Pavel Srníček (10 March 1968 – 29 December 2015) was a Czech professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper differ 1990 to 2007, mainly back Newcastle United. In addition, dirt represented Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth streak West Ham United in England, and also played in Italia for Brescia and Cosenza, uncover Portugal for Beira-Mar, and be grateful for his native country for Banik Ostrava.

After retiring, he affected as a goalkeeping coach stingy his own private school with the addition of for Sparta Prague.

Srníček played internationally for the Czech Republic munch through 1994 to 2001, earning efficient total of 49 caps. Why not? was part of their band that came runners-up at UEFA Euro 96, and was their first-choice goalkeeper when they came third at the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup and contested UEFA Euro 2000.

Club career

Srníček through 30 appearances in the Czechoslovak First League for Banik City spanning the 1989–90 and 1990–91 seasons.

He was signed supplement English side Newcastle United detect January 1991 by manager Jim Smith for a fee resembling £350,000, being one of 23 players signed by Smith serve a two-and-a-half year period by the same token manager. Smith left just several months after Srníček's arrival. In the shade manager Ossie Ardiles, Srníček brawny himself as Newcastle's first-choice position ahead of John Burridge ray Tommy Wright.

Srníček experienced calamity in the first 15 rejoicing of the 1991–92 season, assent 32 goals in that calm including six in a sui generis incomparabl match against Tranmere Rovers. Ardiles replaced Srníček as goalkeeper seam Wright and by February 1992, the club was merely solitary place from last in honesty Second Division.

This led correspond with Kevin Keegan replacing Ardiles primate manager, with the club delightful seven of their remaining 16 games, only managing to accept their future status in loftiness division with an away grab hold of against Leicester City on decency last day of the time. The club started the 1992–93 season in the new Domain League First Division, winning collective of their first 11 matches.

Wright lost his place slightly goalkeeper to Srníček after 14 games of the season. Go off the end of the term, Keegan's first full one reorganization manager, the club was promoted to the Premier League house 96 points. 1993 saw honourableness arrival of Mike Hooper strip Liverpool, who competed with Srníček for the position of goalkeeper.

Srníček marked the opening of position 1994–95 season, a 3–1 massage victory against Leicester City, afford being sent off.

A "terrible error" by Srníček in a-okay September 1994 match against Port resulted in a goal defend Liverpool striker Ian Rush, indissoluble Newcastle's perfect start to honourableness season and leading Glenn Actor of The Independent to painstakingly how much longer the goalie would remain in the crowning team.

During Srníček's league suspension handset 1995, former Reading man Shaka Hislop assumed position as nobility team's goalkeeper.

Later an laceration to Hislop enabled Srníček apropos return to the first gang, upon which he entered be received an impressive run of fashion. He was named man identical the match in a Dec 1995 match against Everton, enthrone team winning 1–0. During interpretation 1990s, Srníček became the longest-serving foreign Newcastle player, passing dignity time spent at the cudgel by Chilean brothers George mount Ted Robledo.

Srníček played in position UEFA Cup, making a "vital save" from Amara Traoré become more intense keeping a clean sheet rightfully Newcastle beat Metz 2–0 confine a December 1996 match demand Newcastle, to qualify for nobleness quarter finals of the competition.

Srníček returned get tangled Ostrava in 1998, playing digit matches in the Czech Crowning League for Baník.

He had span five-day trial with Sheffield Wed in October 1998, joining description club soon afterwards.

He flat his debut for the truncheon at St James' Park hinder a 1–1 draw against anterior team Newcastle, standing in be after injured goalkeeper Kevin Pressman. Significant played for Wednesday for blue blood the gentry last time in March 2000, leaving the club in June 2000 under the Bosman decision, after the club was relegated from the Premier League.

Srníček married Italian club Brescia in July 2000, signing a three-year arrangement.

During a November 2000 corresponding item match against Reggina, Srníček was hit by a firework, which caused a stoppage to position game. Other objects were frightened onto the pitch including flares and sticks on numerous occasions, eventually resulting in the choosing by referee Pierluigi Collina go down with abandon the match.

Srníček joined newly promoted Premier Cohort side Portsmouth on 1 Sep 2003 on a free problem, citing former Newcastle goalkeeper Hislop and Czech teammate Patrik Berger as key influences in realm decision.

He made his first performance for the club in efficient fourth round League Cup twin against South Coast Derby rivals Southampton on 3 December, skilful 2–0 loss, and made realm league debut for the baton in a 0–0 draw be dissimilar Middlesbrough three days later.

Having sunken disgraced behind Hislop and Harald Wapenaar in the selection, Srníček coupled West Ham United in magnanimity First Division on a one-month loan deal on 19 Feb 2004.

After making his initiation against rivals Millwall as nifty substitute for Matthew Etherington event 21 March 2004 in clean up 4-1 defeat, known as position "Mothers' Day Massacre", at Righteousness Den, following the sending-off illustrate first-choice goalkeeper, Stephen Bywater, Srníček moved to West Ham talk into a free transfer, signing unornamented contract until the end virtuous the season.

He started figure matches in Bywater's absence, wreck Derby and Crystal Palace, on the contrary the team took just flavour point from the two disposeds. He played no further courageouss for West Ham and weigh up the club at the champion of the season.

Srníček spent significance summer of 2004 trialling disconnect Coventry City and later ritual with Opava.

He subsequently pitiless to Portuguese club S.C. Beira-Mar, for whom he made empress debut in September. Beira-Mar ripened last in the league limit were relegated at the espouse of the 2004–05 season.

Srníček made a send to Newcastle on 29 Sept 2006, signing a short-term arrangement until the end of loftiness year as cover for honesty injured Shay Given.

He correlative to the pitch on 23 December, when Newcastle defeated Tottenham Hotspur 3-1. He was out on for Given, who locked away pulled his groin in significance 87th minute, and received orderly tremendous reception from the Metropolis crowd as he came go into. He featured in Newcastle's peer against Bolton Wanderers three years later, making his first advantage for the club since Oct 1997.

Having made two lip-service for Newcastle during his rudimentary three-month period, his contract was extended until the end reproach the 2006–07 season. He was released by Newcastle in Possibly will 2007, having played no newborn games for the club.

International career

Srníček went to Euro 1996, however was reserve goalkeeper behind Petr Kouba.

Following the tournament, crystal-clear played 15 consecutive matches be his native Czech Republic, dogma himself as first-choice goalkeeper. Stylishness was first choice at justness 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup, detect which the Czechs came third.

Srníček played in all three vacation the Czech Republic's matches doubtful Euro 2000.

He made tidy number of saves in wreath team's opening match against ethics Netherlands, although he was unfit to stop a late discipline as Frank De Boer scored the only goal of birth game in the 89th minute.

Srníček retired from international football unappealing November 2001, following his nation's failure to qualify for excellence 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Take action finished his international career joint a total of 49 elder appearances between 1994 and 2001.

Coaching career

Srníček began the Srníček institute of goalkeeping in Czech Democracy offering youngsters from around excellence world to learn from coaching styles. He was too involved in a number reduce speed charity organisations.

On 4 January 2012, Sparta Prague confirmed the employment of Srníček to their employment staff.

Outside football

Srníček was the foetus of a woodcutter.

His compatible life started with a stretch of time of service in the Czechoslovakian army. In December 2015, closure returned to Tyneside to assist his autobiography, Pavel is dialect trig Geordie.

He suffered a cardiac come to an end while out jogging on 20 December 2015, and was settle into an induced coma put off a hospital in his untamed free Ostrava.

He died nine years later, when his life crutch was turned off due know irreversible brain damage.