Sparta Prague

Sparta Prague was founded on 16 November 1893 as Athletic Club Kralovske Vinohrady, in what was then a separate town next to Prague. In 1894 it took the name AC Sparta, after the ancient Greek city. Early members included the Malecek and Rudl brothers. The club colours are blue, red and yellow, but the team has worn dark red since 1906, when club official Dr Petrik brought a set of Arsenal shirts back from England. Sparta plays at the stadium in Prague's Letna district, called Epet Arena since 2022.

Sparta counts 38 national league titles. Three are early championships (1912, 1919 and 1922, recognised in 2002), 21 came in the Czechoslovak era from 1925-26, and 14 have come in the Czech First League since 1993-94, the latest in 2023-24. It has also won 16 domestic cups. The "Iron Sparta" team of the 1920s won the first Mitropa Cup in 1927, and the club won it again in 1935 and 1964. Sparta was relegated for the first time in 1975 and came back after one season. It then won five titles in a row from 1986-87, and in 1991-92 it finished second in its European Cup semi-final group.