Tomas Rosicky has decided to retire from professional football midway through Sparta Prague’s 2017/18 campaign.
The 37-year-old has made only 12 appearances, scoring once, since returning to his boyhood club in August 2016.
He made the free transfer back to the Czech capital after a injury-ravaged decade at Arsenal where he made 246 appearances and twice won the FA Cup. Prior to his move to the Emirates, the midfielder spent five seasons at Borussia Dortmund where he won the Bundesliga in 2002.
Rosicky made 105 appearances the Czech Republic in a prestigious international career and captained his countrymen at Euro 2016.
In a statement on the Sparta Prague website, Rosicky explained his decision:
“After careful consideration, I have realised I am no longer able to fully prepare my body for what the professional football requires.
“I would like to thank Sparta for raising me, for being the first step in my career in big clubs, and for allowing me to say goodbye at the place I love the most.”
In his pomp, Rosicky was just majestic; a team player who was full of energy and attacking guile, he was blessed with great technique, loved a tackle and scored some lovely goals (particularly against Sp*rs). Also, his celebrations were bloody ace [see above].
It’s a crying shame that injuries denied us more special ‘Super Tom’ moments.
Arsene Wenger said in 2015, “If you love football, you love Rosicky.” We couldn’t agree more.
All the best for the future Tomas, we’d love to see you back in N5 in some capacity in the near future.
For now, here’s a splendid compilation of his best bits…
Definitely one of my favourite players – the player whose name is on the first Arsenal shirt I bought for myself. I still believe we would’ve won the title at least once since 2004 if he could’ve stayed fit a bit more.
Loved to watch him. Super Tom!
Same for me! I bought myself two Arsenal shirts approx 10 years ago, one of Tom and the other of the Skunk. I still have the one of Tom.
All the best lil’ mozart! We miss you!
No kidding! Seeing him and Cazorla on the same pitch – that would be a dream if only we could have that again…
Good luck Tomas. A truly gifted player who lost so much time to injuries but always brings a smile when I think of him.
No justice in this world with little Mozart and his injuries. He was a cut above. Could have left after that amazing season in like van pussy but didn’t. We will always love you super Tom
Wonderful player, lovely guy, super video this one too.
One of my favorite players…
Interestingly Welle had that same celebration last night.
He was a dictator who holds a particular set of skills that we sorely miss today.
Thank you Tomas, you tempo dictator!
A true Arsenal player. Pure class and elegance.
I was on the verge of becoming a Chelsea fan. Then Tomas signed for Arsenal. Thank God.
(if you wonder how you can be “on the verge of becoming a fan of a certain team only to change your mind later – I am from the Czech Republic and I was 12 back in 2006. Premier League started to broadcast over here during Chelsea’s wonder season and Petr Cech was their goal keeper. Tomas Rosicky basically saved my life!)
Nice save 😉
To all those dead Chelsea fans, RIP.
You must be you in a parallel universe. Instead of following cech, he followed you to arsenal.
They don’t call him super Tom for nothing. Pure magic
Ah Super Tom… if you and Diaby had been fit, what could have been. *sigh*
Rosicky, Diaby and Santi in the same midfield…dont know if that ever happened?
But its a crime against football if it didnt.
Tom, come back to us and save our arses again in some other capacity!
My favourite arsenal player of all time. I love his no looks and outside foot spins so much as well. And most definitly one of the most likeable characters.
Absolutely loved this guy. Beyond his footballing ability, he always came across (in his personality) as different to you average footballer. I dont know maybe I’m hung up on the heavy metal thing. But I’ve always thought, If there’s one player from the team this past 10 years or so, who would probably fit right in with my social circles. It would be Tomas.
All the best in your future endeavours.
Turned out for three clubs over nearly twenty years. Not just superbly talented, loyal, humble and driven too. If you’re going to slate modern footballers make an exception for Tomas Rosicky.
Something doubly sad seeing technical players like Rosicky and Cazorla suffer these injuries. To see their careers curtailed makes me think of the goals, shimmies etc we’ll never get to see
Deserved more trophies with us, one of my faves and at his best wouldn’t have been out of place in the Invicible team. (on the bench but still!)
All the best to our l’il Mozart. We miss you Tomas!
Injury robbed him and us of some great moments. All the best to him.
One of my all-time favourite gunner – till Santi came along and split my heart in two!
We always played better football with Rossicky in the side ! He always wanted to go forward to attack with pace no sideways and backwards passing for Tomas ! Shame injury blighted his time with us i wish him all the best for his future .
Miss him. Will always miss him. My fav. 110% every match he played. Happy retirement, TR7.
No reference to the outside of the boot on his retirement?
Damn you blogs.
One of the most technically adept and gifted footballers to play in the EPL. Regretfully, injuries hampered what could have been a more fulfilling career at Arsenal. Even at 36, he still had that burst of pace, the intelligence on the ball. But it was a case of the mind wills, but the body does not. Best wishes as he moves on to the next phase of his life.
Just love the guy, pure class.
I’ll always remembering him scoring against us for Sparta at Highbury when he was a kid. Not often an opposition goal receives a round of applause from the home fans
There are nights when I dream of a world where chronic injuries don’t derail the careers of Arsenal midfielders, and Rosicky, Cazorla, Diaby, Jack – in Arsenal’s barely contested title grabs of 2012 and 2013 – show the world how special they really are.
One of my favorite Arsenal players ever. Loved how good he was on the ball, rocket of a shot, and always driving forward. Little Mozart.
Thanks for the memories!
A magical player of the highest quality who deserved so much more than his body would allow. Scored some beautiful goals too.
He must have one hell of an account in the Karma Bank, if there’s such a thing. Always came across as both a hard worker and sublime thinker on the pitch. And seemed to be a really nice bloke as well. I know I’m not the only one who has been gutted by all the misfortune he has had in his career, but thankfully he’s at the end of it now, with all his limbs intact. The countless times we’ve hoped he’d be back, the countless times we’ve all thought “if only he’d been fit, we’d be a different team”.… Read more »
He was a rockstar. Diaby , rosicky , wilshere , cazorla such great players. Hope wilshere worries are behind him and he soon reaches his potential. That really would have been a great midfield.
What a wonderful player. It’s sad we didn’t get to see more of him in his ten years at Arsenal. One of our best signings.
He will forever be one of my favorite players!
I’m lucky to have watched our Lil Mozart and Santi Cazorla at their peak! What a couple of real football magicians! Thanks for the memories and all the best in your future endeavors TR7!
WHAT A PLAYER… BAD THINGS HAPPENS TO GOOD PEOPLE. HE DESERVE MORE PLAYING TIME. IT WAS INCREDIBLE WITH THE THOMAS ROSICKY MEMORIES ESPECIALLY OUT SIDE OF BOOTH PASS… COYG
Thank you Thomas , I love football because of players like you.Intelligence on and off the ball, skills, humility, class and loyalty to club and fans. Enjoy life !
Did Danny Welbeck celebrate à la rosicky when scoring against west ham? They didn’t play much together, if at all – nice touch from Danny