Ján Popluhár
Encyclopedia
Ján Popluhár was a former Slovak football player. He started his football career after high school with RH Brno
. However, he is best known for the 15 seasons he spent with ŠK Slovan Bratislava
where he made 262 competitive appearances in defence, scoring an impressive 21 goals, and following further stints with Brno
and Zbrojovka Brno finished on 306 Czechoslovakian league games and a goalscoring tally of 24. After finishing his career with Slovan in 1968 he moved to French league side Olympique Lyonnais
. Two seasons there were enough, but subsequently he spent five years with Austrian amateur club SK Slovan Vienna as player/coach. Many of the thousands of fans in Vienna
thought that Popluhár would be shown up by players twenty years younger than he was, but this did not happen. However, at the age of 44 Popluhár realised that his playing career was over.
Slovan coach Leopold Šťastný
was famous for creating nicknames for his players, and so Ján Popluhár became known in Slovakian football circles as 'Bimbo'. "I was called this because I always looked, and indeed was, good-natured, and I would never hurt anybody," recalls Slovakia's man of the century and one of football's true gentlemen.
There are not many people who remember Popluhár's action in the 1962 FIFA World Cup
in Chile
when, instead of turning the situation to his advantage, he brought the referee's attention to the injured Pelé. In 1997 he was awarded the World Fair Play award for this genuine sporting act, and he reflects fondly on his Brazilian memories.
"I met Pelé several times, the first occasion in Chile and then in various international and club games. He was undoubtedly the best, but there were not many one-to-one situations he won and also not many Slovakian players who scored in the famousMaracana
stadium. I belong to this lucky group after I scored with a free kick against Brazi
l in June 1966," remembers this two-footed player and talented header of the ball.
Czechoslovak football was well represented in 1963 at Wembley
stadium in a match to mark the centenary of the English Football Association. Popluhár, along with Svatopluk Pluskal
and Josef Masopust
, played in a world team that included Alfredo Di Stéfano
, Raymond Kopa
, Uwe Seeler, Denis Law
, Eusébio
and Ferenc Puskás
against an England eleven. Further appearances in all-star teams followed, and these must rank as memorable career highlights even for a man who played in two World Cups (Sweden 1958, Chile 1962). They were not, however, the only accolades he received.
Popluhár was elected Footballer of the Year in the former Czechoslovakia for the first time in 1965 despite the great form of his Czechoslovakian team-mate Josef Masopust. He will never forget the full stadiums and wonderful atmosphere generated at the time. "When I was at my peak, the conditions for a football player were modest here in Czechoslovakia, but the spirit and support of the spectators was incredible. I am not sure that today's players, however, would want to return to my era," he said.
After some bad luck which included working for a sports company that went bankrupt and suffering prolonged health problems resulting in only a modest invalidity pension and an unsuitable job, he has returned to his footballing roots.
In 2000 Ján Popluhár was elected as the best Slovak footballer of the 20th century.
1. FC Brno
FC Zbrojovka Brno is a Czech football club based in Brno.The club won the Czechoslovak First League in the 1977–78 season and finished as runners-up in 1979–80.-Historic names:* SK Židenice * Zbrojovka Brno...
. However, he is best known for the 15 seasons he spent with ŠK Slovan Bratislava
ŠK Slovan Bratislava
ŠK Slovan Bratislava is a football club based in Bratislava, Slovakia, that plays in the Corgoň liga. Founded as 1. ČsŠK Bratislava in 1919, the club changed its name to Slovan Bratislava in 1953...
where he made 262 competitive appearances in defence, scoring an impressive 21 goals, and following further stints with Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
and Zbrojovka Brno finished on 306 Czechoslovakian league games and a goalscoring tally of 24. After finishing his career with Slovan in 1968 he moved to French league side Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
. Two seasons there were enough, but subsequently he spent five years with Austrian amateur club SK Slovan Vienna as player/coach. Many of the thousands of fans in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
thought that Popluhár would be shown up by players twenty years younger than he was, but this did not happen. However, at the age of 44 Popluhár realised that his playing career was over.
