Jakub Jankto

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Jakub Jankto
Jankto in 2017
Personal information
Full name Jakub Jankto[1]
Date of birth (1996-01-19) 19 January 1996 (age 29)
Place of birth Prague, Czech Republic
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder, full-back
Youth career
2002–2014 Slavia Prague
2014–2015 Udinese
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2019 Udinese 65 (9)
2015–2016 → Ascoli (loan) 34 (5)
2018–2019 → Sampdoria (loan) 25 (0)
2019–2021 Sampdoria 65 (8)
2021–2023 Getafe 14 (0)
2022–2023 → Sparta Prague (loan) 15 (1)
2023–2025 Cagliari 18 (1)
Total 236 (24)
International career
2012 Czech Republic U17 2 (0)
2014 Czech Republic U18 7 (8)
2014–2015 Czech Republic U19 6 (0)
2015 Czech Republic U20 4 (1)
2016–2017 Czech Republic U21 7 (3)
2017–2022 Czech Republic 45 (4)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jakub Jankto (pronounced [ˈjakup ˈjaŋkto]; born 19 January 1996) is a Czech former professional footballer who played for the Czech Republic national team. A versatile player, Jankto could play as a full-back, left midfielder or left winger.

Jankto came out as gay in a social media post in 2023, making him the first active male international footballer to come out as gay.[3]

Club career

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Jankto signed for Udinese from Slavia Prague in 2014 for a reported fee of €700,000.[4] Without making his league debut for the team, he went on loan to Serie B side Ascoli in 2015, debuting on 15 September in a Serie B 1–0 home win against Virtus Entella.[citation needed]

On 6 July 2018, Sampdoria announced that Jankto had joined the club on an initial loan deal with an obligation to make the transfer permanent for €15 million.[5] On 12 August 2018, Jankto scored on his debut for Sampdoria in a 1–0 Coppa Italia win against Viterbese.[6] Sampdoria later made the transfer permanent.[7]

On 20 August 2021, Jankto signed a two-year contract with La Liga club Getafe CF.[8][9] The following year on 10 August, he returned to his homeland after joining Sparta Prague on a one-year loan deal.[10]

On 15 July 2023, Jankto signed a two-year contract with option with Serie A club Cagliari.[11][12] He made his debut with Cagliari on 21 August 2023 in a goalless draw against Torino FC.[citation needed] On 3 March 2024, he scored his first goal for Cagliari in a 1–0 victory against Empoli.[citation needed]

On 21 August 2025, Jankto announced on Instagram story end of his career due to persistent health problems. He also referred to “wanting to spend more time with his son” as one of the reasons.[13]

International career

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Jankto playing for the Czech Republic in 2019

In March 2017, Jankto received his first call-up by coach Karel Jarolím to the Czech senior squad for two matches against Lithuania (friendly) and San Marino (2018 FIFA World Cup qualification).[14] The same year on 22 March, he debuted against the former opponent with his first goal that ended in a 3–0 victory.[15]

Personal life

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Jankto was in a relationship with model Markéta Ottomanská and had a son.[16][17] They separated in 2021.[18]

On 13 February 2023, Jankto publicly came out as gay in a social media statement,[3] becoming the first active senior international men's footballer to do so.[19][20][21] Jankto's move received support from football clubs, footballers and other athletes.[22][23]

On 18 April 2023, Jankto was stopped by police near the Sparta Prague Strahov training center. He submitted to a breath test behind the wheel of his vehicle, but refused to take a drug test and a medical examination.[24][25] He also drove without a driver's licence, which had been taken away by the authorities earlier in 2023.[26][27] In response, club management initiated a meeting with Jankto, and it was decided that he would not participate in training sessions with the first team.[28]

Career statistics

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Club

[edit]
As of match played 25 May 2025[7]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ascoli (loan) 2015–16 Serie B 34 5 1 0 35 5
Udinese 2016–17 Serie A 29 5 1 0 30 5
2017–18 36 4 3 2 39 6
Total 65 9 4 2 69 11
Sampdoria (loan) 2018–19 Serie A 25 0 3 1 28 1
Sampdoria 2019–20 Serie A 30 2 1 0 31 2
2020–21 35 6 2 0 37 6
2021–22 0 0 1 0 1 0
Total 65 8 4 0 69 8
Getafe 2021–22 La Liga 14 0 1 0 15 0
Sparta Prague (loan) 2022–23 Czech First League 15 1 1 0 16 1
Cagliari 2023–24 Serie A 18 1 2 0 20 1
Career total 236 24 16 3 252 27
  1. ^ Includes Coppa Italia, Copa del Rey, Czech Cup

