Ex-Arsenal playmaker Tomáš Rosický out of hospital after unspecified heart problem
FILE - In this Friday, May 27, 2016 file photo, Tomas Rosicky of Czech Republic reacts during a friendly soccer match between Czech Republic and Malta in Kufstein, Germany. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
FILE - Arsenal's Tomas Rosicky celebrates with the trophy after their win against Hull City at the end of their English FA Cup final soccer match at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, May 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Sang Tan, File)
FILE - Arsenal's Tomas Rosicky celebrates with the trophy after their win against Hull City at the end of their English FA Cup final soccer match at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, May 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Sang Tan, File)
FILE - In this Friday, May 27, 2016 file photo, Tomas Rosicky of Czech Republic reacts during a friendly soccer match between Czech Republic and Malta in Kufstein, Germany. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
FILE - Arsenal's Tomas Rosicky celebrates with the trophy after their win against Hull City at the end of their English FA Cup final soccer match at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, May 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Sang Tan, File)
PRAGUE (AP) — Former Arsenal midfielder Tomáš Rosický was hospitalized in an intensive care unit last week for an unspecified heart-related problem.
Sparta Prague said Rosický, its 44-year-old sport director, was hospitalized last Tuesday and released at the end of last week. No surgery was needed and he was recovering at home. The club said it delayed the announcement of the issue due to its seriousness.
Advertisement
'The good news is that I'm expected to make a full recovery, though I'm currently unable to carry out the demanding responsibilities of a sporting director,' Rosický said in a statement.
Tomáš Sivok, the former Czech Republic international and current manager of Sparta's men team, has taken over as the interim sport director.
Rosický was called the "Little Mozart' for his playmaking qualities, and retired from playing soccer in 2017.
He started his pro career at Sparta, won the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, and spent 10 oft-injured years with the Gunners, winning the FA Cup in 2014 and 2015.
Advertisement
He was also the Czech Republic's undisputed leader in 105 internationals.
Sparta expressed its full support for Rosický, who will remain in touch as a consultant.
Sparta struggled this season, finishing fourth in the Czech league. Coach Lars Friis was fired this month and a replacement is being sought.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


San Francisco Chronicle
29 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
All-time great wrestler Hakuho quits Japan Sumo Association with plans to form global body
TOKYO (AP) — Hakuho, a retired 'yokozuna' or grand champion and viewed by many as the sport's greatest wrestler, said Monday he has quit the Japan Sumo Association after an apparent falling out with the governing body of the ancient sport. The Mongolia-born Hakuho was earlier sanctioned by the Japan Sumo Association, accused of failing to control the behavior of a wrestler in his so-called stable, the term used for a training team headed by retired wrestlers. Hakuho's stable was closed a year ago. Japanese media reports say the wrestler in question engaged in physical violence. But closing a stable, instead of just punishing an individual wrestler, was unusual. He did not directly criticize the professional Japan Sumo Association, but he said wrestlers who had trained under him were treated unfairly. Hakuho, who was granted Japanese citizenship, said he had been in talks with the association but recently decided to quit because there was no hope of reopening his stable. His farewell and future 'After 25 years of loving sumo and being loved by sumo, I want to advance toward a new dream,' Hakuho told reporters Monday at a Tokyo hotel. Hakuho said he wants to create a body to govern sumo outside Japan — the 'world sumo project.' He called it a 'new dream' to 'expand sumo to the world." 'When I think of my situation, I think it's best to contribute to sumo from the outside,' he said, wearing a dark suit and referring to the Japan Sumo Association. Appearing with a lawyer and other officials he had tapped for his team, Hakuho said they were getting corporate sponsors to back sumo grand slams, which draw amateur sumo wrestlers from around the world, including children and women. Hakuho said he was friends with Toyota Motor Corp. Chairman Akio Toyoda, who has expressed interest in supporting his efforts. Toyota already supports various amateur and professional sports activities. Toyota comfirmed Akio Toyoda's friendship with Hakuho. 'He (Hahuko) is devoted to trying to bring the world closer together through sumo,' the company quoted Akio Toyoda saying in a statement. Many regard the Mongolia-born Hakuko as the greatest champion in the sport's history and he holds many of its records. Hahuko's late-father, who went by the given name of Monkhbat, was an Olympic silver medalist for Mongolia in 1968. He also competed in at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Hahuko retired from active wrestling in 2021. ___


San Francisco Chronicle
29 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Brian Priske returns to Sparta Prague as coach after a stint at Feyenoord
PRAGUE (AP) — Brian Priske has agreed to return to Sparta Prague on a multiple-year contract after a stint at Feyenoord, the Czech club said. Priske started at Sparta three years ago and immediately led the struggling team to its first title in nine years. He successfully defended the title last year and completed a double by winning the Czech Cup. Under Priske, Sparta reached the round of 16 in the Europa League where it was eliminated by Liverpool in the 2023-24 season. Last summer, Sparta agreed to release Priske before the end of his contract to take over at Feyenoord when Arne Slot became the Liverpool manager. Priske led Feyenoord in 33 games in all competitions, won the Dutch Super Cup and advanced from the league phase of the Champions League but was fired in February due to inconsistent results in the domestic league. ___


Hamilton Spectator
32 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Brian Priske returns to Sparta Prague as coach after a stint at Feyenoord
PRAGUE (AP) — Brian Priske has agreed to return to Sparta Prague on a multiple-year contract after a stint at Feyenoord, the Czech club said. Priske started at Sparta three years ago and immediately led the struggling team to its first title in nine years. He successfully defended the title last year and completed a double by winning the Czech Cup. Under Priske, Sparta reached the round of 16 in the Europa League where it was eliminated by Liverpool in the 2023-24 season. Last summer, Sparta agreed to release Priske before the end of his contract to take over at Feyenoord when Arne Slot became the Liverpool manager . Priske led Feyenoord in 33 games in all competitions, won the Dutch Super Cup and advanced from the league phase of the Champions League but was fired in February due to inconsistent results in the domestic league. Priske replaces his former assistant Lars Friis , who was fired after Sparta's fourth-place finish in the Czech league. 'Now, I'm back with at least the same hunger as before — maybe even more,' Priske said. ___ AP soccer: