Hamburg have completed the signing of Jaroslav Drobny after his contract expired at Hertha Berlin.
Jarolim acknowledges compatriot faces fight for first-team place
Hamburg have completed the signing of goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny after his contract expired at Hertha Berlin.
The 30-year-old has signed a three-year deal and will join the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Germany international Piotr Trochowski at the Nordbank Arena.
Hertha were relegated from the Bundesliga in the last season and so Czech Republic international Drobny is pleased to have ensured he remains in the German top flight
Hamburg reached the Europa League semi-finals in 2009/10, but they only finished seventh in their domestic league and their new signing is expecting improvements.
Potential
Drobny, who spent time on the books of Fulham and Ipswich, told Hamburg's
official website: "I am looking forward to the challenge. I am convinced that we will have a great and successful season.
"You only have to look at the squad to see the potential here. I imagine they weren't satisfied with their performance in the Bundesliga last season."
Captain David Jarolim is pleased to see his compatriot arrive, but acknowledges he will find it difficult to dislodge first-choice goalkeeper Frank Rost.
Jarolim told
Hamburg Abendblatt: "I am aware that he is now fighting for a starting place at our club.
"Everyone wants to play in the first team, but we are only able to have one starting goalkeeper and I still have a lot of respect for Frank Rost."
