Václav Hladký

Václav Hladký (born 14 November 1990) is a Czech professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL Championship side Burnley. He has previously played for Zbrojovka Brno and Slovan Liberec in his homeland, St Mirren in Scotland, Salford City and Ipswich Town in England. He has represented his country at youth level up to under-20.^[2]

Václav Hladký

Hladký with Ipswich Town in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth	(1990-11-14) 14 November 1990 (age 33)
Place of birth	Brno, Czechoslovakia
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Burnley
Number	32
Youth career
1996–2003	FC Sparta Brno
2003–2004	FK Šardice
2004–2009	Zbrojovka Brno
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2011	Zbrojovka Brno B	45	(0)
2009	→ Břeclav (loan)	15	(0)
2010	→ Břeclav (loan)	9	(0)
2011	→ FC Sparta Brno	1	(0)
2011–2015	Zbrojovka Brno	42	(0)
2015–2019	Slovan Liberec	31	(0)
2019–2020	St Mirren	47	(0)
2020–2021	Salford City	46	(0)
2021–2024	Ipswich Town	59	(0)
2024–	Burnley	1	(0)
International career
2005–2006	Czech Republic U16	8	(0)
2006–2007	Czech Republic U17	7	(0)
2007–2008	Czech Republic U18	7	(0)
2008–2009	Czech Republic U19	7	(0)
2011	Czech Republic U20	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:13, 18 August 2024 (UTC)

Career

Zbrojovka Brno

Having signed in 2012, he spent his first year as second choice goalkeeper behind Radek Petr, but was made first choice in 2013.^[3] He made his début on the opening day of 2013–14 season against FK Jablonec, managing to keep a clean sheet.^[4] During his time at the club, Brno goalkeeping coach Luboš Přibyl compared him to fellow Czech goalkeeper Petr Čech.^[5] On 18 October 2014, he was sent off against Sparta Prague.^[6] During the 2014–15 season he was dropped from the team after a series of mistakes,^[7] and by the end of the season declared he wanted to leave the club having fallen behind Dušan Melichárek as the club's number one.^[8]

Slovan Liberec

After signing in 2015, Hladký was second choice goalkeeper for over two years, initially behind Tomáš Koubek, signed on loan from Sparta Prague at the same time.^[9] He was selected for four league games in the autumn and was praised for his performances, which including keeping a clean sheet against Sparta Prague, and against Fastav Zlín in the Czech Cup.^[10]

He would remain backup, initially behind Martin Dúbravka, and then behind Ondřej Kolář, before getting his opportunity in the spring of 2018.^[9] He would be dropped the following season for Filip Nguyen, signed from second division Vlašim.^[11]

St Mirren

After falling back down the pecking order at Slovan Liberec,^[12] Hladký signed for St Mirren on an 18-month deal in January 2019.^[13] He quickly became a fan favourite at St Mirren Park, with goalkeeping coach Jamie Langfield saying he could be the player to keep St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.^[14] He made the BBC's Scottish Premiership team of the week following his performance in a 1–1 draw with Heart of Midlothian.^[15]

On 26 May, St Mirren played out a 1–1 in the play-off final against Dundee United, meaning the two teams would play a penalty shootout; Hladký saved three of the four penalties he faced as St Mirren won the shootout 2–0 and therefore staying in the Premiership.^[16] Hladký dedicated the victory to his best friend Josef Šural, who died in a bus crash a month prior,^[17] and credited Langfield, St Mirren manager Oran Kearney and chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick for supporting him during the difficult moments.^[18]

In the summer, St Mirren rejected a £200k offer from Qarabağ, with new manager Jim Goodwin declaring him the best goalkeeper in the league.^[19] In June 2020, Hladký left Saints when he rejected the offer of a new contract.^[20]

Salford City

In August 2020 he joined EFL League Two side Salford City on a two-year contract.^[21] On his competitive début, an EFL Cup first round match against Rotherham United, he saved a penalty from Joe Mattock to send Salford through 4–2 after a shoot-out.^[22] In the delayed 2020 EFL Trophy Final played on 13 March 2021, Hladky saved the decisive penalty from Ronan Curtis to help Salford win 4–2 on penalties, having drawn 0–0 in normal time against Portsmouth.^[23]

Hladky was awarded the League Two Golden Glove award; he kept 22 clean sheets throughout the season, the most in the division,^[24] and he was named in the League Two Team of the Year by the Professional Footballers' Association as well as the EFL's League Two Team of the Season.^[25] Hladky's performances also saw him voted Salford's player of the season by the clubs' supporters,^[26] while Sky Sports named him in their team of the year for conceding 34 goals and saving 77.2% of shots faced, both league highs.^[27]

Ipswich Town

After just one season with Salford, Hladky was signed by Ipswich Town, signing a three-year contract.^[28]

After a disappointing start Hladky was replaced as first choice by Christian Walton. He remained the back-up until an injury in to Walton during pre-season gave him his chance as first choice for the 2023–24 season. A string of impressive performance meant that he kept Walton out of the team when he returned from injury, going on to play in all 46 of Ipswich's league games as the club clinched promotion to the Premier League.

