Pavel Šulc (born 29 December 2000) is a Czech professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for club Lyon and the Czech Republic national team
Šulc made over 150 appearances for Viktoria Plzeň, and was named the Czech Footballer of the Year in 2025.
Club career Viktoria Plzeň Šulc was promoted to the first team of Viktoria Plzeň in January 2020 but only played his first match on 17 January 2021 against FK Příbram.
Scoring once each season in 2020–21 and 2021–22, Šulc started the 2023–24 season with a hat-trick against České Budějovice. He contributed to Viktoria Plzeň's 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League campaign, where they reached the quarter-final of a European competition for the first time.
Loan spells On 29 January 2019, Šulc was loaned to FC Vysočina Jihlava in Czech National Football League, playing he played in 16 league matches and scored 3 goals.
On 3 July 2019, he was loaned to SFC Opava in Czech First League. In six months long loan he played in 15 league matches and in 1 Czech Cup match without scoring a goal.
On 26 January 2020, he was loaned to SK Dynamo České Budějovice in Czech First League. In one year long loan he played in 15 league matches and scored 3 goals.
In June 2022, he joined Czech First League side FK Jablonec on a season-long loan, reuniting with manager David Horejš who he had worked with at České Budějovice in his previous loan spell.
Lyon On 4 August 2025, Šulc signed a four-year contract with Lyon in France.
International career Šulc had played international football at youth levels that ranged from Czech Republic U18 to U21. He played a total of 15 matches for the U18–U20 teams and scored four times. For the U21 team, he played in 20 matches and scored two times.
On 22 March 2024, Šulc debuted for the Czech senior squad in a friendly match against Norway.
On 10 September 2024, Šulc scored his first goals for the Czech Republic, scoring twice in a 3–2 victory against Ukraine in the Nations League
On 31 May 2026, Šulc was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsVysočina Jihlava (loan)2018–19Czech National League16300—163Opava (loan)2019–20Czech First League15030—180České Budějovice (loan)2019–20Czech First League112——1122020–214100—41Total15300—153Viktoria Plzeň2020–21Czech First League20150—2512021–2227121613532023–2431185213249222024–2535153116454202025–2621002041Total1153615437716747Jablonec (loan)2022–23Czech First League32520—345Lyon2025–26Ligue 12711328138142026–2750002070Total3211321014514Career total2255823647829571
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsCzech Republic2024103202581202681Total265
Scores and results list the Czech Republic's goal tally first.
+ List of international goals scored by Pavel ŠulcNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 10 September 2024 Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czech Republic 1–0 3–2 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B2 2–13 19 November 2024 Andrův stadion, Olomouc, Czech Republic 1–0 2–1 4 25 March 2025 Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal 3–0 4–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification5 31 March 2026 Stadion Letná, Prague, Czechia 1–0 2–2 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification play-offs
Honours Viktoria Plzeň Czech First League: 2021–22
Individual Czech Golden Ball: 2025 Czech Footballer of the Year: 2025
References
External links