On 2 November 1892 a student society in Prague decided to set up a cycling section, and so began the story of Slavia Prague. On 2 November 2026 the club turns 134 years old. It is one of the most historic and best-loved clubs in Central Europe.

From the bicycle to the ball

Slavia grew out of the Slavia Literary and Rhetorical Association, a student society. At its general meeting on 2 November 1892 it approved the creation of the Academic Cycling Section Slavia (ACOS), which three weeks later elected physician Václav Kubr as chairman.

The police dissolved the association in 1894, and in 1895 SK Slavia was founded as its successor. A football section was set up in January 1896, and on 25 March 1896 Slavia played its first match, beating AC Praha 6-0.

A date with a question mark

The club traditionally celebrates its birthday on 2 November. However, research by fans suggests the real date may be 14 November 1892, and that the traditional date was recorded by mistake in 1902.

Whichever is right, the year stays the same. As for the name, "Slavia" is a Latin term from older literature for the lands inhabited by Slavs.

"The Stitched"

At its very first committee meeting the club approved the Slavic colours, red and white, which are also the heraldic colours of the Czech kings. Slavia has worn them without a break from 1896 to the present day.

The shirt is sewn from two halves, one red and one white, which is why fans are called Sešívaní, "the stitched". According to the club, the two halves stand for opposites in balance, such as will and feeling, or strength and technique.

The star that points down

On the white field stands the red five-pointed star, turned upside down with its point facing down. It marks Slavia as a Slavic club, and the club describes it as a symbol of hope that survives setbacks.

White expresses the purity of sporting ideals and red the heart the players put into the game. The round crest has a gold bicycle wheel at its centre, recalling the club's roots, and linden leaves, the Slavic tree.

Bican, Plánička and great moments

In 1911 nine Slavia players were in the Czech team that won the amateur European title, beating England 2-1 in Roubaix. In 1938 Slavia lifted the Mitropa Cup, the great trophy of Central Europe.

In those years the stars were goalkeeper František Plánička and the legendary Josef Bican, the club's all-time top scorer. Later came the 1996 league title after 49 years, a run to the UEFA Cup semi-finals that same season, and stars such as Patrik Berger, Karel Poborský and Vladimír Šmicer.

Bican wore the shirt from 1937 to 1948 and scored 57 league goals in the 1943/44 season. After the war came hard years, as the communist regime persecuted the club and the team was relegated twice in the 1960s.

Today Slavia plays at the Fortuna Arena in Eden and counts 22 league titles, the two most recent in 2025 and 2026.

Celebrate with us

From a student cycling society to the great derbies against Sparta, Slavia stays true to its two halves and its red star.

Happy birthday, Slavia! May your star shine for many years to come.

See our collectible jerseys at sportarena.gr.

Photo: Slavia's stadium at Eden, Prague – Jan Polák, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0.