MAREK STECH
Born: 28 January 1990, Prague, Czech Republic
Former clubs: AC Sparta Prague, Wycombe Wanderers (loan), AFC Bournemouth (loan)
Tall and confident, Marek Stech is one of a host of promising young goalkeepers at West Ham United.
Already capped by Czech Republic at Under-21 level, Stech was one of the hottest young properties in Europe when the Hammers secured his signature in the summer of 2006.
Having enjoyed loan spells at Wycombe Wanderers and AFC Bournemouth, Stech is ready to challenge the club's senior goalkeepers, including close friend Peter Kurucz, for a regular place in the first-team squad.
2010/11
Made his first-team debut by starting the home Carling Cup second-round victory over Oxford United on 24 August 2010...Kept a clean sheet in the 1-0 Carling Cup second-round win over Oxford United and was subsequently named man of the match...Made a total of three Carling Cup appearances, starting the victories over Sunderland and Stoke City...Was named as an unused substitute on 13 occasions in the Barclays Premier League...Made nine Barclays Premier Reserve League starts.
2009/10
Named as substitute goalkeeper on 14 occasions in all competitions, including 13 times in the Premier League and once in the FA Cup…Made seven starts for West Ham United at Barclays Premier Reserve League South level…Loaned to AFC Bournemouth for a month on 11 November 2009, making his only League Two appearance in a 5-0 defeat at Morecambe on 12 December 2009.
2008/09
Appeared in first-team pre-season friendly matches against Peterborough United and Southampton…Named as first-team substitute goalkeeper for the first time for Premier League visit to Newcastle United on 18 January 2009…Named as first-team substitute goalkeeper on three occasions in total, twice in the Premier League and once for the FA Cup fourth-round visit to Hartlepool United…Loaned to League Two Wycombe Wanderers on 13 March 2009 until the end of the season…Made his Football League debut for Wycombe Wanderers in 3-3 draw at Brentford on 14 March 2009…Also started 1-0 home defeat by Rochdale on 21 March 2009…Made seven Barclays Premier Reserve League South starts and two FA Premier Academy League starts for West Ham United.
2007/08
Made three Barclays Premier Reserve League South starts…Totalled eleven FA Premier Academy League starts as West Ham United finished second in the Group A table.
2006/07
Completed a permanent move from Sparta Prague at the age of 16 on 31 August 2006…Had his debut delayed by an ankle injury…Made his West Ham United debut in the goalless FA Premier Academy League draw at Chelsea on 17 November 2006…Made his reserve-team debut in the 1-1 home draw with Portsmouth at the Boleyn Ground on 20 November 2006…Totalled two Barclays Premier Reserve League South and six FA Premier Academy League appearances, all of them starts.
International career
Capped by Czech Republic at U17, U19 and U21 level...Made his debut in UEFA competition in the 3-1 UEFA European U17 Championship Elite Round qualifier in France on 29 March 2006…Helped the Czech Republic to reach the final of the UEFA European U17 Championship in summer of 2006…Totalled 13 UEFA competition appearances for Czech Republic at U17 level…Appeared as a half-time substitute in the 1-0 U21 friendly win over Finland on 3 March 2010...Named in Czech Republic squad for the 2011 UEFA European U21 Championship finals in Denmark.
Before West Ham United
Joined AC Sparta Prague as a child before signing as a trainee on 1 July 2005.
Any other business
Named Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech as his hero…Is a fan of Gianluigi Buffon and Shay Given…Named former West Ham United defender Tomas Repka as his hardest opponent…Played tennis to a high level as a child before choosing a career in football at the age of 13.