Mr. Dependable

Born on 5th January 1982 in Opocno, Czech Republic, Jaroslav Plasil moved to France early in his career. After making his professional debut for FC Hradec Kralové, in the north of the Czech Republic, the young Jaroslav signed for AS Monaco in the summer of 2001 at the age of 19. He started out with Monaco's academy team, graduating to the first squad and making eight Ligue 1 appearances in his 18 months in the principality. In early 2003 he was sent out on loan to Ligue 2 side Créteil in order to gain more experience of first-team football, playing 14 games for the Paris-based team.

Jaro moved back to Monaco in time for the 2003-2004 season, which was to be a decisive moment in his career. Under the guidance of Didier Deschamps he established himself as a vital first-team player, taking part in Monaco's epic Champions League run. Jaroslav played in 10 of those European games, scoring once. He featured in both legs of the semi-final against Chelsea, as well as the quarter-final victory over Real Madrid. He started the second leg of that massive tie against Zidane's Galacticos, a victory which ranks among the finest moments in Monaco's history (3-1).

After the triumphs of 2004, Jaroslav's career was well and truly underway. He made 24, 21 and 30 L1 appearances over the next three seasons with Monaco, as well as 11 appearances in European competition. After four years as a key component of the Monaco midfield, in 2007-2008 he played in their first four games before opting for a change of scenery and a whole new adventure, joining Osasuna Pamplona and discovering La Liga.

Jaro's excellent performances at club level did not go unnoticed in his home country, and he earned his first full international cap in March 2004 in Dublin (Ireland beat the Czechs 2-1 on that occasion).
He has been a regular fixture in the Czech team ever since, winning 84 caps and taking part in all the major tournaments (Euro 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016, World Cup 2006).

In July 2009 he signed a 4-year deal with the Girondins, recently crowned French champions. Since then he has been one of Bordeaux's most important players, regularly making upwards of 40 appearances each season. He was one of the key players in the Girondins' strong start to the 2009-2010 season, reaching the League Cup final and Champions League quarter-finals. The following season was a tough time for the club, but along with a handful of others (including Fernando Menegazzo) Plasil was one of the few reliable performers. Adept at creating and converting chances, Jaro has scored 14 goals and provided 27 assists during his time in Bordeaux. On 9th July 2011, Francis Gillot left Sochaux to become Bordeaux manager and promptly entrusted Plasil with the captain's armband.

Elegant, skilful and comfortable playing with both feet, Plasil is a player of many talents. He can play in the middle or on the wing, and his tireless hard work sets the example for his team-mates to follow.

Captain Jaro had another excellent season in 2016/2017, bringing the benefits of his experience to bear on this young squad and helping the team to grow together. He played 45 matches in all competitions last season, once again demonstrating his flexibility and dependability.