Stepan Ponikelsky

Ponikelský's youth statistics tell an unusually direct story: eight goals in seven appearances for Hradec Králové's under-19 side across the 2025/26 campaign. In a friendly for the Czech Republic under-19 side against Liechtenstein, he scored twice inside the opening ten minutes.

Ponikelský came through Hradec Králové's academy, with a spell in the youth ranks at FK Jaroměř between 2013 and 2016 before returning to the club that raised him. He spent the 2025/26 season with Hradec Králové's B team while also being named among the extended Czech under-19 squad for European Championship qualifying.

His first-team debut came on 13 May 2026, when he was brought on as a substitute in a Chance Liga fixture against Slovan Liberec and played 21 minutes. It remained his only involvement of note domestically that season: three league appearances in total, 107 minutes on the pitch, without a goal or an assist. FotMob rated his average performance at 6.11 across those outings.

Hradec Králové included him in their squad for the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League campaign. He was named among the substitutes for the second qualifying round tie against Norwegian side Tromsø on 23 July 2026, a match Hradec Králové won 1-0, though he did not come off the bench.

He wears the number 22 shirt at Hradec Králové.