FC Hradec Králové is a Czech professional football club based in the city of Hradec Králové. The club, which was founded in 1905, won the Czechoslovak First League in the 1959–60 season. Since 2021, the club has played in the Czech First League.
Following their domestic success, Hradec played in the 1960–61 European Cup and was eliminated by Barcelona in the quarter-finals, Barcelona eventually becoming runners-up. In 1995 Hradec won the Czech Cup and subsequently played in the Cup Winners' Cup, where it was eliminated in the round of 16 by Dynamo Moscow. In the 2002–03 season they were relegated to the Second Division. They returned to the top flight in 2009–10 only to be relegated once more in 2012–13; however they would place second in the 2. Liga signifying a return to the top division for the 2014–15 season. In the 2026–27 season, Hradec returned to European competition, defeating Tromsø in the Europa League before being eliminated by Beşiktaş. They subsequently entered the Conference League, where they were eliminated by Panathinaikos 4–3 on aggregate in the play-off round.
History
Hradec Králové first played in the Czechoslovak First League in 1956. They were relegated after two seasons, but returned for the 1959–60 season, winning the league that same season. They went on to compete in the 1960–61 European Cup, being eliminated by Barcelona in the quarter-finals, a team which would go on to reach the final.
Hradec Králové were again relegated in 1963. They enjoyed four more spells in the First League, each lasting only one or two seasons. Their last promotion to the Czechoslovak top tier came in 1990. Hradec then played in the newly formed Czech First League from its inception in 1993 until being relegated at the end of the 1999–00 season. Their best league finish in this time was 8th place, which they achieved in the 1998–99 season. The 1990s also saw the club triumph in the Czech Cup, winning the competition in 1995. This achievement saw the club qualify for the Cup Winners' Cup, where they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Dynamo Moscow.
The club returned to the top flight in 2001 after winning the Czech 2. Liga at the first attempt, securing promotion with four games to spare. After just two seasons though, the club again finished in the relegation places and were relegated back to the second tier. This time it was seven seasons before the club would achieve promotion, winning the 2009–10 Czech 2. Liga to secure their status in the top flight once more. Hradec equalled their best Czech First League finishing position of 8th in the 2010–11 season.
Historical names 1905: SK Hradec Králové 1948: Sokol Hradec Králové 1949: Sokol Škoda 1953: DSO Spartak Hradec Králové (Dobrovolná Sportovní Organisace Spartak Hradec Králové) 1976: TJ Spartak ZVU Hradec 1989: RH Spartak ZVU Hradec Králové 1990: SKP Spartak Hradec Králové 1992: SKP Fomei Hradec Králové 1994: SK Hradec Králové 2005: FC Hradec Králové
Players Current squad .
Out on loan
Notable former players
Reserves As of 2025–26, the club's reserve team FC Hradec Králové B plays in the Bohemian Football League (third tier of the Czech football system).
Player records in the Czech First League . Highlighted players are in the current squad.
Most appearances # Name Matches 1 Pavel Černý sr. 162 2 Karel Podhajský 136 3 Pavel Dvořák 135 4 Petr Kodeš 126 5 Jakub Klíma 122 Jakub Kučera 7 Adam Vlkanova 120 8 Richard Jukl 117 David Zoubek 10 David Kalousek 112
Most goals # Name Goals 1 Pavel Černý sr. 29 Pavel Dvořák 3 Richard Jukl 22 Adam Vlkanova 5 Daniel Vašulín 20 6 Václav Pilař 17 7 František Koubek 16 8 Jakub Kučera 13 9 David Breda 12 Filip Kubala Ondřej Mihálik Vladimír Darida
Most clean sheets # Name Clean sheets 1 Karel Podhajský 44 2 Adam Zadražil 34 3 Jiří Lindr 18
Managers
