Nedved takes over from Beckham as CSL ambassador

Former Czech Republic midfielder Pavel Nedved announced on Wednesday he has been named ambassador of China's cash-filled Super League, replacing David Beckham.

"I have become ambassador of the Chinese Super League today,' said the 43-year-old winner of the 2003 Ballon d'Or. "Before me it was David Beckham so it's a great honour for me and for the entire Czech Republic," Nedved told reporters on the fringes of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Prague.

"In the future, Chinese football will be on a par with the rest of the world," said Nedved, now also the vice-president of one of his former clubs Juventus, after meeting Xi in the Czech capital.

Former Sparta Prague, Lazio and Juventus star Nedved played 91 games for the Czech Republic national team, helping them to the EURO 1996 final, where they lost to Germany.