Slovan coach Leopold Šťastný
Leopold Štastný
Leopold "Jim" Šťastný was a Slovak football coach. He coached mostly ŠK Slovan Bratislava.-External links:*...
was famous for creating nicknames for his players, and so Ján Popluhár became known in Slovakian football circles as 'Bimbo'. "I was called this because I always looked, and indeed was, good-natured, and I would never hurt anybody," recalls Slovakia's man of the century and one of football's true gentlemen.
There are not many people who remember Popluhár's action in the 1962 FIFA World Cup
1962 FIFA World Cup
The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June. It was won by Brazil, who retained the championship by beating Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final...
in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
when, instead of turning the situation to his advantage, he brought the referee's attention to the injured Pelé. In 1997 he was awarded the World Fair Play award for this genuine sporting act, and he reflects fondly on his Brazilian memories.
"I met Pelé several times, the first occasion in Chile and then in various international and club games. He was undoubtedly the best, but there were not many one-to-one situations he won and also not many Slovakian players who scored in the famousMaracana
Maracanã
Maracanã may refer to:* The Red-shouldered Macaw, a bird known in Brazil as Maracanã* Maracanã , a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil* Maracanã , a stadium located in Maracanã neighborhood...
stadium. I belong to this lucky group after I scored with a free kick against Brazi
Brazi
Brazi is a commune in Prahova County, Romania. It is composed of six villages: Băteşti, Brazii de Jos, Brazii de Sus , Negoieşti, Popeşti and Stejaru.In 1948 it had a population of 1,530....
l in June 1966," remembers this two-footed player and talented header of the ball.
Czechoslovak football was well represented in 1963 at Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
stadium in a match to mark the centenary of the English Football Association. Popluhár, along with Svatopluk Pluskal
Svatopluk Pluskal
Svatopluk Pluskal was a Czechoslovak footballer and holder of a silver medal from the World Cup in Chile in 1962.- Early life :...
and Josef Masopust
Josef Masopust
Josef Masopust is a Czechoslovakian former football player and coach. He was named European Footballer of the Year in 1962. In November 2003, to celebrate UEFA's Jubilee, he was selected as the Golden Player of the Czech Republic by the Football Association of the Czech Republic as their most...
, played in a world team that included Alfredo Di Stéfano
Alfredo Di Stéfano
Alfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé, born into a family of Italian immigrants from Capri, is a former Argentinian footballer and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time...
, Raymond Kopa
Raymond Kopa
Raymond Kopa , is a former French football offensive midfielder, integral to the French national team of the 1950s....
, Uwe Seeler, Denis Law
Denis Law
Denis Law is a retired Scottish football player, who enjoyed a long and successful career as a striker from the 1950s to the 1970s....
, Eusébio
Eusébio
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, GCIH, GCM , commonly known simply as Eusébio, is a retired Mozambican-born Portuguese football forward. He is considered one of the best footballers of all-time by the IFFHS, experts and fans...
and Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás was a Hungarian footballer and manager. He scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary, and 514 goals in 529 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues. He became Olympic champion in 1952 and was a World Cup finalist in 1954...
against an England eleven. Further appearances in all-star teams followed, and these must rank as memorable career highlights even for a man who played in two World Cups (Sweden 1958, Chile 1962). They were not, however, the only accolades he received.
Popluhár was elected Footballer of the Year in the former Czechoslovakia for the first time in 1965 despite the great form of his Czechoslovakian team-mate Josef Masopust. He will never forget the full stadiums and wonderful atmosphere generated at the time. "When I was at my peak, the conditions for a football player were modest here in Czechoslovakia, but the spirit and support of the spectators was incredible. I am not sure that today's players, however, would want to return to my era," he said.
After some bad luck which included working for a sports company that went bankrupt and suffering prolonged health problems resulting in only a modest invalidity pension and an unsuitable job, he has returned to his footballing roots.
In 2000 Ján Popluhár was elected as the best Slovak footballer of the 20th century.