Panák arrived at Sparta from Karviná in January 2019, only to see his career put on hold by a long and difficult battle with injury. Refusing to give up, he fought his way back and returned to top-flight football more than 1,000 days later. From that point on, he steadily grew into one of the team's most important players.
The arrival of Brian Priske’s coaching staff in the summer of 2022 proved pivotal. They successfully managed Filip’s training and match workload to prevent a recurrence of his injury. Panák then played a key role in defence as Sparta secured the league title for the first time in nine years.
During the 2023/24 season, he was involved in several crucial moments, including a standout performance in the UEFA Europa League qualifying second leg against Dinamo Zagreb, where he contributed a goal and an assist as Sparta came from behind to win 4:1. By the end of the campaign, he was celebrating both a successful league title defence and domestic cup triumph.
Following the departure of Ladislav Krejčí, Panák took over the captaincy. Although injury setbacks limited his involvement early in the season, he returned in time to help Sparta secure qualification for the UEFA Champions League with victory over Malmö. He then made an immediate impact, assisting Victor Olatunji's goal against Salzburg and earning Man of the Match trophy.
Throughout his time at Sparta, Panák established himself as one of the team's most reliable defenders, combining composure in possession with an ability to build attacks from the back. Those qualities, along with the experience gained across more than seven years at the club, will now be invaluable to B-team and its next generation of players.
Filip, thank you for everything you have given to Sparta over the years. We wish you all the best in your new role and every success as you help guide the next generation of players coming through the Sparta academy.
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