http://www.chelseafc.com/Player.asp?plid=6311

PLAYER PROFILES

Jiri Jarosik


     Jiri's impressive display during CSKA Moscow's home Champions League
game against Chelsea last November did not just make it one of our tougher
games of that season; it also confirmed Jose Mourinho's view that the
lofty Czech international would meet his exacting quality control standard,
having tried to buy him for Porto a couple of years earlier.


     When Scott Parker broke his foot just six weeks later, the 27 year-
old became the number one target to keep the numbers up and when a loan
deal could not be sorted out, a permanent two-and-a-half year contract was
signed with an undisclosed fee paid.


     Versatility was one of the qualities that attracted Mourinho. An
attacking midfield role is the player's preference but he has played
deeper on many occasions, even as far back as defence. Wherever he is
found on the pitch his height in an asset. At 6' 4" he is Chelsea's
tallest outfielder.


     The second Czech in the squad, Jiri's path has crossed with that of
Petr Cech before. They came together at Sparta Prague where Jiri had just
contributed eight goals to a Championship win in 2001 and have also been
international colleagues. The midfielder's early seasons at Sparta had
also brought two loan spells at Slovan Liberec and two other league
winners' medals.


     For the 2003 season, CSKA Moscow carried him east for a then Russian
record fee of around ￡3.7 million. His new club didn't regret the cost
as they immediately secured a first title for 12 years, qualifying the
Muscovites for the Champions League meet with Chelsea.


     Jiri scored seven goals in that first season away from home but fell
out of the international reckoning prior to the Czech Republic's
impressive Euro 2004. In the last Russian season CSKA narrowly failed to
defend their title, finishing runners-up.


     He was injured for the Champions League visit to Stamford Bridge in
October 2004 but returned in time for the reverse fixture. He made his
Chelsea debut versus Scunthorpe in the FA Cup and his league debut a week
later at Tottenham.