Zdeněk Zlámal


Zdeněk “Bobby” Zlámal is a Czech footballer who plays for Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian as a goalkeeper. He is a Czech Republic international, having been capped once in 2009.

Club career

Zlámal began his football career with Spartak Hulín at the age of 5. Talented Zlámal first started as a goalkeeper for Spartak Hulín when he was 16, he debuted on 14 July 2002 in the Czech Cup game against FC Morkovice. In the 82nd minute he remained unconscious after a collision with an opponent, and was sent to the local hospital. For the 2004/05 season, Zlámal moved to the Czech second division, to play for Hanácká Slavia Kroměříž, where he was immediately a starting player.
After 36 starts in the Czech second division Zlámal signed with a team from Czech First League, FC Slovan Liberec. Despite his signing of the contract with Slovan Liberec, Zlámal agreed on a contract with Czech champion Sparta Prague. The young goalkeeper had to pay a fine for breaking his contract, but in January 2006 Zlámal was finally in Prague ready to play for Sparta. Unfortunately, number one goalkeeper at Sparta Prague was experienced Jaromír Blažek that time. Zlámal played just a couple of matches for the reserve team.
For the 2006–07 season, Zlámal was sent to FC Tescoma Zlín. The clubs agreed on a loan lasting one year. There Zlámal regularly started as the goalkeeper. In the summer of 2007, after the transfer of Jaromír Blažek to Bundesliga team 1. FC Nürnberg, Zlámal was sent back to Sparta Prague, although in August, just one month later, he was sold on to Slovan Liberec.

Udinese and loans

In August 2009, Zlámal signed a five-year contract with Italian club side Udinese Calcio. Zlámal was sent on a loan to Cádiz immediately after his transfer to Italy.
In September 2010, Zlámal moved on loan to Slavia Prague until the end of the 2010–11 season. In July 2011, Zlámal returned to Italy after two years out on loan, reportedly for a domestic loan to Bari.

Bari

On 13 July 2011, he was called-up to Bari's pre-season camp and on 15 July Udinese confirmed Zlámal moved to Bari in co-ownership deal, which Fernando Forestieri also moved from the northern side to the south.

Heart of Midlothian

Zlámal signed a three-year contract with Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian in May 2018.

International career

Zlámal was a member of the Czech Republic U-21 team between 2006 and 2007. He was also part of the squad during the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.
Zlámal was nominated by the former Czech Republic national team coach František Straka for the international friendly match against Malta in May 2009.