Tomás Rosický (born October 4, 1980 in Prague) is a Czech
football player, who currently stars in midfield for the Czech
Republic national team and the German club Borussia Dortmund.
Rosický started his career with Sparta Prague in 1998, before
moving to Dortmund in 2001. He helped Dortmund to a Bundesliga
title in 2002. Rosický played for his country at Euro 2004 and
has recorded over 40 caps overall.
Rosický's reputation has grown immeasurably since joining
Dortmund. He has been linked with big money transfers to Real
Madrid of Spain and Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal of England.
An attacking midfielder with a phenomenal work-rate, his solid
form in the 2004/2005 season helped Dortmund climb the
Bundesliga table and away from potential relegation. Dortmund
are currently in substantial financial trouble but do not want
to sell Rosický if they can at all avoid it, as they recognise
his influence on the team. However, Rosicky has expressed a
desire for Dortmund to allow him to leave at the end of the
current season, and the impending arrival of South African
Steven Pienaar seems to have been made in preparation for the
former's departure.
Rosický's Czech Republic has qualified for World Cup 2006, to be
held in Germany. Rosický scored the winning goal in the second
leg of the Czech Republic's play-off against Norway. The Czech
Republic are currently ranked number two on the FIFA world
rankings and will look to make a big impact at next year's World
Cup finals, with Rosický leading the line, along with Milan
Baro, Pavel Nedved and Petr Cech. Rosický shone for his country
in the group stages of the qualification campaing, scoring
several goals from the penalty spot and setting up Baro and Jan
Koller in particular with accurate and precise passing. Having
recently turned 25, Rosický is fast becoming one of the finest
midfielders not only in the Bundesliga, but in all of Europe.
He recently stated to the Czech media that he would prefer,
above all, a move to Arsenal. Sky Sports reported that he stated,
"'If I had the possibility to choose, I would like to play for
Arsenal with Thierry Henry because he is the best.'" Atletico
Madrid had a recent bid rebuffed by Dortmund, and it has been
rumoured for several weeks that Arsene Wenger was a keen admirer
of the young playmaker, who would add both experience and depth
to the young midfield (which features 18 year old Cesc Fabregas
in the starting lineup). |
