FC Zlín
Professional services
UnclaimedFC Zlín is a professional Czech football club based in Zlín.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
FC Zlín is a professional association football club from Zlín in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1919, the club has operated under a succession of names reflecting local industrial affiliations, municipal changes and commercial sponsorships. Its historical identities have included SK Zlín, SK Baťa Zlín, TJ Gottwaldov, FC Svit Zlín, FK Zlín, FC Tescoma Zlín, FC Fastav Zlín and FC Trinity Zlín. Since 2023, it has again used the name FC Zlín. The club first reached the top level of Czechoslovak football in the late 1930s and remained there until 1947. Its early top-flight period ended in disciplinary circumstances after the club was disqualified over alleged manipulation of results. Zlín subsequently moved between the first and second levels, with its competitive fortunes shaped by promotions, relegations, mergers and changes in sponsorship. It returned to the Czech top flight in 2002 and established itself for several seasons, achieving seventh-place finishes in 2003 and 2004 and eighth place in 2007–08. A difficult 2008–09 campaign ended a seven-year spell in the Czech First League. Despite a late six-match unbeaten run, including five victories, Zlín lost its final match 6–1 to Jablonec and was relegated. The club spent subsequent seasons in the second tier, generally occupying mid-table positions while working to rebuild its sporting structure. Ahead of the 2012–13 season, the adoption of the FC Fastav Zlín name coincided with a new sponsorship arrangement, a managerial change and the appointment of Tomáš Polách as captain. The most successful modern period came in 2016–17. Zlín finished sixth in the Czech First League, its best league position recorded in the Czech competition, and won the Czech Cup. The cup victory gave the club qualification for the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League group stage, providing its most significant recent exposure in European competition. Zlín also won the Czech-Slovak Supercup in 2017. The club changed its commercial name to FC Trinity Zlín at the beginning of the 2022–23 season under a three-year sponsorship agreement. That arrangement lasted only one season after the principal sponsor departed, and the club returned to FC Zlín from 1 July 2023. The 2023–24 season ended in last place in the Czech First League and relegation. Zlín responded by winning the Czech National Football League in 2024–25, securing a return to the top division. The club therefore remains an active professional team whose identity is closely connected with Zlín, while its competitive profile has alternated between top-flight football and the Czech second tier.
History
FC Zlín was established in 1919 as SK Zlín. Its early development was closely associated with the industrial city of Zlín and, at different times, with the Baťa footwear enterprise and other local commercial institutions. The club reached the Czechoslovak First League in 1938 and competed at the highest national level through 1947. That period ended with disqualification related to the manipulation of match results, forcing the club away from the top division. Over the following decades, the organization experienced repeated structural and naming changes. In 1922 it became SK Baťa Zlín, while post-war political and sporting reorganizations produced the identity SK Botostroj I. Zlín and later TJ Gottwaldov. In 1958, Spartak and Jiskra were merged into TJ Gottwaldov. The club returned to the SK Zlín identity in 1989, then adopted a series of company-backed names: FC Svit Zlín in 1990, FC Zlín in 1996, FK Svit Zlín in 1997, FK Zlín in 2001 and FC Tescoma Zlín in 2002. Sportingly, Zlín made intermittent appearances in the Czechoslovak top division before the creation of the separate Czech league in 1993. It spent three seasons in the new Czech First League before dropping to the second tier in 1996. Promotion in 2002 began a seven-season top-flight run. The team achieved seventh place in both 2003 and 2004, then eighth in 2007–08. The 2008–09 campaign was much weaker: Zlín earned only nine points from its first 16 matches and, despite a late unbeaten sequence, was relegated after a 6–1 defeat by Jablonec on the final day. The club remained in the second tier for several seasons. It opened the 2010–11 campaign with four consecutive victories and began 2011–12 with six unbeaten matches, but neither start led to promotion; Zlín finished 11th and 10th respectively in those seasons. Before the 2012–13 campaign, the club changed its name to FC Fastav Zlín under a sponsorship agreement, while also appointing Aleš Křeček as manager and Tomáš Polách as captain. The Fastav era produced the club's strongest modern sporting results. Zlín returned to the Czech First League and in 2016–17 finished sixth, its best position in the competition. It also won the Czech Cup that season, securing entry to the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League group stage. The club added the Czech-Slovak Supercup in 2017. These achievements gave Zlín a rare period of national-cup success and international visibility. At the beginning of 2022–23, a new sponsorship arrangement changed the name to FC Trinity Zlín. The principal sponsor departed after one season, so the club resumed the FC Zlín name on 1 July 2023. The 2023–24 First League season ended with relegation after a last-place finish. Zlín immediately recovered by winning the 2024–25 Czech National Football League, earning promotion back to the Czech First League. The club also continues to maintain reserve and youth football structures, with FC Zlín B competing in the Czech third tier during the 2025–26 season.
