Marek Štěch

Marek Štěch ( born 28 January 1990 ) is a Czech professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Mansfield Town . He began his career with local club Sparta Prague , spending four years in their youth system .
In 2006 , aged 16 , Štěch signed for Premier League club West Ham United for an undisclosed fee . Štěch had loan spells with Wycombe Wanderers and AFC Bournemouth in 2009 , but made only three appearances in total . He made his first-team debut for West Ham in the League Cup in August 2010 before spending more time out on loan in League One with Yeovil Town and Leyton Orient in 2011–12 . After six years with the club , Štěch left West Ham by mutual consent to join Yeovil Town permanently , and helped them win promotion to the Championship in 2012–13 . He turned down a new contract with Yeovil , and re-signed for Sparta Prague in 2014 . Štěch has represented the Czech Republic at under-17 and under-21 levels and has been capped once by the Czech Republic national team .

Club career .

Early career .

Born in Prague , Czechoslovakia , Štěch began his career with local club Sparta Prague , where he became a trainee in July 2005 .

West Ham United .

On 31 August 2006 , Štěch signed for Premier League club West Ham United for an undisclosed fee . Due to an ankle injury , his debut was delayed until 17 November 2006 , for the West Ham under-18 team in the Premier Academy League , which ended in a goalless draw against Chelsea . Štěch subsequently made his reserve-team debut in the 1–1 home draw against Portsmouth at the Boleyn Ground on 20 November 2006 .
In July 2008 , Štěch signed a new five-year contract with West Ham and was involved in the clubs first-team pre-season programme . On 18 January 2009 , he was named as first-team substitute goalkeeper for the first time for West Hams visit to Newcastle United . On 12 March 2009 , Štěch signed for League Two club Wycombe Wanderers on loan until the end of the season . Štěch made his Football League debut for Wycombe on 14 March 2009 in a 3–3 away draw against Brentford . However , a groin and hip injury sustained in training limited him to just two appearances for Wycombe , before returning to West Ham for treatment .
At the beginning of 2009–10 , Štěch was handed the number 34 shirt . However , before making any appearances for the senior team , that number was taken by Olly Lee in a League Cup match against Millwall . On 11 December 2009 , Štěch signed for League Two club AFC Bournemouth on an emergency loan due to last for seven days after Bournemouth after receiving special dispensation from the Football League . The following day , Štěch made his debut for Bournemouth but let in five goals as they lost 5–0 away to Morecambe . Štěchs loan with Bournemouth lasted only one match , and he returned to West Ham , where he was named as substitute goalkeeper in West Hams next match , a 1–1 home draw with Chelsea . During the season , Štěch was named as substitute goalkeeper for West Ham on 14 occasions in all competitions , including 13 times in the Premier League and once in the FA Cup .
On 24 August 2010 , Štěch made his debut for the West Ham first-team , against Oxford United in the League Cup , keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory . He made a total of three appearances in the League Cup for West Ham and was an unused substitute on 13 occasions in the Premier League .
In October 2011 , Štěch signed on loan for League One club Yeovil Town following an injury to Yeovils first choice goalkeeper Jed Steer . He made his debut on 15 October 2011 , in a 3–0 home defeat by Carlisle United . On 14 November 2011 , he was recalled from his loan five days early by West Ham . He made five appearances for Yeovil , keeping one clean sheet and saving a penalty in a 0–0 draw with Stevenage on 22 October 2011 . On 24 February 2012 , Štěch signed on a month-long loan for League One club Leyton Orient . Štěch made his Leyton Orient debut the following day in a 1–1 draw against Bury , but he only managed two matches before suffering an ankle injury . At the end of 2011–12 , West Ham confirmed that Štěch had left the club by mutual consent after six years in east London .

Yeovil Town .

On 5 July 2012 , following his departure from West Ham , Štěch signed permanently for League One club Yeovil Town on a two-year contract , becoming the clubs first permanent goalkeeper on the books since 2008–09 . Štěch made his first appearance of the season and permanent debut for Yeovil in a League Cup tie at home to Colchester United on 14 August 2012 . Štěch was ever-present for Yeovil in 2012–13 , playing 56 matches and keeping 19 clean sheets , and was man of the match in the 2013 League One play-off Final as Yeovil won promotion to the Championship for the first time in their history .
After being substituted for Gareth Stewart in a 1–0 home defeat against Birmingham City , it was confirmed Štêch would be out for 3–4 months with a fractured hand . After four months out , Štěch made his return from injury in a 1–0 loss against Blackburn Rovers .
At the end of 2013–14 , which resulted in Yeovil Towns relegation , Štěch was offered a new contract with the club .

Sparta Prague .

Štěch rejected Yeovils offer and moved back to Czech club Sparta Prague , the club he represented as a child , to replace outgoing Sparta goalkeeper Tomáš Vaclík .

Luton Town .

On 14 June 2017 , Štěch signed for League Two club Luton Town on a two-year contract upon the expiry of his contract with Sparta Prague . He made his debut on 5 August 2017 , starting Lutons 8–2 win at home to former club Yeovil Town on the opening day of 2017–18 , in which he saved a penalty from Otis Khan . Štěch kept his first clean sheet for Luton in a 3–0 victory at home to Colchester United on 19 August . He signed a one-year extension to his contract in June 2018 .
Having not featured during the 2019–20 campaign , Štěch was released at the end of his contract .

Mansfield Town .

Following his release by Luton , Štěch signed for Mansfield Town on a two-year contract . At the end of the 2020–21 season , Štěch was transfer-listed by Mansfield Town .

International career .

Štěch was capped at under-17 and under-21 levels for the Czech Republic . He made his under-17 debut in a 1–0 win against Finland in February 2006 , and played in the 2006 UEFA European Under-17 Championship as the Czech Republic finished the competition as runners-up to Russia . Štěch made his under-21 debut in a friendly against South Korea in March 2009 , and was named in the Czech Republics squad for the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship , which they finished in fourth place .
On 13 May 2014 , Štěch received his first call-up to the Czech Republic national team for their friendlies against Finland and Austria on 21 May 2014 and 5 June 2014 . Although an unused substitute against Finland , Štěch started against Austria to earn his first cap for the national team .

Controversy .

On 13 April 2013 , Štěch posted two offensive tweets on his Twitter account . One of the tweets called Spartas rival club Slavia Prague Fucking jews . Štěch later deleted the two tweets and apologised .

Honours .

Yeovil Town
- Football League One play-offs : 2013
Sparta Prague
- Czech Supercup : 2014
Luton Town
- EFL League Two runner-up : 2017–18
Czech Republic U17
- European Under-17 Championship runner-up : 2006
Individual
- PFA Team of the Year : 2017–18 League Two