Zdenek Kroca

Zdenek Kroca

Czech centre-back Zdenek spent the majority of his playing career at hometown club FC Tescoma Zlin before joining the Hatters in 2010 alongside fellow Czech Pavel Besta following a successful trial period.

The 6ft 4 centre-back quickly established himself in the first-team at Kenilworth Road, scoring on his debut in a home win against Altrincham. Kroca became a firm favourite at Kenilworth Road, playing in all but one of Luton’s league matches that season, ending the season with five league goals as well as the opener in Luton’s FA Cup Second Round replay defeat to Charlton Athletic, plus an equaliser in the second leg of the play-off semi final against Wrexham at Kenilworth Road, which helped to halt Wrexham’s momentum in that match.

After Luton failed to gain promotion in 2011, Kroca left the club at the end of his contract, opting to move north of the border to Kilmarnock, against whom he had scored for Luton in a pre-season friendly whilst on trial. He played fewer matches for Killie, but helped Killie to victory in the 2012 League Cup Final. He then saw out the remainder of his playing career in the Czech Republic before moving into the electronics industry.