Czech striker Koller moves to Samara

Czech striker Jan Koller has transferred from FC Nuremberg to Russia’s Soviet Wings Samara, Koller’s manager Pavel Paska said on Monday.

Koller, 35, signed an 18-month contract with a one-year option with Samara, the Czech news agency CTK quoted Paska as saying.

Nuremberg was relegated from the German Bundesliga and its management recently announced it could not afford to pay its biggest stars, including Koller, anymore.

Koller ended his career in the Czech national team at the current Euro championship where the Czechs failed to advance from their group. With 55 goals, Koller has been the best striker in the history of the Czech team.

In the past, he played for Monaco (France), Dortmund (Germany),and Lokeren and Anderlecht Brussels (both Belgium).

Apart from Samara, English Premier League’s Birmingham, Austria’s Wien and Russia’s Kazan were also interested in Koller.

In Samara, Koller will play with another Czech, midfielder Jiri Jarosik.

“Our problem is that we have many opportunities, but we score very few goals. Koller is an excellent striker,” Jarosik told CTK about Koller’s role in Samara.