Mario Lička (born 30 April 1982) is a Czech

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

coach and former player. He works as an assistant coach at FC Dynamo Moscow in Russian Premier League, where his brother

Marcel Lička Marcel Lička (born 17 July 1977) is a Czech football coach and former player. He works currently as a manager of FC Orenburg in Russian Premier League. Playing career He made over 171 appearances in the Czech First League and 37 appearances ...

is serving as a manager.

Career

Early career

Lička began his footballing career at Czech club Baník Ostrava in 2002. He played at Bazaly until January 2005, making sixty-five appearances. Lička was a member of the squad of Baník Ostrava in the 2003–2004 season, when Baník won the league title. He was sold to

1. FC Slovácko 1. FC Slovácko is a Czech football club based in Uherské Hradiště. The team was established in 1927 as SK Staré Město and on 1 July 2000 as 1. FC Synot, which was a merger of the original club with ''FC Slovácká Slavia Uherské Hradiště ...

where he made 28 league appearances in 2005-06 and was released in July 2006.

Southampton

He had an unsuccessful trial at West Ham United and Leeds United before signing for Southampton F.C., following another trial. After an injury hit first couple of months at the club, Lička forced his way into manager George Burley's plans, scoring his first goal for the club in a 1–0 win over

Stoke City Stoke City Football Club is a professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, which competes in the . Founded as Stoke Ramblers in 1863, it changed its name to Stoke in 1878 and then to Stoke City in 1925 after Stoke ...

on 21 October 2006. However not long after he became surplus to Burley's requirements and found himself playing in the reserves. After the appointment of new manager Nigel Pearson in February 2008, Licka was given a new chance and after a series of good performances found himself playing regularly again. However after the return of former Chairman Rupert Lowe, Pearson did not have his short-term contract renewed despite saving the club from relegation. Lowe did not offer Lička a new contract as he was also at the end of his contract.

Later career

Despite reported interest from Pearson at his new managerial post at Leicester City, Lička chose to return to his homeland to play for Baník Ostrava. In June 2010 he signed for the French club Stade Brestois for three seasons. Lička subsequently played for Slavia Prague.

Coaching career

Lička served as an assistant in SK Benešov and Sokol Hostouň. In 2022, he joined his brother Marcel as an assistant coach at FC Orenburg. In June 2023, he followed Marcel to FC Dynamo Moscow.

Personal life

His father

Verner Lička Verner Lička (; often written as Werner) (born 15 September 1954 in Hlučín) is a Czech football player and later manager. He played for Czechoslovakia, for which he played 9 matches and scored 1 goal. Career In his country he played for Ban� ...

was a very successful footballer, then manager. His brother Marcel is also a footballer, then manager.

References

External links

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Licka, Mario 1982 births Footballers from Ostrava Living people Czechoslovak men's footballers Czech men's footballers Czech Republic men's under-21 international footballers Czech Republic men's international footballers Men's association football midfielders FC Baník Ostrava players US Livorno 1915 players 1. FC Slovácko players Southampton F.C. players Stade Brestois 29 players SK Slavia Prague players FC Istres players FK Chmel Blšany players SK Benešov players Czech First League players Serie A players English Football League players Ligue 1 players Championnat National players Ekstraklasa players Bohemian Football League players Czech expatriate men's footballers Czechoslovak expatriate men's footballers Expatriate men's footballers in Italy Expatriate men's footballers in England Expatriate men's footballers in France Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium Expatriate men's footballers in Poland Czechoslovak expatriate sportspeople in Belgium Czechoslovak expatriate sportspeople in France Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza players