West Ham United and Bayer Leverkusen’s Czech Republic internationals have received diplomatic approval from the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Marie Chatardová.
Ambassador Chatardová has sent a message of support to the five Czech players who feature in the two squads for tonight’s UEFA Europa League quarter-final second-leg tie at London Stadium – West Ham’s Tomáš Souček and Vladimír Coufal and Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick, Adam Hložek and Matěj Kovář.
The quintet are the only Czech players who are competing in the quarter-finals of either the Europa League or UEFA Champions League, and Ambassador Chatardová is delighted that they will play in the city she has called home since taking up her position in October 2021.
The experienced diplomat, who previously served as her country’s Ambassador to France and Sweden and as Permanent Representative to the United Nations, continues the long and friendly relationship between the Czech Republic and West Ham United.
“It is with great pride that I see five Czech players playing in top European teams, especially in such a game at the London Stadium,” said Ambassador Chatardová. “I would like to wish Tomáš Souček, Vladimír Coufal, Patrik Schick, Adam Hložek and Matěj Kovář the best of luck and to enjoy the game!
“West Ham United has always been a great destination for Czech players, including Luděk Mikloško, Radoslav Kováč, Tomáš Řepka and Kateřina Svitková, all making their mark there in the past.
“Looking at all his achievements at West Ham United in recent years, it is no surprise that Tomáš Souček won the Czech Footballer of the Year award for the third time in 2023.
“Tomáš Souček and Vladimír Coufal in West Ham United are not the only Czech success stories in the Premier League, as we are proud of other Czech players who have helped win important trophies to teams such as Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.”
Ambassador Chatardová’s predecessor, Libor Sečka, became and still remains a committed Hammer during his posting in London, assisting the Club’s Czech players and their families, regularly attending matches and posting on social media, and even welcoming the squad to Prague the day before the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League final.
