Tomas Cvancara is expected to spearhead a new-look Gladbach attack in 2023/24. - © Imago

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Tomas Cvancara: Who is Borussia Mönchengladbach's Marcus Thuram replacement?

15.07.2023

Borussia Mönchengladbach have signed Tomas Cvancara to fill the shoes of Marcus Thuram. bundesliga.com profiles the Czech international striker...

Stats correct as of 14 July 2023

Tomas Cvancara

Age: 22 (born 13 August 2000)
Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach
Position: Forward
Country: Czech Republic (two caps/ one goal)

Key stats

Cvancara has signed a five-year deal with Gladbach, fresh off a memorable campaign for club and country. The 6'2" striker contributed 12 goals and three assists to Sparta Prague's 2022/23 Czech title-winning season, whilst earning his first senior international caps. He didn't disappoint, scoring a debut goal in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier against Poland.

All told, Cvancara registered 24 goals and seven assists in 49 competitive games for Sparta. He also played top-flight football in Jablonec and Opava colours, on the back of a 13-goal 2019/20 season in the Czech second tier with Vysehrad (22 appearances, 13 goals) and six-month spell in Italy with the Empoli U19s (10 appearances, one goal).

Plays a bit like: Marcus Thuram

Cvancara has the appearance of a classic central striker - his favoured role - but he is deceptively quick for a man of his size. Indeed, it's not uncommon to see him dropping deep before showing opposition players a clean pair of heels, or racing up the right-hand side and swinging over pin-point crosses. In many ways, Gladbach's new No.31 is the ideal replacement for Thuram.

Cvancara (c.) is a lean, quick and physical striker. - Imago

Did you know?

Cvancara has scored against German opposition before. He broke the deadlock in a January 2023 friendly with Bundesliga 2's Nuremberg. The contest also featured a Lukas Haraslin goal, captured by a GoPro camera, which went viral.

What they're saying

"Tomas is a real goal threat with plenty of pace. He's still young, but has been playing professionally for several years and broke into the Czech Republic national team this season." - Gladbach sporting director Roland Virkus

"It's a pleasure to see him make the step up to senior international level and play well. He's a talented player." - Czech head coach Jaroslav Silhavy