Pavel Šulc Crowned Czech Footballer of the Year
Olympique Lyon forward Pavel Šulc has been named the Czech Republic’s Footballer of the Year, surpassing Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick in the annual FAČR poll. The 25-year-old Šulc secured the honor with 235 points, marking the first time he has received the prestigious award. Wolverhampton defender Ladislav Krejčí finished third, even as West Ham midfielder Tomáš Souček placed fifth, according to iDNES.cz.
Šulc’s Rise to Prominence
Šulc’s successful year included a key role in Viktoria Plzeň’s run to the Europa League round of 16 and a second-place finish in the Czech domestic competition last spring. Following a summer transfer to Lyon, he quickly established himself as a pivotal player, currently leading the team with 11 goals in the French league. He too featured in eight matches for the Czech national team last year, scoring one goal. This award follows his earlier recognition as the best player of the past season from the Club of Sports Journalists, as reported by iDNES.cz.
Schick and Souček Remain Contenders
Patrik Schick, the winner of the FAČR poll in 2021 and 2022, also enjoyed a strong year with Leverkusen, scoring 12 goals in the German league last spring and continuing to perform well in the Champions League this season. Tomáš Souček, aiming for a third consecutive win and his fifth finished fifth in the voting. Livesport.cz notes that Souček currently shares third place with Pavel Nedvěd in the historical rankings, trailing only Ivo Viktor and record holder Petr Čech.
Other Award Winners
Jindřich Trpišovský of Slavia Prague was named Coach of the Year for the fifth time, defeating Luboš Kozel from Jablonec by 317 points. Matěj Šín of Alkmaar was recognized as the Talent of the Year, and Klára Cahynová of San Sebastian was awarded Footballer of the Year for the second time. Přemysl Bičovský, a former representative, was inducted into the FAČR Hall of Fame, and David Drozd was named Futsal Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Livesport.cz provided details on these additional awards.
Voting Process
The rankings were determined by members of the football academy, which includes first-league coaches and captains, national team representatives with at least 31 caps, past winners, media representatives, and FAČR officials. The awards were solemnly announced by the association in Prague on Monday, March 23, 2026, as reported by Sport.cz.