What’s happened to Matej Vydra since winning the Golden Boot at Derby County | OneFootball

Matej Vydra's career has taken a somewhat humble journey since claiming the Championship Golden Boot for Derby County in the 2017/2018 season

Czechia striker Matej Vydra's career has taken a somewhat humble journey since claiming the Championship Golden Boot for Derby County in the 2017/2018 season.

Arriving in the East Midlands for a then-record sum of £8m in August 2016 from Watford, he struggled to get going in his first season - only scoring five in all competitions.

So when he notched in 21 league goals to secure the individual honour and help The Rams reach the playoffs the following year, it was hard to see Vydra not continuing on this upward run of form when he left.

But his subsequent moves have shown both the challenges of Premier League football and the rewards of returning home - after saying that the 17/18 season was the best season of his career.

Matej Vydra struggled in the Premier League after departing Derby County

Following his outstanding Golden Boot-winning season at Pride Park playing in the number 10 role, Vydra secured his long-awaited return to the Premier League - when Burnley paid Derby £11m for his services that summer.

Initially being linked with a move to Leeds United, that deal collapsed when he couldn't agree personal terms, reportedly due to concerns about joining a second-tier side that had finished below Derby.

Vydra's time at Turf Moor proved to be a huge struggle, as across four seasons with the Clarets, he managed just 11 goals in 106 Premier League appearances - a stark contrast to the clinical finishing that earned him the move.

His best season for the Clarets came in 2020/2021 when he scored six goals, but he never managed to replicate any sort of consistency.

The striker's difficulties were certainly not helped by persistent injury problems - the most notable being when he played 60 minutes with a torn ACL during a match against former side Watford - something medical experts described as "unheard of".

Vydra's Burnley contract expired in June 2022 while he was still recovering from his ACL injury. The club made only one contract offer, which he felt unable to accept.

Matej Vydra has undergone somewhat of a revival at Viktoria Plzen - Derby County fans would be pleased

Following his release, Vydra made the decision to return to his homeland that December, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with Viktoria Plzen.

This decision has proved successful - with Vydra rediscovering his goalscoring touch and back to full fitness. The past 2024/2025 season saw him score 14 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions - including three in the Europa League.

Now 33, those goals in Europe helped contribute to some memorable results - including beating Manchester United, which is a far cry for a player who spent much of his Burnley career on the periphery.

Matej Vydra's unique career trajectory since leaving Derby County

Vydra's journey since leaving Derby County is perhaps a good example of what can happen with modern football transfers, where sometimes the best opportunities come from unexpected directions.

His £11m Burnley move initially seemed like minimal profit for Derby, but given his subsequent struggles in the Premier League and with injuries, this now looks like shrewd business from the Rams.

While Vydra had previously played Premier League football with Watford and West Brom - there is little doubt that his peak years coincided with the Championship.

His current success at Viktoria Plzen shows how returning to a familiar environment can sometimes revitalise a career - and Derby fans will be aware of another former Ram, Timi Max Elsnik, who did similar.