Libor Kozák (born 30 May 1989) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a striker. He started and ended his career in Opava. Among the most notable clubs where he played were Lazio, Aston Villa and Sparta Prague. He also played for the Czech Republic national football team.

Club career

SFC Opava

Kozák started his career in 2001 with Czech club Slezský FC Opava, first playing with its youth teams before being promoted to the first team in 2007. Considered a promising talent, Kozák was a prolific goalscorer in the Czech Second Division with Opava. In October 2007, he scored his first hat-trick, coming in a 5–1 Opava win against FC Zenit Čáslav in the second division.

In January 2008, Kozák went on trial with English Premier League club Portsmouth, however he did not join Pompey.

Lazio

Kozák joined Lazio in July 2008, signing a five-year contract, with rumours that Lazio club president Claudio Lotito paid a €1.2 million ($1.8 million) transfer fee. He later went on loan to Serie B side Brescia in the 2009–10 Serie B to gain experience and regular playing time.[citation needed] On 26 September 2009, Kozák scored his first goal in Italy against Grosseto.

At the end of his loan spell, Kozák returned to Lazio and scored his first goal for the Biancocelesti on 18 September 2010, which turned out to be the winner against Fiorentina. On 16 January 2011, he netted the deciding goal against Sampdoria after coming on as a 77th-minute substitute, before scoring two goals on his full club debut two weeks later, again against Fiorentina. Having achieved four goals in nine starts for Lazio of which four goals came in January, Michal Bílek, manager of the Czech Republic, called Kozák up to the national team and announced he would make a special trip to the Stadio Olimpico to watch his game against A.S. Bari.

Under coach Vladimir Petković in the 2012–13 Serie A, Kozák experienced a two-faced season by failing to score in 19 appearances in Serie A, but finished the season as the leading goalscorer in the Europa League with eight goals. He scored his first club hat-trick against VfB Stuttgart in Rome on 14 March 2013, helping his team reach the last eight by an aggregate score of 5–1.

Aston Villa

On 2 September 2013, Kozák signed a four-year contract with English side Aston Villa for a €6.5 million transfer fee, being assigned the number 27 shirt. On 14 September 2013, he made his Aston Villa debut at Villa Park, but could not prevent the side from losing 2–1 to Newcastle United. On 21 September 2013, he scored his first goal for Villa, seconds after replacing Christian Benteke, against Norwich City which proved to be the winning goal in a 1–0 victory. The same year on 21 December 2013, he scored the only goal for Villa in a 2–1 loss to Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.

On 2 January 2014, Villa announced that Kozak had broken his right leg in a training ground collision with teammate Ciaran Clark, and would miss the rest of the 2013–14 season. Complications and further injuries saw him miss the entire 2014–15 season too. He eventually made his comeback 15 months after the initial leg break in March 2015 in an under-21 match against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He made his first team comeback in July 2015 in a 3–1 pre-season defeat to Fulham, scoring for the first time since December 2013. In February 2017, with Kozak's contract running out at the end of season, Aston Villa announced that he would miss the rest of the season undergoing surgery on his ankle. Kozák was released by Aston Villa at the end of the 2016–17 season.

Later career

On 30 August 2017, Kozak joined Serie B team Bari. He signed with Livorno on 16 July 2018. On 28 May 2019, Kozák returned to his homeland and signed with Sparta Prague.

Kozák joined Hungarian club Puskás Akadémia in Nemzeti Bajnokság I in 2021. He then returned to the Czech Republic, signing for Slovácko on 17 June 2022 before moving to Trinity Zlín on 13 January 2023.

On 8 August 2023, Kozák joined Arezzo in the Italian Serie C. He left by mutual consent on 31 January 2024. On 23 July 2024, Kozák signed a one-year contract with Opava.

International career

On 14 November 2012, Kozák debuted for the Czech Republic national football team in a friendly match against neighbours Slovakia, coming as a substitute for David Lafata in the 67th minute. He scored his first goal in a 1–1 friendly draw against Hungary on 14 August 2013.

Coaching career

On 29 August 2025, Kozák was appointed as an assistant coach of Sparta Prague B.

Career statistics

Club

As of 9 April 2022

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Opava2006–07Czech 2. Liga15800––158
2007–08261100––2611
Total411900––4119
Lazio2008–09Serie A3000––30
2009–100000–0000
2010–1119631–00227
2011–1217400–71245
2012–1319010–11103110
Total581041–18118022
Brescia (loan)2009–10Serie B29300–00293
Aston Villa2013–14Premier League1440010–154
2014–15000000–00
2015–16400010–50
2016–17Championship20–––20
Total204002000224
Bari2017–18Serie B15210––162
Livorno2018–19Serie B9020––110
Slovan Liberec2018–19Fortuna liga14710––157
Sparta Prague2019–20Fortuna liga311454–203818
2020–2113420–10164
Total44187400305422
Puskás Akadémia2021–22Nemzeti Bajnokság I22411–20255
Slovácko2022–23Fortuna liga11100–41152
Career total2636818920271230886

International

As of 10 June 2019

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Czech Republic201210
201372
201910
Total92

Scores and results list the Czech Republic's goal tally first.

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
114 August 2013Puskás Ferenc Stadion, Budapest, Hungary4Hungary1–01–1Friendly
210 September 2013Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy6Italy1–02–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Czech Republic U21

Individual

External links