FC Cincinnati’s newest player, Czech midfielder David Douděra, says his journey to the club started earlier this summer when he was looking for a move from his previous club. He wanted a change in his life that would freshen his mind and give him new experiences to learn from, both on and off the field. But he wasn’t looking to pick his next destination; that just isn’t who he is.
“I don’t have that kind of ego,” Douděra said on Wednesday after his first training session with his new club. “I don't want to say ‘hey this club.’ No, no, no I wanted teams who wanted me.”
The Czech midfielder and 2026 World Cup starter says he started looking for his next home after his club season ended and began asking friends playing in other countries what the culture was like there. One person he called was FCC’s Pavel Bucha, who gave a glowing review which affirmed his comfort in a move to the United States.
A few weeks later, after being a little disappointed by the lack of news from his agents but understanding, considering he didn’t give them a direction to follow, he received word of interest from FC Cincinnati.
He met with FC Cincinnati leadership and, soon after, made his decision. He wanted to move to Cincinnati and play for The Orange and Blue.
“I spoke with Chris (Albright), Hunter (Freeman) and Pat (Noonan). I just said after the call to my agents 'wow, it's amazing! It's an amazing project. It's an amazing club. Sounds very good. Let's say yes,'" Douděra explained.
A few weeks later, he visited Cincinnati, and a few weeks after that, he packed his bags to move to his new home. Now, he’s a full participant in training and itching to get on the field for the first time with FC Cincinnati.
His last match was earlier this summer at the FIFA World Cup, where he started a group-stage game for Czechia. Now, fully in the United States, Douděra is working to get ready for FCC’s next match in Montréal this weekend.
"It's been months without matches. So I just focus on training, but I need to play matches! Because I just love to play!" Douděra said, nearly shaking with excitement. “So I’m just excited to be playing because the visa set up took a little bit of time, and that’s normal, but I’m just happy to be here now.”
Douděra arrives in Cincinnati with a bit of a reputation that came before him. His quality as a player speaks for itself, given his accolades and achievements as a World Cup selectee, multiple-time league champion, and competitor at the highest levels of European competition. Still, his mentality is what has caught the eye.
FCC GM Chris Albright shared an anecdote about a conversation he had with Pavel Bucha while recruiting Douděra, where Bucha expressed that while he’s a competitive guy, his countryman takes that competitiveness to another level.
That energy on the field is noticeable and infectious, but it’s also something the Czech midfielder knows about himself. So it’s not as if the reputation comes as a shock or is unexpected. He defines it a little differently, replacing ‘competitive’ with ‘emotional’ or ‘passionate,’ but he embraces that part of himself with pride.
“In Czech Republic, I know a lot of people like me because I have emotions, and I have the positive energy to make the team come together on the pitch. So I focus on the mentality to be only positive about the team and try to make the team the best,” Douděra explained after his first training session with FCC. “So I don't care if we’re losing in the first half 1-0, I just have the positive mentality, and positive emotions to prepare our team for the second half to make changes we need to win.”
A positive mentality doesn't necessarily mean ‘happy go lucky’ all the time; his competitive fire is apparent to all his teammates, but he doesn’t shy away from whatever the team needs to win and always wants to bring the team together.
FC Cincinnati fans got a sneak preview of Douděra’s passion and positivity ahead of the club's match with Charlotte 11 days ago, when he was visiting Cincinnati while waiting for his visa to be processed. The midfielder says that’s exactly the kind of energy he’s proud to bring, and wants to bring, to his new club.
“I am just very happy to be here,” Douděra said, remembering that first moment with the supporters.
Head Coach Pat Noonan and Chris Albright both indicated that the tools Douděra have, both in terms of his on-field quality and leadership skills, were things they were looking for this transfer window. Douděra explained Wednesday that the club communicated this to him during the recruitment process, and he understands and is excited by the opportunity to be a leader through his actions and as a voice in the locker room, despite being so new to the club.
“In the meeting, coach Noonan said to me that (he wanted) experienced players who have played in hard matches…and I have played in those kinds of matches.” Douděra explained. “So I just want to help teach other players how to prepare for the biggest match because I have those experiences.”
“The first thing I need to do is set up, and then if I feel better as a person, I can be more open about everything and make an impact because now everything is new for me,” Douděra continued.
The newest member of The Orange and Blue, though, said he felt it wouldn’t take long to settle in with the club. He said on Wednesday that, in the short time he has spent in Cincinnati, he has felt more welcomed and emotionally supported than he had in Czechia. In addition to the support the club gives him in trying to get him sorted out in a new city with his family, the people of Cincinnati have made him feel so welcome and even more excited to be a member of the community and the team.
“I feel already that the American culture is more open than in Czech because I feel like when I tell somebody here my story, about me, about my whole life, the people understand me and listen a lot,” Douděra explained. “But not in Czech. In Czech, if I open up, it's a little bit hard because some people judge you, and some people hate you because you are different…it doesn't make sense.”
“The American people, they listen to me, and they try to understand me, and they want to help. They want to help me. Everybody, from the hotel, to here at the training center. If I want to rent a car, grocery, everybody. I feel that everybody wants to help me,” Douděra continued. “So that's the reason why I want to help the culture here and (help) the team. It’s exciting!”
Douděra will continue training with his teammates this week as they prepare for their trip to Montréal, where they will seek out a vital three points as the regular season winds down. FC Cincinnati have nine matches left to play and given their place in the table and hanging on the edge of the playoff picture, every contribution will be key.