- 2025
Czech National Football League champions
[1]Zlín won the Czech National Football League and secured promotion back to the Czech First League.
- 2024
Relegation to the Czech second tier
[1]Zlín finished last in the Czech First League and was relegated.
- 2023
Return to FC Zlín name
[1]Following the end of the Trinity sponsorship arrangement, the club restored the FC Zlín name.
- 2017
Czech Cup and Czech-Slovak Supercup success
[1]Zlín won the Czech Cup and then the Czech-Slovak Supercup, its most important modern trophies.
- 2017
Europa League group-stage qualification
[1]The Czech Cup victory took Zlín into the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League group stage.
- 2009
Relegation after a seven-year top-flight spell
[1]A final-day 6–1 loss to Jablonec sent Zlín out of the Czech First League.
- 2002
Return to the Czech First League
[1]Promotion restored Zlín to the Czech top flight and coincided with the adoption of the FC Tescoma Zlín name.
- 1947
Disqualification from the league
[1]The club was disqualified from the top division in connection with manipulation of results.
- 1938
First sustained Czechoslovak top-flight period
[1]Zlín entered the Czechoslovak First League and competed at the highest national level until 1947.
- 1919
Club founded as SK Zlín
[1]The football club was established in Zlín under the name Sportovní klub Zlín.
Products and positioning
A regional Czech professional football club representing Zlín in domestic league and cup competitions, with a history of top-flight participation, domestic cup success and periodic European qualification.
Professional football · 1919
First-team football
FC Zlín's principal sporting offering is its professional men's first team, which competes in the Czech league system. The club has spent substantial periods in both the Czech First League and the Czech National Football League, with its recent cycle including relegation in 2024 and promotion in 2025.
Domestic cup competition · 1969
Czech Cup football
The Czech Cup is the club's principal knockout competition. Zlín won the competition in 1969–70 and 2016–17. The latter victory was particularly significant because it qualified the club for the UEFA Europa League group stage and preceded its victory in the Czech-Slovak Supercup.
Reserve football
FC Zlín B
FC Zlín B is the club's reserve side and provides a competitive pathway for developing players and members of the wider squad. During the 2025–26 season, the reserve team competed in the Moravian-Silesian Football League, the third level of the Czech football system.
Youth development
Youth football
The club's youth structure supports player development beneath the senior teams. Specific academy facilities, programs and alumni are not detailed in the supplied reference material, but youth football forms part of the club's ongoing sporting organization.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2023
Restoration of the FC Zlín nameStrategyBackground
The departure of the principal sponsor ended the short FC Trinity Zlín naming period.
Action taken
The club resumed the FC Zlín identity on 1 July 2023.
Aftermath
The restored name continued into the club's subsequent relegation and promotion cycle.
2022
Commercial rebranding as FC Trinity ZlínStrategyBackground
The club entered the 2022–23 Czech First League with a new principal sponsorship arrangement.
Action taken
The team changed its commercial name from FC Fastav Zlín to FC Trinity Zlín under a reported three-year sponsorship deal.
Aftermath
The principal sponsor left after one season, and the club reverted to FC Zlín from 1 July 2023.
2017
Entry into the UEFA Europa League group stageProduct launchBackground
Zlín qualified for European competition after winning the 2016–17 Czech Cup.
Action taken
The club participated in the group stage of the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League.
Aftermath
The qualification gave Zlín its most prominent recent European profile.
2012
Adoption of the FC Fastav Zlín identityStrategyBackground
The club began the 2012–13 second-tier season amid changes to its commercial sponsorship, management and team leadership.
Action taken
A five-year agreement with Fastav replaced the previous Tescoma sponsorship and led the club to use the name FC Fastav Zlín. Aleš Křeček became manager and Tomáš Polách was appointed captain.
Aftermath
The sponsorship-era identity preceded the club's strongest modern period, including its 2017 Czech Cup victory and European qualification.
Sources2 sources
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