“Láďa Krejčí is a very talented central midfielder. His strengths include his first touch, game vision, and good decision-making,” said Tomáš Rosický when introducing the new signing in June 2019. “He will need to adjust to the higher pace of play, but his physical and technical attributes can help him become a high-quality player,” added the ACS sports director.
Krejčí began adjusting immediately after his arrival. His first competitive match in the red jersey was on July 20, 2019, when Sparta defeated Jablonec 2-0 at Letná in front of over 10,000 spectators. Shortly after, he had the chance to test his skills at the European level, playing full minutes in the Europa League third qualifying round against Turkish Trabzonspor. At the end of his debut season, he celebrated his first trophy. Krejčí played the entire MOL Cup final against Liberec, contributing to Sparta winning the domestic cup for the first time in six years.
At the beginning of the 2020/21 season, Láďa scored his first official goal for Sparta. He had already found the net in the previous season, but his goal against Liberec in the playoff stage was deemed an own goal. He had to wait until September 13. His precise and powerful header proved to be the winning goal in a 5-2 victory.
Thanks to the cup victory, Krejčí and his teammates advanced to the Europa League group stage, where they faced renowned teams like AC Milan. Notable were the two identical 4-1 wins over Celtic Glasgow, and Krejda will fondly remember the away match against Lille, where he scored his first European goal.
In that season, LK37 scored eight league goals, including a hat trick against Teplice on April 3. He first used his aerial prowess to score twice with headers and completed his hat trick with a penalty in the 29th minute.
As is often the case in football, even a versatile defensive player who can play both center back and midfielder wasn't spared from health issues. Shortly after the Teplice match and signing a new contract, he was sidelined with a broken metatarsal bone. Despite this, his teammates voted him Sparta's best player of the season.
In the 2021/22 season, Krejčí also faced injuries, missing over half of the autumn part. However, he managed to score against French Lyon in the Europa League group stage. This match was particularly special as he scored for the first time with the captain's armband, which was handed to him by David Pavelka in the 84th minute in a pretty peculiar way.
After the winter break, Krejčí was back on track. Rivals from Slavia experienced his renewed scoring apetit when he scored a goal in the national cup quarterfinal. Less than three weeks later, on February 27, 2022, Krejda donned the captain's armband in a league match for the first time, leading Sparta to a 2-0 victory over Zlín.
After Bořek Dočkal’s career ended and coach Brian Priske arrived, Krejčí was permanently given the captain's role. “Láďa is the new captain not only because of his qualities but also because of his mindset,” Priske said at a press conference before the 2022/23 season.
His right mentality was crucial for overcoming the health issues during the autumn part. Perhaps because of it, Krejčí returned in phenomenal form. In seventeen spring league matches, he scored 11 goals, driving Sparta to their first title in nine years. In crucial moments, he kept his clear head and scored from the spot in the final minutes against Plzeň and Slavia.
At the end of the champion season, Krejčí was named the best player of the FORTUNA:LIGA and the midfielder of the season. His teammates also recognized his contribution by voting him Sparta’s best player for the second time. “Despite suffering in the autumn, he led us to success in the spring as a true leader,” said David Pavelka.
In the past season, Krejčí led his team not only in Czech competitions but also on the European level. The crucial first match of the Europa League group stage took place at Letná against Aris Limassol on September 21, 2023. Krejda responded to Kokorin's opening goal with two goals, leading Sparta to a 3-2 victory and into the knockout stage, where they faced Galatasaray and Liverpool.
In the league, Láďa’s goals helped defeat Pardubice and Sigma in the last round of the regular part of the season. In the finals, precisely against Mladá Boleslav, he also provided two assists. His individual play before Jan Kuchta’s fourth goal was a highlight of the season, which ended with him holding the league championship trophy in one hand and the domestic cup in the other.
Ladislav Krejčí played 148 matches for Sparta across all competitions, scoring 44 goals and providing 12 assists. He was named the best player of the league for the 2022/23 season. He is a two-time domestic cup winner and a two-time league champion.
Most importantly, he became a Sparta personality, joining the ranks of great names closely linked to our history, and became a modern legend of Sparta.
Krejdo, thank you for everything you have done for Sparta. We wish you the best in Europe!