On 3 June 2024, Ipswich said it had offered Hladky a new contract, but on 1 July it was announced that he had left the club after three years.^[29]

Burnley

On 19 July 2024, it was announced that Hladcky has signed for Championship club Burnley on a two-year contract.^[30]

Club statistics

As of match played 28 August 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup[lower-alpha 1]		League Cup[lower-alpha 2]		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Zbrojovka Brno	2012–13[31]	Czech First League	1	0	0	0	—		—		—		1	0
	2013–14[31]	Czech First League	25	0	4	0	—		—		—		29	0
	2014–15[31]	Czech First League	16	0	0	0	—		—		—		16	0
	Total		42	0	4	0	—		—		—		46	0
Slovan Liberec	2015–16[31]	Czech First League	5	0	5	0	—		0	0	0	0	10	0
	2016–17[31]	Czech First League	2	0	3	0	—		1[lower-alpha 3]	0	—		6	0
	2017–18[31]	Czech First League	15	0	1	0	—		—		—		16	0
	2018–19[31]	Czech First League	9	0	0	0	—		—		—		9	0
	Total		31	0	9	0	—		1	0	0	0	41	0
St Mirren	2018–19[32]	Scottish Premiership	17	0	2	0	0	0	—		2[lower-alpha 4]	0	21	0
	2019–20[33]	Scottish Premiership	30	0	4	0	4	0	—		—		38	0
	Total		47	0	6	0	4	0	—		2	0	59	0
Salford City	2020–21[34]	League Two	46	0	2	0	2	0	—		3[lower-alpha 5][lower-alpha 6]	0	53	0
Ipswich Town	2021–22[36]	League One	12	0	0	0	0	0	—		2[lower-alpha 5]	0	14	0
	2022–23[37]	League One	1	0	4	0	1	0	—		4[lower-alpha 5]	0	10	0
	2023–24[38]	Championship	46	0	0	0	1	0	—		—		47	0
	Total		59	0	4	0	2	0	—		6	0	71	0
Burnley	2024–25[39]	Championship	1	0	0	0	1	0	—		—		2	0
Career total			226	0	25	0	9	0	1	0	11	0	272	0

1. Includes Czech Cup, Scottish Cup, FA Cup
2. Includes Scottish League Cup, EFL Cup
3. Appearance in UEFA Europa League
4. Appearances in the Scottish Premiership play-offs
5. Appearances in EFL Trophy
6. Includes appearance in the 2019–20 EFL Trophy final which was postponed until 13 March 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[35]

Honours

Salford City

• EFL Trophy: 2019–20^[40]

Ipswich Town

• EFL League One runner-up: 2022–23^[41]
• EFL Championship runner-up: 2023–24^[42]

Individual

• EFL League Two Golden Glove: 2020–21^[43]
• EFL League Two Team of the Season: 2020–21^[44]
• PFA Team of the Year: 2020–21 League Two^[45]
• Salford City Player of the Season: 2020–21^[43]

