Pavel Kuka (born 19 July 1968) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a forward. He represented his national team on 87 occasions, scoring 29 goals. At club level Kuka started in 1987 with Rudá Hvězda Cheb in the Czechoslovak First League before transferring to Slavia Prague two years later. During the 1993–94 season he moved to Germany, where he played in the Bundesliga for 1. FC Kaiserslautern, 1. FC Nürnberg and VfB Stuttgart. In 2000 he returned to Slavia, where he spent a further five years before retiring from top-level football in 2005.
Club career Born in Prague, Kuka played for Rudá Hvězda Cheb and Slavia Prague, making a combined total of 149 appearances, scoring 66 goals, in the last six seasons of the Czechoslovak First League (1987–93). He then moved to Germany, playing for 1. FC Kaiserslautern (1994–98), 1. FC Nürnberg (1998–99), and VfB Stuttgart (1999–2000). Following his time in Germany, Kuka returned to Slavia Prague, where he played for five more seasons before retiring at the end of the 2004–05 season. His final game for Slavia took place on 28 May 2005, in a Czech First League match against Baník Ostrava.
International career Kuka scored 29 goals across 87 national team appearances for Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. For the Czech Republic national team, Kuka played 63 times, scoring 22 goals He was part of the runner-up squad at UEFA Euro 1996 as well as the 2000 tournament.
Personal life Kuka has a son, Tomáš, and a daughter, Aneta, from a past relationship with sports television presenter Renata Dlouhá.
Career statistics Czechoslovakia + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsCzechoslovakia199021199193199262199371Total247
Scores and results list Czechoslovakia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kuka goal. + List of international goals scored by Pavel KukaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1Kuusankosken Urheilupuisto, Kuusankoski, Finland1-11-1Friendly2Andrův stadion, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia1-04-0Friendly3Arena Kombëtare, Tirana, Albania2-02-0UEFA Euro 1992 qualification4Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway3-23-2Friendly5Všešportový areál, Košice, Czechoslovakia2-04-01994 FIFA World Cup qualification63-07Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Wales1-02-21994 FIFA World Cup qualification
Czech Republic + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsCzech Republic19948419957119961381997113199841199991200051200163Total6322
Scores and results list Czech Republic's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kuka goal. + List of international goals scored by Pavel KukaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1Bazaly, Ostrava, Czech Republic1-05-3Friendly24-03Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland1-03-1Friendly42-15Bazaly, Ostrava, Czech Republic 4-14-2UEFA Euro 1996 qualification6Městský stadion, Ostrava, Czech Republic2-03-0Friendly73-08Great Strahov Stadium, Prague, Czech Republic2-02-0Friendly9St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland1-02-1Friendly102-011Anfield, Liverpool, England2-03-3UEFA Euro 199612Stadion Střelnice, Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic1-12-1Friendly132-114Bazaly, Ostrava, Czech Republic 1-02-1Friendly15Na Stínadlech, Teplice, Czech Republic1-02-01998 FIFA World Cup qualification16Svangaskarð, Toftir, Faroe Islands2-02-01998 FIFA World Cup qualification 17Koševo City Stadium, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina3-13-1UEFA Euro 2000 qualification18Stadion Letná, Prague, Czech Republic2-23-2UEFA Euro 2000 qualification 19Max-Morlock-Stadion, Nuremberg, Germany1-12-3Friendly20Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia1-11-1Friendly21Na Stínadlech, Teplice, Czech Republic 1-03-12002 FIFA World Cup qualification222-1 Honours 1. FC Kaiserslautern Bundesliga: 1997–98; runner-up: 1993–94 2. Bundesliga: 1996–97 DFB-Pokal: 1995–96
Czech Republic UEFA European Championship runner-up: 1996 FIFA Confederations Cup Third place: 1997
Individual Czech Footballer of the Year: 1994
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