Marek Jankulovski

Jankulovski made his debut for the club, coming on as a 58th-minute substitute, in a 1–1 draw against Parma in the opening game of the season.

Since joining Udinese, he quickly became a first-team regular, rotating in playing either at left-back or in midfield for the next five matches.

Marek Jankulovski (born 9 May 1977) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a defender.

In 1994, he made a breakthrough into the first team, as the club finished in third place in the league.

Jankulovski started out, playing in the attacking midfield position before playing in the defender position and established himself in the first team.

At the start of 1999–2000 season, Jankulovski started the season well when he scored two goals against Chmel Blšany and Sigma Olomouc.

He then went on to score three goals later in the 1999–2000 season.

At the end of the 1999–2000 season, Jankulovski went on to make 27 appearances and scoring eight times in all competitions; his performance at Baník Ostrava attracted interest from foreign clubs.

By the time he departed from the club, Jankulovski made a total of 110 league appearances and scoring fifteen times throughout his time at Baník Ostrava.

He earned 77 caps for the Czech Republic, and represented them at three UEFA European Championships, the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

A quick, tenacious, and hardworking player, Jankulovski was well known for his versatility, being able to play anywhere on the left side, and was used as a full-back, as a wing-back, and as a winger throughout his career.

He was also known for his ability to cross the ball, as well as his considerable technical ability and energetic attacking runs down the left flank.

Jankulovski started his career for Baník Ostrava after joining from NH Ostrava.

It wasn't until on 27 February 2000 when Jankulovski scored his third goal of the season, in a 4–1 win against Sigma Olomouc.

This was followed by scoring twice.

In a 3–1 win against Drnovice.

Following his participation in the UEFA Euro 2000, Napoli began negotiations of signing Jankulovski.

The move was confirmed the next day and he was given a number fifteen shirt.

It was revealed that his compatriot Zdeněk Zeman recommended the player to join the club.

Jankulovski said about his compatriot manager, Zeman: "I had heard of Zeman's methods in my country. I had prepared myself to suffer. Yet I am still in pieces, after having faced many kilometers of running in a few days. It is a different preparation from what I was used to."

Having started out on the substitute bench for the first three league matches, he made his debut for Napoli, starting the whole game, in a 1–1 draw against Lecce on 1 November 2000.

This was followed up by scoring his first goal for the club, in a 2–1 loss against Vicenza.

After the match, la Repubblica praised his performance.

Since joining Napoli, however, Jankulovski found his playing time, mostly coming from the substitute bench.

He then scored his second goal for the club, after coming on as a 75th-minute substitute, in a 6–2 win against Reggina on 16 December 2000.

At the end of the 2000–01 season, he went on to make twenty appearances and scoring once in all competitions.

However, Jankulovski received a straight red card in the 89th minute, having come on as a 70th-minute substitute, in a 0–0 draw against Perugia on 18 March 2001.

After serving a one match suspension, he scored on his return, having come on as an 83rd-minute substitute, against Bari on 14 April 2001.

However, Jankulovski was unable to help the club avoid relegation to Serie B.

Ahead of the 2001–02 season, it was expected that Jankulovski would be staying at Napoli despite the club's relegation.

He scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–1 loss against Siena on 12 August 2001.

After the start of the 2001–02 season, Jankulovski continued to regain his first-team place, rotating in playing either left midfield and central midfield.

By December, he began playing at left-back.

Jankulovski then scored two goals in the next two matches against Cosenza and Pistoiese between 9 December 2001 and 14 December 2001.

Jankulovski then scored two more goals later in the 2001–02 season against Palermo and Siena.

Despite suffering injuries throughout 2001–02 season, he went on to make 33 appearances in all competitions, scoring six times.

After missing two missing two matches through injury, he scored his return, in a 1–1 draw against Cagliari on 24 February 2002.

On 1 February 2002, Jankulovski joined Udinese in a transfer worth €3.5 million, and was loaned back to Napoli.

He was previously linked with a move to Premier League side West Ham United.

His most notable achievements include winning the UEFA Champions League with AC Milan and being voted the 2007 Czech Footballer of the Year.