Czech footballer Patrik Schick is different from most strikers – he does not shout, gesture or provoke. And yet he has everything an elite forward needs: speed, technique, excellent spatial awareness and a natural instinct for goals. In 2021, his strike from the centre circle became one of the defining moments of the European Championship. But Schick has shown that he is far more than the author of one unforgettable goal – he is a driving force of the national team and a key player for Bayer Leverkusen.
From Prague via Italy to Germany
Patrik Schick was born in 1996 in Prague and grew up in the Barrandov district. From an early age, he was highly focused – football was not just a game for him, but a mission. He started his career at Bohemians 1905, but was soon signed by SK Slavia Prague, where he made his first-team debut at just seventeen. He later moved to AC Sparta Prague, but his real breakthrough came in 2016 with a transfer to UC Sampdoria in Genoa.Spells at AS Roma and RB Leipzig followed, before he joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2020. There, he established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s top scorers. In the 2021/22 season, he scored 24 league goals – more were netted only by Robert Lewandowski.
The Goal of the Century and a Place Among the Legends
At UEFA Euro 2020 (played in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic), Patrik Schick scored five goals and finished joint top scorer of the tournament alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. His audacious lob from the halfway line against Scotland went viral around the world and was voted the most beautiful goal of the championship.For the Czech national team, he has already made over thirty appearances and scored more than twenty goals. His style recalls the elegance of legendary strikers – highly efficient, yet a joy to watch. And although he keeps a calm expression on the pitch, he cannot hide his emotions – one goal is enough to show just how much football means to him.
In the Footsteps of Patrik Schick
Schick’s name is closely linked with Prague. You can head to the stadium of Bohemians 1905, where his football journey began. The stadium, affectionately known as Ďolíček by fans, offers not only matches with a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere typical of the Vršovice district, but also a glimpse into the history of the club that laid the foundations of Schick’s career.Patrik Schick is known for his love of style, good food and design. Neighbourhoods such as Karlín or Holešovice, popular with locals for brunch or casual meet-ups, are ideal places to experience contemporary Czech culture. You will find stylish cafés, galleries, bakeries and modern streetwear boutiques that perfectly capture the creative spirit of today’s Prague.
