Jakub Brabec

Jakub Brabec (born 6 August 1992) is a Czech professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Rio Ave and the Czech national team.

Club career Brabec was part of the youth system at Sparta Prague, but having been released in summer 2008, he joined Viktoria Žižkov, another Prague-based club. He was promoted to the Žižkov first team during the 2008–09 Czech First League season, when he was still at school. He made one league appearance for the club in this season, playing a full match against Viktoria Plzen as a 16-year-old in a 2–0 defeat.

In the 2009–10 season, Brabec played a further 14 games for Žižkov, who were then playing in the second tier Czech 2. Liga. One of the fourteen appearances was as a substitute. In one match in this season against FC Zenit Čáslav, he received a 31st-minute red card. He told UEFA.com that his primary motivation for making the transfer was that he was a childhood fan of his former club and that he would have a better chance of playing in the UEFA Cup and the Uefa Champions League. He started the 2011–12 season with the reserve team, Sparta Prague II, who compete in the 2. Liga.

On 31 August 2016, Brabec signed a four-year contract with Genk.

Aris On 31 August 2021, Aris officially announced the signing of Brabec for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract. On 18 October 2021, he scored his first goal sealing a precious 1–0 away win against Lamia.

On 13 March 2023, Brabec signed a contract extension with the club until summer 2026.

Rio Ave On 8 September 2025, Brabec signed a two-year contract with Primeira Liga club Rio Ave.

International career Youth Brabec has represented the Czech Republic at youth international level. He scored his first national goal on his third and final appearance for the Czech Republic under-18s in a 3–1 loss to the Austria under-18s in a March 2010 friendly match.

Later in 2009, he made his debut for the Czech Republic under-19s in a 4–0 win over the Malta under-19s.

Brabec was selected as captain of the Czech Republic under-19s squad for the 2011 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. The Czech Republic finished the tournament as losing finalists to Spain.

Senior On 29 March 2016, Brabec debuted for the Czech national team under coach Pavel Vrba in Czech Republic senior team in a friendly match against Sweden, ending in a 1–1 draw.

On 11 October 2019, Brabec scored his first goal in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying match against England, resulting in a 2-1 victory for the Czechs.

On 19 November 2023, along with Vladimír Coufal and Jan Kuchta, Brabec has been kicked out of the Czech Republic's national team camp after they allegedly going out clubbing two days before the Euro 2024 qualifier match against Moldova.

Career statistics Club

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

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 11 October 2019 Sinobo Stadium, Prague, Czech Republic 1–1 2–1 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Honours Czech First League Winner: 2013–14

Czech 2. Liga Runner Up: 2010–11

Czech Cup Winner: 2013–14

UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship Runner Up: 2011 Individual UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2011 Czech First League Defender of the Year: 2019–20