Koller not to return to Czech national team
Jan Koller, 35, the best striker of the Czech soccer history scoring 55 goals, will not return to the Czech national team mainly for family reasons, his manager Pavel Paska told Nova TV Wednesday.
He added that Koller would only focus on playing in the Russian Samara where he transferred in June from German FC Nuremberg, signing an 18-month contract with a one-year option with this club.
Koller's second daughter was born a couple of days ago, and he would like to have more time for the family, Paska said.
"After an interview with couch [Petr] Rada, Honza [familiar Jan] definitively decided to end in the national team for family reasons," Paska said.
Koller already announced he would leave the national team after the June Euro where the Czechs failed to advance from their group.
However, new coach Rada said, when he assumed the post, that Koller might help the Czech team in the qualification for the World Cup in 2010.
In the past, Koller played for French Monaco, German Dortmund, and Belgian Lokeren and Anderlecht Brussels.