Tomáš Holý

Sparta Prague

Born in Rychnov nad Kněžnou, Czechoslovakia, Holý signed for the Czech side Sparta Prague in 2010, at the age of 18, having previously been with Hradec Králové since the age of 14. He made his career league debut for Sparta Prague B on 11 June 2011 in a Czech 2. Liga 2–1 home loss against FK Varnsdorf. He made 11 appearances during the 2011–12 season. Holý joined Vlašim on loan in July 2013, with head coach Michal Horňák needing a replacement for the departing Michal Toma, whose excellent performances had helped to the keep the club from being relegated out of the Czech Národní Liga the previous season. He played nine Czech Národní Liga matches in the 2013–14 season before he was loaned out to divisional rivals Viktoria Žižkov. Speaking in June 2014, Viktoria Žižkov head coach Jindřich Trpišovský said that he was pleased with Holý's performances until he was sidelined with injury, which left David Pokorný to take over for the rest of the campaign. Holý returned to Žižkov for the 2014–15 season, featuring in another 28 games as Viktoria posted a fourth-place finish. Holý joined Fastav Zlín on loan in July 2015. He made his debut for Zlín in the Czech First League – the top level of the Czech football league system – in a 1–0 win at Bohemians 1905 on 26 July, in what was a quiet game for the goalkeeper. He kept clean sheets in his next two appearances, though the 2–0 home win over Baník Ostrava proved a lot more eventful as visiting fans rushed the field…

Holý has been capped by the Czech Republic at U16, U17 and U18 levels.

One of the tallest players in world football at 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m), Holý is a commanding goalkeeper with good shot-stopping and kicking abilities. His height gives him a natural advantage in covering the goal, collecting crosses, and distributing the ball long distances.

Holý has been noted for his "positive" and "infectious" personality. Cambridge United manager Mark Bonner described him as a "brilliant character". His uncle, Ondrej Volšík, works as a football coach after also playing for Hradec Králové's youth team as a goalkeeper.