Patrik Berger
Czech football (soccer) player born in Prague on November 10th, 1973. His position is Midfield. He currently plays for English Premiership team Portsmouth F.C.
Patrik Berger began his career with Sparta Prague in 1991/92, and moved to Borussia Dortmund in 1995/96, with whom he won the Bundesliga title that year. After impressive displays for the Czech Republic side in the 1996 European Football Championship he was signed by Liverpool F.C. for £3.25million.
Berger was impressive when he played for Liverpool, but over the next few years struggled with injuries, meaning he was in and out of the side.
He kept his place when fit in both his club and national side, but only made one appearance in the 2000 European Football Championship, having been suspended after being sent-off in a qualifier against the Faroe Islands.
Berger picked up a serious knee injury during the 2000/01 season and had to fly to the USA for an operation by the renowned Dr Richard Steadman.
He made a return at the end of March in time to pick up a UEFA Cup winners' medal at the end of the campaign.
His season was again disrupted by injuries in the 2001/02 campaign, but he played a far bigger part than in the previous campaign.
However, recurring injuries meant in the 2002/03 season Berger rarely featured, playing in just four games.
At the end of that season his contract expired and he moved on a free transfer to Portsmouth F.C., having played 196 games for Liverpool, scoring 35 goals in the process.
He made his first appearance for Pompey on the opening day of the club's debut Premiership season in a 2-1 home win over Aston Villa, scoring the second goal.
However in February 2004 he was forced to undergo an operation upon his knee forcing him to miss the rest of the season. However, it is hoped his knee injuries are now a thing of the past.
