Čvančara has a lot to build on in Mönchengladbach. Six of his compatriots have worn the Borussia jersey before him. How did they do?

Borussia Mönchengladbach is the new team of Czech striker Tomas Cvančara, who has signed a five-year contract with the club. He has a lot to build on at the German club, as six players from the Czech Republic worked there before him.

František Straka

He was the first person from our country to join the famous German team. He came from Sparta Prague in 1988. František Straka played three seasons for Mönchengladbach, two of which he was a key player, even wearing the captain’s armband.

“Those three years in Borussia? You just can’t forget that. Itwas a wonderful time,” Gladbach Live quotes the former outstanding footballer.

At the club, which won five German titles and once even a double (Bundesliga, Cup Winners’ Cup), Straka played 86 competitive matches, scoring 1 goal and adding 2 assists from the defender position.

Ivo Ulich

Ivo Ulich was the second Czech to arrive at this German station. This time from Slavia Prague for an estimated sum of 1 million euros. He scored goals from the midfielder’s position, but he collected even more assists. He has 8 national team starts to his credit.

And how did he do at Borussia? Not bad at all. He had to fight for a place, but he certainly wasn’t on the sidelines. In each of the four seasons he spent there, he started most of the games in the starting lineup and got decent minutes.

Overall, he played 129 competitive games for Mönchengladbach with a record of 11 goals and 9 assists. He then headed to Japan. None of his compatriots stayed at the club for so long after that.

Václav Svěrkoš

A huge prospect back then, who definitely could have made a bigger hole in the world. In retrospect, however, Václav Svěrkoš can look back on his career with pride. He moved to Mönchengladbach from Baník Ostrava for around €1.5 million.

The German club acquired him at the age of 19, but already in Ostrava the skilful striker was scoring goals in more than respectable numbers, coming in as the second top scorer of the past season in the Czech league. He was expected to have a big future ahead of him.

After his first season in Germany, there was no reason to think otherwise. After all, he managed his debut season with 12 goals scored across all competitions. In his second season he saw even more minutes, but only scored 7 goals.

The third season was his last and worst ever, Svěrkoš hardly played, scored a goal and added an assist. He was supposed to regain his form during his guest stint with Hertha Berlin, but he failed to do so. Svěrkoš still got one more chance, but he didn’t convince during half a year, although he scored 2 goals.

From Mönchengladbach he went to Austria Vienna. He played 85 competitive matches for the five-time German champion with a record of 22 goals and 6 assists.

Marek Heinz and Milan Fukal

Both players arrived at Borussia in 2004. While Marek Heinz arrived from Baník Ostrava for more than 2 million euros, Milan Fukal moved for a smaller sum from Hamburg. Both had already had experience of German football. Heinz had also previously been at Hamburg.

Both Heinz and Fukal were at the ideal football age, seasoned, experienced, but neither could make a proper impact. Fukal, who spent two years at Mönchengladbach before returning to Jablonec, fared better. Heinz left for Galatasaray after one year.

Heinz scored 2 goals and 1 assist in 24 games, Fukal played 45 games as a defender and scored 1 goal.

Tomas Galásek

Unexpected transfer. It was January 2009 when, at the age of 36, Tomáš Galásek went abroad once again. He had experience of Ajax Amsterdam, where he spent most of his career, and also played for Nuremberg, where he spent two seasons before returning to Baník Ostrava.

And it was from Banik that he was brought by Borussia Mönchengladbach in his old age. The reason? They needed to save themselves among the elite and Galásek, with his great experience from the national team, was supposed to help them do that.

As soon as the Ostrava-born player arrived at the club, he became a key player. He played all but three matches. He earned 15 starts and an assist. He then headed to Bavaria in the lower league to conclude his rich career.

Source: Borussia Mönchengladbach, Transfermarkt