AC Sparta Prague

AC Sparta Prague, officially Athletic Club Sparta Praha, is the most successful football club in the Czech Republic and one of the most decorated in Central Europe. Founded in 1893, the club is based in the Czech capital and plays its home matches at Letná Stadium, also known as the epet Arena in its current sponsorship arrangement, which has a capacity of 18,243 seats. Sparta competes in the Czech First League, the top tier of Czech football, and their official website is sparta.cz.

The club's trophy cabinet is headlined by a record 38 domestic league titles and 16 Czech Cups, making them the most successful side in the country's history. They have also won the Mitropa Cup three times, a major Central European competition that was a precursor to modern European tournaments. On the continental stage, Sparta reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1992 and the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1973, cementing their status among the region's elite.

The club is majority controlled by billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. The current squad is large, with 35 players, an average age of 25.3, and includes 22 foreigners (62.9% of the squad) and 15 national team players. The transfer record currently shows a net spend of €-5.82m. [edit]

Founded in 1893, AC Sparta Prague quickly established itself as a dominant force in Czech football. The club's early decades saw them win multiple domestic championships, and by the 1920s they were already a powerhouse in Central Europe. Their first Mitropa Cup triumph came in 1927, and they would add two more in 1935 and 1964, solidifying their reputation as one of the continent's top clubs.

The post-war era brought continued success, with Sparta winning league titles regularly. The 1970s saw a golden generation that reached the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1973. The club's greatest European achievement came in 1992, when they reached the semi-finals of the European Cup, narrowly missing out on a place in the final.

After the Velvet Revolution, Sparta dominated the new Czech First League, winning numerous titles in the 1990s and 2000s. However, in recent years, their domestic supremacy has been challenged by rivals Slavia Prague and Viktoria Plzeň. The 2025-26 season saw a dramatic derby against Slavia abandoned in the 97th minute after Slavia fans invaded the pitch and attacked Sparta players, an incident that had major league title implications. [edit]