Tomas Repka made more than 150 appearances for West Ham United between 2001 and 2005
Now, the former Czech international defender is facing six months in prison after being found guilty of advertising sexual services online using images of his ex-wife.
The 44-year-old, who played for a number of clubs including Banik Ostrava, Fiorentina and Sparta Prague during his career, has been freed on appeal but faces half a year in prison if his appeal fails.
Repka was found guilty alongside his partner Katerina Kristelova, of posting three fake escort ads online claiming to be for his ex-wife, Vlad’ka Erbova.
Kristelova was fined 50,000 Czech crowns (£1,750) for her role in the crime.
"I’m sorry – it was wrong of me. But my relationship with my ex-wife was not good. I wasn’t able to see my son, and the situation escalated," Repka was quoted as saying after being sentenced.
Repka joined West Ham for a then-club record fee of £5.5 million in 2001, and became a cult hero at the club in that time.
