{{Short description|Czech footballer (born 1963)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Karel Kula | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|8|10|df=yes}} | birth_place = Třinec, Czechoslovakia | height = 1.81 m | position = Midfielder | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Český Těšín | youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Železárny Třinec | years1 = 1981–1991 | clubs1 = Baník Ostrava | caps1 = 188 | goals1 = 25 | years2 = 1982–1984 | clubs2 = → Dukla Banská Bystrica (loan) | caps2 = 19 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 1991–1992 | clubs3 = Stuttgarter Kickers | caps3 = 28 | goals3 = 6 | years4 = 1992–1995 | clubs4 = SG Wattenscheid 09 | caps4 = 59 | goals4 = 3 | years5 = 1995–1996 | clubs5 = Železárny Třinec | caps5 = 39 | goals5 = 1 | years6 = 1997–1998 | clubs6 = Baník Ostrava | caps6 = 21 | goals6 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 1985–1992 | nationalteam1 = Czechoslovakia | nationalcaps1 = 40 | nationalgoals1 = 5 | manageryears1 = 2006–2008 | managerclubs1 = Baník Ostrava (assistant) | manageryears2 = 2009–2010 | managerclubs2 = FK Fotbal Třinec (assistant) | manageryears3 = 2010–2012 | managerclubs3 = Karviná | manageryears4 = 2013–2014 | managerclubs4 = FK Fotbal Třinec | manageryears5 = 2015–2016 | managerclubs5 = FK Fotbal Třinec }} '''Karel Kula''' (born 10 August 1963) is a Czech local politician and former football player and manager. He played as a midfielder and was a general manager of MFK Karviná and FK Fotbal Třinec. In 2023, he became the mayor of Český Těšín.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Český Těšín vede nová koalice, starostou je Karel Kula|url=https://polar.cz/zpravy/moravskoslezsky-kraj/cely-ms-kraj/11000036056/cesky-tesin-vede-nova-koalice-starostou-je-karel-kula|website=Polar.cz}}</ref>
==Playing career== After making his professional debut at the age of 18 for FC Baník Ostrava, with a two-year loan during his spell at the club, Kula played more than 200 official appearances with the club. He won the Czechoslovak Cup with Baník in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Baník Ostrava profile|url=http://www.fcb.cz/historie/osobnosti-klubu/nejslavnejsi-obdobi-g6/|url-status=dead|website=Baník Ostrava|access-date=3 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624021949/http://www.fcb.cz/historie/osobnosti-klubu/nejslavnejsi-obdobi-g6/|archive-date=24 June 2010}}</ref> At 28 years old, Kula was allowed to leave the country, spending the next four years in Germany, three of those with SG Wattenscheid 09. Although he made his Bundesliga debut with Stuttgarter Kickers in the 1991–92 season, his six league goals (third in the team) were not enough to prevent relegation (in 17th position). At the age of 32, Kula returned to his country, now the Czech Republic. After two years with SK Železárny Třinec, he ended his career with Baník Ostrava in 1998.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
Together with his twin brother, Vlastimil, Kula played for the youth national teams of Czechoslovakia including the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship.<ref name="Deník 2023-08-10">{{Cite news|first=Jakub|last=Nohavica|title=Bývalý reprezentant a opora Baníku Ostrava Karel Kula slaví šedesátku|url=https://moravskoslezsky.denik.cz/fotbal_region/byvaly-reprezentant-a-opora-baniku-ostrava-karel-kula-slavi-sedesatku-narozeniny.html|website=Deník|publisher=Vltava Labe Media|date=10 August 2023|access-date=1 November 2024|language=cs}}</ref> He debuted for the senior squad against Sweden in June 1985.<ref name="Deník 2023-08-10"/> The following year, in May 1986, Kula scored his first goal during a friendly match against Iceland.<ref name="Deník 2023-08-10"/>
==Post-playing career== Kula worked as assistant manager for Baník Ostrava from 2006 until 2008<ref>{{Cite news|title=Kula je u mužů dříve, než sám čekal|url=https://www.idnes.cz/fotbal/prvni-liga/kula-je-u-muzu-drive-nez-sam-cekal.A060622_092439_fotbal_mah|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|publisher=Mafra|date=22 June 2006|access-date=4 November 2024|language=cs}}</ref> and in the same role at FK Fotbal Třinec.{{When?|date=November 2024}} He became head coach of Karviná in 2010.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Karel Kula|url=http://fotbal.idnes.cz/db_fotbal.asp?trener=3006185|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|publisher=Mafra|access-date=31 March 2012|language=cs}}</ref> In March 2012, Kula was replaced as manager of Karviná by assistant Marek Kalivoda.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Martin|last=Ruščin|title=Karel Kula byl odvolán od týmu Karviné|url=http://karvinsky.denik.cz/fotbal_region/karel-kula-byl-odvolan-od-tymu-karvine-20120328.html|newspaper=Karvinský a Havířovský Deník|publisher=Vltava Labe Media|date=28 March 2012|access-date=17 June 2012|language=cs}}</ref> He returned to FK Fotbal Třinec for the 2013–14 season as general manager; his successor was Marek Kalivoda.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kalivoda bude trenérem Třince|url=http://fm.denik.cz/fotbal_region/kalivoda-bude-trenerem-trince-20140704.html|website=Deník|publisher=Vltava Labe Media|access-date=13 November 2012|language=cs}}</ref>
