Sparta legend Lafata critiques striker crisis and suggests tactical changes

Source reporting: 20 October 2026. Added to ScoreTransfer on the publication date shown above.

David Lafata, a former AC Sparta Prague striker, currently holds the third position in the Gól weekly Club of League Top Scorers with a total of 204 goals. Although Josef Bican remains the all-time leader with 444 goals, football chronicler Jaroslav Kolář has described Lafata’s achievements as comparable to Bican’s when considering the evolution of the modern game. Lafata expressed honor at being included in Kolář’s comprehensive history of Czech football alongside other notable figures.

The current Sparta squad is facing significant challenges in front of goal. Striker Brunes has managed only one league goal during the autumn season, while his counterpart Vojta has yet to score. Lafata acknowledged the difficulty of the situation for the players but emphasized that the primary role of strikers is to score, a function that is currently not being fulfilled by the Letná-based club.

Sparta invested heavily in their attack by signing Erling Haaland’s cousin from Rakow in late July for a record fee of approximately six million euros. The Norwegian forward scored in his debut against Zlín but has failed to find the net in subsequent matches. Despite this drought, coach Priske has continued to select Brunes for the starting lineup, a decision Lafata understands as necessary for maintaining player confidence under high expectations.

However, Lafata noted that the goalless period has become quite lengthy and suggested that giving Vojta an opportunity might be warranted. He expressed hope that the strikers will eventually break their deadlock with a simple goal, which could restore their confidence and effectiveness. Lafata advised the players to stick to their established routines rather than seeking superstitious changes, stating that he always maintained his standard preparations during his own difficult periods to ensure he had done his maximum.