Pavel Mares Football player Date of Birth: 18.01.1976 Country: Czech

Biography of Pavel Mareš

Pavel Mareš is a Czech football player who is best known to Russian fans for his performances with the St. Petersburg Zenit. He joined the club along with several other Czech players, as Czech coach Vlastimil Petržela invited familiar faces to his new team after the 2002 season.

The 2003 season was the most successful in Zenit's history at the time. The team won their first silver medals in the country's championship and also the Premier League Cup. Mareš played 26 matches in the Russian championship that season and scored two goals.

In the 2004 season, Mareš was one of the key players in defense while also contributing to the attack. He scored three goals in the Russian championship, all within the first 11 rounds. Most of Mareš's goals in his St. Petersburg career were due to his excellent heading ability in the opponent's penalty area during set-piece situations. He was included in the list of the "33 best" players of the championship that season.

In the same year, Pavel Mareš represented the Czech Republic in the Euro 2004 games, winning bronze medals. In the 2005 season, he continued to be a main player for Zenit, playing 26 matches in the country's championship and scoring four goals. Once again, he was included in the "33 best" list.

The 2006 season was Mareš's last with Zenit as a series of injuries prevented him from playing at his usual level. The resignation of Petržela and the arrival of Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, along with the departure of foreign players recruited by Petržela, left him with little chance to regain his form. Mareš played 12 matches in the Russian championship, scoring one goal. He almost moved to the English club Bolton in the final days of the summer transfer window, but the negotiations fell through, and he remained with Zenit.

After leaving Zenit, Mareš's career declined rapidly, and he played very little in his homeland before ultimately retiring from professional football.