David Rozehnal
A dependable Czech defender whose steady career spanned Europe's top leagues and anchored his national team through multiple major tournaments.
Born 1980 (age 46)·Czech footballer·Birthday: July 5·Generation X
Biography
David Rozehnal's football story is one of quiet consistency rather than flashy headlines. Emerging from the Czech league with Sigma Olomouc, the tall, composed centre-back built a respectable European journey that mirrored the path of many solid professionals of his era. His move to Club Brugge in Belgium put him on the radar, leading to a significant transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2005. Though his time at PSG was not a starring role, it cemented his status. A stint in the English Premier League with Newcastle United followed, before he settled into a long and reliable period with French club Lille. For the Czech national team, he was a fixture during a golden generation, providing defensive solidity alongside stars like Petr Čech and Tomáš Rosický. His 60 caps were earned through trustworthiness, featuring in three consecutive major tournaments where the Czechs were always a tough opponent.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
David was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned 60 caps for the Czech Republic, playing in Euro 2004, the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and Euro 2008.
- Made over 400 professional appearances for clubs across the Czech Republic, Belgium, France, England, and Germany.
- Won the Belgian Cup with Club Brugge in 2004 and was part of the Lille squad that won the Ligue 1 title in 2011.
Did You Know?
He played alongside Czech legend Pavel Nedvěd at the international level.
After retiring, he returned to his first club, Sigma Olomouc, in a directorial role focusing on youth development.
His final professional club was in Belgium with K.V. Oostende before retiring in 2018.
“My job was simple: defend our goal with clear focus, game after game.”
