Berger ends English stay to join Sparta Prague

Former Czech Republic international midfielder Patrik Berger has joined Sparta Prague on a two-year contract, the top Czech first division club said, to end a seven-year period in England with various clubs.

The 34-year-old has played for Liverpool, Portsmouth, Stoke City and most recently Aston Villa, who sold him back to Sparta, the club where he started his professional career. No transfer fee was revealed.

Berger has appeared 44 times and scored 18 goals for the Czech Republic, for whom his high point was scoring a penalty in the 2-1 Euro 96 final defeat against Germany at Wembley.

Berger was axed by Villa at the beginning of May for publicly advising teammate Gareth Barry to leave the club and join Liverpool.

Berger told the press about joining Sparta: “It's a decision made for family reasons and I wanted to return to my country after 13 years abroad.”