AC Sparta Praha forward David Lafata has been voted the Czech Republic's footballer of the year for 2014, ending a run of six straight wins for goalkeeper Petr Čech in the nation's most important footballing poll. However, Pavel Vrba's reign as the country's best coach continued into a fifth successive year.
"I am not a great fan of individual prizes as football is a team sport, but when I saw the list of previous winners I realised what a great honour this is for me," said 33-year-old Czech international Lafata, who is the first player to take the accolade while plying his trade in the domestic league since FK Drnovice forward Radek Drulák got the most votes in 1995.
Full-back Pavel Kadeřábek finished second behind club-mate Lafata in the players poll and Arsenal FC midfielder Tomáš Rosický was third.
Sparta's international secretary and former UEFA official Rudolf Baťa was inducted into the nation's footballing hall of fame.
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