Jiří Zástěra (1959–60) Oldřich Šubrt (1961–64) Josef "Pepi" Bican (1964) František Havránek (1964–66) Otto Hemele (1968–69) Zdeněk Krejčí (1971–73) Ladislav Moník (1977–78) Dušan Uhrin (1980–81) Zdeněk Krejčí (1985–86) Karol Dobiaš (1988) Ladislav Škorpil (1991–93) Štefan Nadzam (1993–94) Petr Pálka (1994–95) Luděk Zajíc (1995–96) Dušan Radolský (1996) Vladimír Táborský (1996–97) Jaroslav Hřebík (1997–98) Ladislav Škorpil (1998) Stanislav Kocourek (1999) Milan Petřík (1999) Petr Uličný (2000–03) Leoš Kalvoda (2003) Martin Pulpit (2004) Juraj Šimurka (2004–05) Oldřich Machala (July 2008 – March 2009) Václav Kotal (March 2009 – June 2012) Jiří Plíšek (July 2012 – April 2013) Luboš Prokopec (April 2013 – Oct 2014) Bohuslav Pilný (Oct 2014 – May 2017) Karel Havlíček (Jun 2017 – May 2018) Zdenko Frťala (Jun 2018 – Jun 2021) Miroslav Koubek (Jun 2021 – Jun 2023) Jozef Weber (Jun 2023 – Sept 2023) Václav Kotal (Sept 2023 – Feb 2024) David Horejš (Feb 2024 – present)
History in domestic competitions 1984–87: 1. ČNL 1987–89: Czechoslovak First League 1989–90: 1. ČNL 1990–93: Czechoslovak First League 1993–00: Czech First League 2000–01: Czech 2. Liga 2001–03: Czech First League 2003–10: Czech 2. Liga 2010–13: Czech First League 2013–14: Czech 2. Liga 2014–15: Czech First League 2015–16: Czech 2. Liga 2016–17: Czech First League 2017–21 Czech 2. Liga 2021–22: Czech First League
Seasons spent at Level 1 of the football league system: 21 Seasons spent at Level 2 of the football league system: 14 Seasons spent at Level 3 of the football league system: 0 Seasons spent at Level 4 of the football league system: 0
Czechoslovakia Season League Placed Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Cup1990–911. liga14th30107133352–1927Round of 161991–921. liga12th3078152239–1722Round of 161992–931. liga9th30107133236–427Round of 32
Czech Republic Season League Placed Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Cup1993–941. liga13th3096152940–1133Round of 161994–951. liga12th30106143545–1036Winners1995–961. liga14th3085172846–1829Round of 321996–971. liga14th30513122239–1728Round of 641997–981. liga11th30810122536–1134Round of 641998–991. liga8th30116133340–739Round of 641999–001. liga16th30411152138–1723Round of 162000–012. liga1st3019925528+2766Round of 642001–021. liga12th3098132842–1435Round of 162002–031. liga16th30313142354–2122Round of 322003–042. liga7th3091292730–339Round of 322004–052. liga7th2897123738–134Round of 322005–062. liga4th30131073128+349Semi-finals2006–072. liga7th30111094134+743Round of 162007–082. liga4th30131163424+1050Round of 322008–092. liga13th3071493632+435Round of 162009–102. liga1st3020824718+2968Round of 162010–111. liga8th30118112636–1041Round of 642011–121. liga13th3087152238–1631Round of 322012–131. liga16th30510152744–1725Round of 162013–142. liga2nd3018755427+2761Round of 322014–151. liga15th3067172652–2625Round of 162015–162. liga2nd2817834516+2959Quarter-finals2016–171. liga15th3083192951–2227Round of 162017–182. liga4th3014885036+1450Quarter-finals2018–192. liga4th3015873618+1853Round of 642019–202. liga4th3015965429+2554Round of 322020–212. liga1st2617725122+2958Round of 162021–221. liga6th351014114450–644Semi-finals2022–231. liga8th34136153946–745Round of 322023–241. liga7th351310124243–149Round of 162024–251. liga7th34147134032+849Round of 162025–261. liga4th35168115041+956Quarter-finals
History in European competitions Season Competition Round Country Club Score1960–61European CupQSteaua Bucharestwalkover1/8Panathinaikos1–0, 0–01/4Barcelona0–4, 1–11995–96UEFA Cup Winners' CupQVaduz5–0, 9–11/8Copenhagen5–0, 2–21/4Dynamo Moscow0–1, 1–02026–27UEFA Europa League2QRTromsø IL1–0, 3–13QRBeşiktaş0–1, 0–1UEFA Conference LeaguePOPanathinaikos1–1, 1–2
Honours Czechoslovak First League (tier-I) Champions: 1959–60 Czech Cup Winners: 1994–95 Czech National Football League (formerly 2. liga; tier-II) Winners: 2000–01, 2009–10, 2020–21
Club records Czech First League records Best position: 4th (2025–26) Worst position: 16th (1999–2000, 2002–03) Biggest home win: Hradec Králové 5–0 Benešov (1994–95) Biggest away win: Slovácko 1–5 Hradec Králové (2024–25) Biggest home defeat: Hradec Králové 0–5 Sparta (2001–02) Biggest away defeat: Jablonec 7–0 Hradec Králové (2010–11)
References
External links