International

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As of match played 5 June 2022[29]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Czech Republic 2017 10 1
2018 7 1
2019 9 1
2020 4 0
2021 11 1
2022 4 0
Total 45 4
Scores and results list Czech Republic's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Jankto goal.
List of international goals scored by Jakub Jankto[29]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 22 March 2017 Městský stadion, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic  Lithuania 2–0 3–0 Friendly
2 15 November 2018 Stadion Energa Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland  Poland 1–0 1–0 Friendly
3 10 June 2019 Andrův stadion, Olomouc, Czech Republic  Montenegro 1–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
4 24 March 2021 Arena Lublin, Lublin, Poland  Estonia 6–1 6–2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

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Sparta Prague

References

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  1. ^ "Comunicato Ufficiale N. 258" [Official Statement No. 258] (PDF) (in Italian). Serie A. 9 July 2020. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Jakub Jankto".
  3. ^ a b "Czech footballer Jakub Jankto comes out as gay". Deutsche Welle. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Jankto nikdy nehrál ligu, teď jde slávistický talent za miliony do Udine" [Jankto has never played in the league, now the Slavia talent goes to Udine for millions]. Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech). 16 July 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Jankto joins Samp on initial loan deal". U.C. Sampdoria. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Sampdoria vs. Viterbese Castrense 1–0". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  7. ^ a b "J. Jankto". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  8. ^ "Comunicado Oficial | Jakub Jankto" [Official Announcement | Jakub Jankto]. Getafe CF (in Spanish). 20 August 2021. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Jakub Jankto: Getafe's on-loan midfielder comes out as gay in social media announcement". Eurosport. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Comunicado Oficial (2) | Jakub Jankto" [Official Announcement (2) | Jakub Jankto]. Getafe CF (in Spanish). 10 August 2022. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Jankto se vrací do Serie A, podepsal s ligovým nováčkem". Sport.cz (in Czech). Borgis. Czech News Agency. 15 July 2023.
  12. ^ Campanale, Susy (8 July 2023). "Jankto returning to Serie A for Cagliari". Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Jankto končí kariéru. Bývalého reprezentanta dál nepustí zranění, chce se věnovat synovi". Blesk (in Czech). Czech News Center. Czech News Agency. 21 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  14. ^ "Nominace na Litvu a San Marino: Poprvé Jankto" (in Czech). Football Association of the Czech Republic. 14 March 2017.
  15. ^ "Jankto, nováček bez ostychu: Cítím formu, snad jsem si řekl o místo" [Jankto, a rookie without shame: I feel the form, maybe I claimed a place]. Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech). Mafra. 23 March 2017.
  16. ^ Rizvi, Mohamed (13 February 2023). "Jakub Jankto Comes Out As Gay: Ex-girlfriend Marketa Ottomanska Cleans Up Social Media". Sports Manor. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Who is Markéta Ottomanská ex-girlfriend of Jakub Jankto, her son and Instagram?". The SportsGrail. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  18. ^ Sandeep, Saha (14 February 2023). ""I Don't Care About Our Past Anymore", Jakub Jankto's Ex-girlfriend Speaks Out Following Recent Announcement". Sports Manor. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  19. ^ Foster, Matt (13 February 2023). "Czech footballer Jakub Jankto becomes first active international men's player to announce he is gay". CNN.
  20. ^ "Il calciatore Jakub Jankto ha detto di essere gay". Il Post (in Italian). 13 February 2023.
  21. ^ ""I no longer want to hide": Jakub Jankto, Czech international, comes out as gay". The Guardian. 13 February 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  22. ^ Neumann, Robert (13 February 2023). "Respekt, brácho! Stojíme při tobě! Kluby, sportovci i média vyjadřují Janktovi sympatie". Sport.cz (in Czech). Borgis.
  23. ^ Jiwani, Rory (13 February 2023). "Football world supports Jakub Jankto after he comes out as gay". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  24. ^ Zemen, Jiří (18 April 2023). "Fotbalista Jankto měl řídit pod vlivem. Test na drogy odmítl". PrahaIN (in Czech). Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  25. ^ "Traffic incident sidelines Czech footballer Jankto". Associated Press. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  26. ^ Vaculík, Radim; Dosadil, Pavel (19 April 2023). "Jankto mimo tým! Moje zdraví a mentální rozpoložení mi nedovolí pokračovat, reagoval hráč". Sport.cz (in Czech). Borgis. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  27. ^ "Czech footballer Jankto suspended after refusing drug test". Punch Newspapers (in Czech). 19 April 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  28. ^ "Jakub Jankto apart from the First Team". AC Sparta Prague (Press release). 19 April 2023.
  29. ^ a b "Jakub Jankto". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  30. ^ "Sparta v euforii! Remíza na Slovácku odstartovala mistrovské oslavy". Sport.cz (in Czech). Borgis. Czech News Agency. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
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