Vratislav Lokvenc
A towering Czech striker whose powerful presence and consistent scoring made him a domestic champion and a reliable force across European leagues.
Born 1973 (age 53)·Czech footballer·Birthday: September 27·Generation X
Biography
Vratislav Lokvenc carved out a long and respectable career as a classic target man, a 6'5" forward whose aerial ability and physicality were his trademarks. His journey began in the Czech leagues, where he truly flourished at Sparta Prague, forming a formidable partnership and becoming a central figure in their domestic dominance. His league top-scorer award in 2000 was the peak of this period, showcasing his knack for crucial goals. Unlike many of his flashier contemporaries, Lokvenc's success was built on reliability rather than flair, which led to a solid, if peripatetic, career across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. He was a valued journeyman for clubs like Kaiserslautern and Bochum, often providing a vital plan B off the bench. For the Czech national team, he was a dependable squad member during a golden generation, contributing to their run to the Euro 2004 semi-finals. His career is a testament to the value of a specific, unglamorous skill set executed with consistent professionalism.
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.
Vratislav was born in 1973, 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 Vratislav Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Vratislav's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won five Czech First League titles and one Czech Cup during his tenure with Sparta Prague.
- Finished as the top scorer of the Czech First League for the 1999–2000 season.
- Earned over 70 caps for the Czech Republic, playing in the UEFA European Championship and FIFA World Cup.
- Scored in the Bundesliga for three different German clubs: 1. FC Kaiserslautern, VfL Bochum, and FC Ingolstadt.
Did You Know?
He made his professional debut for his hometown club, Hradec Králové, at the age of 17.
He scored the first ever Bundesliga goal for FC Ingolstadt in 2010.
After retiring, he worked as a player agent and also coached youth teams.
He shares a birth year with several other notable Czech footballers from his generation, including Pavel Nedvěd.
“My height was a weapon, but you must know when to use it.”