References

1. "Václav Hladký". Ipswich Town F.C. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
2. Václav Hladký at FAČR (in Czech)
3. Koštuřík, Michal (18 July 2013). "Brno má novou brankářskou jedničku, bude jí mladý Václav Hladký" [Brno has a new goalkeeper number one, young Václav Hladký will be]. Blesk (in Czech). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
4. Sedlák, Martin; Krutil, Robin (22 July 2013). "Chyběly nám lehkost a kvalita, litovali Jablonečtí po bezgólové remíze" [We lacked lightness and quality, regretted Jablonec after goalless draw]. iDNES (in Czech). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
5. "Hladký talent jako Čech" [Hladky is a talent like Cech]. eFotbal (in Czech). 24 October 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
6. "Brno – Sparta 1:3. Góly reprezentantů poslaly vítěze do čela" [Brno – Sparta 1:3. The goals of the representatives sent the winner into the lead]. Týden (in Czech). 18 October 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
7. Krutil, Robin (24 October 2014). "Hladký renomé kazí chyby. Musí ještě vyzrát, říká trenér Zbrojovky" [Hladký reputation spoiled by errors. He still has to mature, says Zbrojovka's coach]. iDNES (in Czech). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
8. Daněk, Jan (22 May 2015). "Kliďas vs. šlechtěná naděje. Vítězí Melichárek, Hladký chce z Brna pryč" [Peaceful vs. noble hope. Melichárek wins, Hladký wants out of Brno]. iDNES (in Czech). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
9. Havlen, Michaal (15 February 2018). "Liberecký brankář Hladký se konečně dočkal, do jara půjde jako jednička" [Liberec goalkeeper Hladký has finally got, he will go as number one in the spring]. iDNES (in Czech). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
10. Havlen, Michael (25 November 2015). "Hladký vychytal Spartu, ale teď se asi vrátí na libereckou lavičku" [Hladký caught Sparta, but now he would probably return to the Liberec bench]. iDNES (in Czech). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
11. Havlen, Michaal (12 November 2018). "Gólman Nguyen chytil penaltu i proti Slovácku a dál drží Liberec" [Goalkeeper Nguyen also caught a penalty against Slovakia and continues to hold Liberec]. iDNES (in Czech). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
12. "Brankář Hladký míří z Liberce do Skotska, bude hrát za St. Mirren" [Goalkeeper Hladky is heading from Liberec to Scotland, will play for St Mirren]. iDNES (in Czech). 11 January 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
13. "St Mirren sign Czech goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky". BBC. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
14. Macpherson, Graeme (1 March 2019). "Vaclav Hladky could keep St Mirren up, says Jamie Langfield". The Herald. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
15. "Who made Rob Maclean's Scottish Premiership team of the week?". BBC Sport. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
16. "St Mirren 1–1 Dundee Utd: Vaclav Hladky the hero as St Mirren retain Scottish Premiership status". Sky Sports. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
17. Halliday, Stephen (26 May 2019). "St Mirren hero Vaclav Hladky dedicates starring role to late friend". The Scotsman. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
18. Alexander, Douglas (29 September 2019). "Vaclav Hladky: 'We have a better team than last season, I have a little less work'". The Times. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
19. McConnell, Alison (25 August 2019). "St Mirren goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky is best stopper in top flight, says Jim Goodwin". The Herald. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
20. "St Mirren: Captain McGinn and goalkeeper Hladký among 13 departures". BBC Sport. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
21. "Salford Sign Czech Keeper Vaclav Hladky". Salford City FC. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
22. "Salford City 1–1 Rotherham United (4–2 on pens): Ammies through after shootout". BBC Sport. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
23. Williams, Adam (13 March 2021). "Papa John's Trophy final: Portsmouth 0-0 Salford City (aet, 2-4 on pens) - Salford City win the delayed 2020 EFL Trophy final after beating Portsmouth 4-2 on penalties". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
24. "Václav Hladký wins the Sky Bet League Two Golden Glove award". EFL Official Website. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
25. "2021 EFL Awards winners announced". EFL Official Website. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
26. Hall, Jude (25 May 2021). ""The signing of the decade" – Salford City fans celebrate Vaclav Hladky winning Ammies player of the year". Salford Now. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
27. McAleer, Ben (12 May 2021). "League Two Team of the Year 2020/21". Sky Sports. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
28. Warren, Andy (28 June 2021). "Ipswich complete signing of Salford keeper Hladky". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
29. "RETAINED LIST CONFIRMED". Ipswich Town F.C. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
30. "Vaclav Hladky: Burnley sign former Ipswich Town goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
31. Václav Hladký at Soccerway. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
32. "Games played by Václav Hladký in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
33. "Games played by Václav Hladký in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
34. "Games played by Václav Hladký in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
35. "EFL statement: Leasing.com Trophy Final". efl.com.
36. "Games played by Václav Hladký in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
37. "Games played by Václav Hladký in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
38. "Games played by Václav Hladký in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
39. "Games played by Václav Hladký in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
40. Williams, Adam (13 March 2021). "Portsmouth 0–0 Salford City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
41. "Fleetwood Town 2 - 2 Ipswich Town". BBC Sport. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
42. "We Are Premier League!". 4 May 2024.
43. "Vaclav Hladky is a Blue!". Ipswich Town F.C. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
44. "Football Manager EFL Team of the Season line-ups announced". EFL.com. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
45. The PFA: "PFA League Two Team of the Year"

External links

• Profile at the Ipswich Town F.C. website
• Václav Hladký at Soccerway
• Václav Hladký – Czech First League statistics at Fotbal DNES (in Czech)
• Profile at FC Zbrojovka Brno official site