1.12.2024Bayer 04

Birthday boy of the month 4: Michal Kadlec turns 40

Michal ‘Katsche’ Kadlec was born in the Czech town of Vyskov on 13 December 1984. At the age of six, he moved to the Pfalz region in Germany with his parents because his father Miroslav accepted an offer from FC Kaiserslautern where he played as a sweeper for the Red Devils for eight years. Katsche learned German in the kindergarten at Kaiserslautern. And he played football at an early age: first as a teenager at SV Alsenborn and then for FC Kaiserslautern.

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When his father returned to Czechia in 1998 and joined FK Drnovice, his son Michal put on his boots for FC SYNOT, a club in the town of Uherske Hradiste. After a corruption scandal, the sponsor, SYNOT Holding, withdrew and the club was renamed FC Slovacko. Michal made his debut in the Czech top-flight at the age of 17. After three years at Slovacko he was signed by the capital club Sparta Prague. Michal Kadlec won the Czech league in his first season in 2005. He won the league title again with his club two years later.

In the 2008/09 season, Bayer 04 signed the left back who was good in the air and who played 67 games for Czechia on loan from Sparta Prague. Michal made his league debut for the Werkself in an away game in Hamburg on Matchday 4. At the end of the season Bayer 04 took up the option to buy and signed him on a permanent deal. In his five years playing for the Werkself, he reached the Pokal final in 2009, he was a Bundesliga runner-up in 2011 and he played a total of 158 games for Bayer 04 scoring 14 goals along the way. He was always dangerous in set pieces as a headed goal and free kick specialist.

In 2013, Michal moved on to Turkey for three years to play for Fenerbahce. He was a champion of Turkey in 2014 but was often injured during that time and he thought about returning to his homeland. The offer from his former club Sparta Prague came at the right time. The club signed lots of foreign players, English was spoken in the dressing room and Katsche did not have a particularly warm relationship with the coach. A year before the end of his four-year contract he opted out and chose to get back to his roots. He rejoined FC Slovacko in 2018, became captain at the club in 2022 and as a central defender he won the Czech cup and played in the UEFA Conference League twice and once in the UEFA Europa League.

Michal Kadlec ended his playing career after the 2023/24 season. The father of a son called Michael today lives with his family back in Uherske Hradiste opposite his parents and he is enjoying his retirement from football.

Dear Katsche, I wish you many happy returns on your 40th birthday. Have a great time and stay fit and healthy!

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