry between the two capital clubs.

Initial success
Honours came quick to Sparta, winning their first Czech Cup in 1909, and their first national championship three years later. After the First World War, they quickly became the new Czechoslovakia's dominant club, winning the league championship every year between 1919 and 1923 - losing just once in 59 matches in the process.

World Cup glory
Sparta also claimed the new National League in 1926, 1932, 1936, 1938 and 1939, and added the continent's most prestigious trophy, the Mitropa Cup, in 1927 and 1935. In addition, Sparta's Oldrich Nejedly finished as the top scorer in the 1934 FIFA World Cup as Czechoslovakia reached the final before losing to Italy.

Post-War doldrums
However, following further title triumphs in 1946, 1948, 1952 and 1954, the post-1945 years marked a decline in fortunes for Sparta, who were renamed Spartak Sokolovo Praha in 1953 and began a 12-year run without a title. A return to their original name coincided with their 1964/65 championship victory, the year after the club had taken their only honour as Spartak, the recently-introduced Czechoslovakian Cup, though the team did supply three of the side that reached the 1962 World Cup final.

Return to dominance
The next decade saw one championship, one cup and several high league finishes, but in 1974/75 a disastrous season culminated in relegation on goal difference. Promotion was won immediately, but it was not until 1983/84 and the return of Václav Jezek, who coached the club in the 1960s, that Sparta once again became the nation's strongest side, claiming eight of the last ten Czechoslovak championships and four cups.

Title monopoly
In the 1991/92 season, the club achieved their most significant European result, narrowly missing out on the European Champion Clubs' Cup final after finishing second in their group. Since the creation of the Czech Republic in 1993, Sparta have failed to win the championship just twice, in 1995/96 and 2001/02, though they had the consolation of winning the Czech Cup in the former season. The title success of 2002/03 was particularly welcome after a difficult time when Jirí Kotrba replaced Jozef Jarabinský as coach midway through the season and the club failed to reach the Champions League first group stage.