David Lafata (born 18 September 1981) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a forward. He was the Czech First League's top scorer in six seasons and with 198 league goals, he is by far the top scorer of the Czech First League of all time. He also scored nine goals for the Czech Republic national team.
From 1992 until 2005, Lafata played for Czech team SK ÃÂeské BudÃÂjovice, with a brief spell at FC VysoÃÂina Jihlava in 2002. The striker then moved to Greek club Skoda Xanthi in July 2005, but returned to the Czech Liga in January 2006. After one year at Jablonec, Lafata was transferred to FK Austria Vienna in January 2007 from where he came back to Jablonec in the spring of 2008. For Austria, he scored a goal in a domestic cup final.
In the 2010âÂÂ11 season, Lafata was top scorer of the Czech First League with 19 goals.
He continued his good run of form into the 2011âÂÂ12 season, scoring eleven goals in the first seven games, at the end of the autumn half, he scored eighteen goals in sixteen appearances. In April 2012, Lafata broke the Czech First League season scoring record, notching his 23rd goal of the season. He finished season with 25 goals, being top scorer and setting a new record.
In the 2012âÂÂ13 season, Lafata scored 13 goals in the first 16 games, being top scorer of the league before signing for AC Sparta Prague in the winter break. In February 2013, he scored a goal in the Europa League round of 32, in a 2âÂÂ1 aggregate loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. In March 2014 Lafata scored his 134th goal in the Czech First League, surpassing Horst Siegl as its top all-time scorer.
At the start of the 2014âÂÂ15 season, Lafata scored five goals in a 7âÂÂ0 Champions League qualifying round win over Levadia Tallinn in the home leg in Prague. Continuing his fine form in the Champions League qualifying round, Lafata scored a hat-trick in a 4âÂÂ2 comeback victory over Malmö FF at home in Prague. In autumn 2015, Lafata was denied at hat-trick (by the Croatian referee) in Europa League match in Greece against Asteras Tripolis. He scored goal in both away and home match against Schalke 04, as Sparta progressed to the knockout stages.
In May 2016, Lafata became the first player to score five goals in a Czech First League match, netting all of the goals in a 5âÂÂ0 win against Jihlava. On 30 July 2017, he scored his 200th league goal in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against city rival Bohemians 1905.
He scored two goals on his debut for the Czech national team in a 2âÂÂ1 win against Wales on 2 September 2006. He came on as a substitute after 75 mins and scored within a minute of coming on, the second coming in the 89th minute.
Source: League matches European club matches League matches for Austria
Austria Wien
Sparta Prague
Individual
Records