| Karel Kula | |
| Birth Date: | 10 August 1963 |
| Birth Place: | Třinec, Czechoslovakia |
| Height: | 1.81 m |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Youthclubs1: | Český Těšín |
| Youthclubs2: | Železárny Třinec |
| Years1: | 1981–1991 |
| Clubs1: | Baník Ostrava |
| Caps1: | 188 |
| Goals1: | 25 |
| Years2: | 1982–1984 |
| Clubs2: | → Dukla Banská Bystrica (loan) |
| Caps2: | 19 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 1991–1992 |
| Clubs3: | Stuttgarter Kickers |
| Caps3: | 28 |
| Goals3: | 6 |
| Years4: | 1992–1995 |
| Clubs4: | SG Wattenscheid 09 |
| Caps4: | 59 |
| Goals4: | 3 |
| Years5: | 1995–1996 |
| Clubs5: | Železárny Třinec |
| Caps5: | 39 |
| Goals5: | 1 |
| Years6: | 1997–1998 |
| Clubs6: | Baník Ostrava |
| Caps6: | 21 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1985–1992 |
| Nationalteam1: | Czechoslovakia |
| Nationalcaps1: | 40 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 5 |
| Manageryears1: | 2006–2008 |
| Managerclubs1: | Baník Ostrava (assistant) |
| Manageryears2: | 2009–2010 |
| Managerclubs2: | FK Fotbal Třinec (assistant) |
| Manageryears3: | 2010–2012 |
| Managerclubs3: | Karviná |
| Manageryears4: | 2013–2014 |
| Managerclubs4: | FK Fotbal Třinec |
| Manageryears5: | 2015–2016 |
| Managerclubs5: | FK Fotbal Třinec |
Karel Kula (born 10 August 1963) is a Czech local politician and former football player and manager. He played as a midfielder and was a general manager of MFK Karviná and FK Fotbal Třinec. In 2023, he became the mayor of Český Těšín.
After making his professional debut at the age of 18 for FC Baník Ostrava, with a two-year loan during his spell at the club, Kula played more than 200 official appearances with the club. He won the Czechoslovak Cup with Baník in 2001.[1] At 28 years old, Kula was allowed to leave the country, spending the next four years in Germany, three of those with SG Wattenscheid 09. Although he made his Bundesliga debut with Stuttgarter Kickers in the 1991–92 season, his six league goals (third in the team) were not enough to prevent relegation (in 17th position). At the age of 32, Kula returned to his country, now the Czech Republic. After two years with SK Železárny Třinec, he ended his career with Baník Ostrava in 1998.
Together with his twin brother, Vlastimil, Kula played for the youth national teams of Czechoslovakia including the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship.[2] He debuted for the senior squad against Sweden in June 1985.[2] The following year, in May 1986, Kula scored his first goal during a friendly match against Iceland.[2]
Kula worked as assistant manager for Baník Ostrava from 2006 until 2008[3] and in the same role at FK Fotbal Třinec. He became head coach of Karviná in 2010.[4] In March 2012, Kula was replaced as manager of Karviná by assistant Marek Kalivoda.[5] He returned to FK Fotbal Třinec for the 2013–14 season as general manager; his successor was Marek Kalivoda.[6]
Kula became chairman of Moravian-Silesian Regional Football Association in February 2015[7] and mayor of Český Těšín in March 2023.[8]
Kula is married to a woman named Ivana Lipková,[9] with whom he has two daughters.[10] He spends his free time regularly young training footballers in Třinec.[11]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Czechoslovakia | 1985 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1986 | 8 | 3 | ||
| 1987 | 7 | 0 | ||
| 1988 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 1990 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 1991 | 8 | 2 | ||
| 1992 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Total | 40 | 5 | ||
Scores and results list Czechoslovakia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kula goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly | [12] | |||
| 2 | Western Sydney Stadium, Parramatta, Australia | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly | [13] | |||
| 3 | Stadion Za Lužánkami, Brno, Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 1988 qualification | [14] | |||
| 4 | Western Sydney Stadium, Parramatta, Australia | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly | [15] | |||
| 5 | Andrův stadion, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia | 1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 1992 qualification | [16] |