Kula became chairman of Moravian-Silesian Regional Football Association in February 2015<ref>{{Cite news|first=Aleš|last=Uher|title=Český Těšín má nového starostu. Rozhodli o tom v pondělí odpoledne|url=https://karvinsky.denik.cz/fotbal_region/karel-kula-byl-odvolan-od-tymu-karvine-20120328.html|newspaper=Karvinský a Havířovský Deník|publisher=Vltava Labe Media|date=24 February 2015|access-date=4 November 2024|language=cs}}</ref> and mayor of Český Těšín in March 2023.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Tomáš|last=Januszek|title=Český Těšín má nového starostu. Rozhodli o tom v pondělí odpoledne|url=https://moravskoslezsky.denik.cz/z-regionu/cesky-tesin-novy-starosta.html|newspaper=Moravskoslezský Deník|publisher=Vltava Labe Media|date=6 March 2023|access-date=7 March 2023|language=cs}}</ref>
==Personal life== Kula is married to a woman named Ivana Lipková,<ref>{{Cite news|first=Aleš|last=Uher|title=Přestup Karla Kuly|url=https://moravskoslezsky.denik.cz/fotbal_region/20080811_banik_kula_svatba.html|newspaper=Moravskoslezský Deník|publisher=Vltava Labe Media|date=11 August 2008|access-date=4 November 2024|language=cs}}</ref> with whom he has two daughters.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Aleš|last=Uher|title=Kula: Můj víkend s fotbalem|url=https://karvinsky.denik.cz/zpravy_region/kula_ka20071006.html|newspaper=Karvinský a Havířovský Deník|publisher=Vltava Labe Media|date=6 October 2007|access-date=4 November 2024|language=cs}}</ref> He spends his free time regularly young training footballers in Třinec.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Ondřej|last=Zoubek|title=Velebil ho Nohavica, teď je z legendy Baníku starosta. Rád jsem v běhu, tvrdí Kula|url=https://sport.aktualne.cz/fotbal/karel-kula-fotbal-60-let/r~8ab45792369c11ee8c6f0cc47ab5f122/|website=Aktualně.cz|publisher=Economia|date=10 August 2023|access-date=4 November 2024|language=cs}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===International=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="nft">{{NFT|20161|access-date=24 September 2024}}</ref> |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="7"|Czechoslovakia |1985||5||0 |- |1986||8||3 |- |1987||7||0 |- |1988||4||0 |- |1990||4||0 |- |1991||8||2 |- |1992||4||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !40!!5 |}
:''Scores and results list Czechoslovakia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kula goal.'' {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of international goals scored by Karel Kula |- !scope="col"|No. !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition !scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- |style="text-align:center"|1 |{{dts|29 May 1986}} |Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland |{{fb|Iceland}} |style="text-align:center"|1–0 |style="text-align:center"|2–1 |Friendly |<ref>{{cite web|title=Iceland vs. Czechoslovakia|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/35753/Iceland_Czechoslovakia.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref> |- |style="text-align:center"|2 |{{dts|10 August 1986}} |Western Sydney Stadium, Parramatta, Australia |{{fb|Australia}} |style="text-align:center"|1–0 |style="text-align:center"|3–0 |Friendly |<ref>{{cite web|title=Australia vs. Czechoslovakia|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/35174/Australia_Czechoslovakia.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref> |- |style="text-align:center"|3 |{{dts|15 October 1986}} |Stadion Za Lužánkami, Brno, Czechoslovakia |{{fb|Finland}} |style="text-align:center"|3–0 |style="text-align:center"|3–0 |UEFA Euro 1988 qualification |<ref>{{cite web|title=Czechoslovakia vs. Finland|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/35752/Czechoslovakia_Finland.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref> |- |style="text-align:center"|4 |{{dts|6 February 1991}} |Western Sydney Stadium, Parramatta, Australia |{{fb|Australia}} |style="text-align:center"|1–0 |style="text-align:center"|2–0 |Friendly |<ref>{{cite web|title=Australia vs. Czechoslovakia|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/30750/Australia_Czechoslovakia.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref> |- |style="text-align:center"|5 |{{dts|16 October 1991}} |Andrův stadion, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia |{{fb|Albania}} |style="text-align:center"|1–0 |style="text-align:center"|2–1 |UEFA Euro 1992 qualification |<ref>{{cite web|title=Czechoslovakia vs. Albania|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/31227/Czechoslovakia_Albania.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{FACR player}} * {{Fussballdaten|kulakarel}} * {{NFT player|20161}} * {{Soccerway|karel-kula/223131}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kula, Karel}} Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Třinec Category:Czechoslovak men's footballers Category:Czech men's footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Czech First League players Category:FC Baník Ostrava players Category:FK Třinec players Category:Bundesliga players Category:2. Bundesliga players Category:Stuttgarter Kickers players Category:SG Wattenscheid 09 players Category:Czechoslovakia men's international footballers Category:Czech expatriate men's footballers Category:Czech football managers Category:MFK Karviná managers Category:FK Třinec managers Category:Czechoslovak expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in West Germany Category:Czechoslovak expatriate sportspeople in West Germany Category:Czech expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:FK Dukla Banská Bystrica players Category:Czech National Football League managers Category:Czech sportsperson-politicians Category:Mayors of places in the Czech Republic