10 Interesting Facts About Tomas Rosicky

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1. He's nicknamed 'Dumpling' after his favourite dish - so we can all look forward to plenty of dough-related puns from the tabloids. However, he is often referred to in the Czech Republic by the far more complimentary 'Football Mozart'.

2. Rosicky's talent was imprinted in his genes - his father Jiri was one of the all-time great players for the former Czechoslovakia.

3. Tomas became the youngest ever winner of the Czech Player Of The Year award in 2001 and then went on to win the same award the following year.

4. He made his international debut against the Republic of Ireland in 2000, and has since scored 15 goals in 53 appearances for his country. A rather important one of those goals was the winner in the second leg of the Czech Republic's play-off against Norway that saw them reach their first ever World Cup. Rosicky scored six goals from midfield in the qualifying campaign.

5. He became the Bundesliga's most expensive signing when he transferred from Sparta Prague to Borussia Dortmund. Mind you, the exact amount has been quoted at everything between £8m and £18m in the national press.

6. Shortly after his move to Germany, Inter Milan offered a reported £33million to take him to the San Siro.

7. He gets fouled. A lot. During one game for Dortmund, against Bayern Munich, he was brought down no less than 38 times - with two Bayern players being sent-off as a result.

8. Chelski tried to sign Rosicky in 2004, but he claims to have joined Arsenal so that he can play "with Thierry Henry - because he is the best." Suck up.

9. His girlfriend, Radka Kocurova, came second behind Sylvie van der Vaart in a poll conducted by Bild to find the most attrative players' girlfriends in the Bundesliga.

10. A member of the F365 editorial staff was once told off by Czech police for trying to half-inch a life-size photo of Rosicky from outside the Sparta Prague training ground. Please note: Football365 does not condone such activities. Funny as they are.