#2 Pavel Nedved – Sparta Prague, Lazio and Juventus
If ever there was a human manifestation of something that combines world class talent, hard work, skill, humility and loyalty, Pavel Nedved would be one of the top contenders to represent it. One of the greatest midfielders of his generation, Pavel Nedved helped three clubs, Sparta Prague, Lazio and Juventus, establish themselves as footballing powerhouses.
The Czech maestro moved to Sparta Prague from Dukla Prague in 1992 and it proved to be beneficial for both the player and club. He made more than 100 appearances for Sparta Prague, scored more than 20 goals but most importantly, ran the show in the midfield and that helped them win the league title in 1992-93. The turning point of his career came in 1996, when he moved to Italian giants Lazio and within no time, became an integral part of the team.
Nedved and Lazio had a memorable 1997-98 season, during which they won Coppa Italia and were runners up in the UEFA Cup. His stature at Lazio kept growing as Nedved produced stunning performances, one season after another. He helped Lazio won the coveted Serie A title in 1999-2000 and the Coppa Italia as well. After making 138 appearances for the Lazio, Nedved was sold to Juventus in 2001.
Not that he wanted the move (he signed a new contract in 2001), Nedved continued to do at Juventus what he did at Lazio and the Czech filled the gaping hole left by the departure of French maestro Zinedine Zidane, who left for Real Madrid. If one thought Nedved was great at Lazio, his years at Juventus defined him as a player and a footballing great. He won two Serie A titles (two were revoked) but most importantly, did not abandon the club when they were relegated to Serie B due to the match fixing scandal.
Nedved finished his career at Juventus after making almost 300 appearances and retired at the end of the 2008-09 season. Nicknamed Furia Ceca (Czech Cannon) by Italian fans, the midfielder is one of the best Juventus players in history and the club made him their vice-president in 2015.
