The legend Antonin Panenka celebrates his 75th birthday

From green eggs in Prague to green eggs in Vienna

Nowadays, a footballer of his standing at one of the world clubs would have ended up in the continent’s top leagues at the latest after that exclamation mark, but at that time, players from the CSSR were only allowed to move abroad at the age of 32 ( He must have played at least 45 international matches.

In January 1981 we moved “west” and the destination was Vienna, specifically Hoteldorf! The vice president at the time, Fritz, had died a few months earlier Graciewas the driving force behind the commitment, as in the well-read book “100 Years – 100 Stars” published on the anniversary of Peter’s birth in 1999. Linden And Peter Klubel It was written so it could be read. And “Tonda”As it was called at the time, he also wrote The Green and White History. When he plays for Championship title in 1982 – 5-0 win over Wacker Innsbruck – He scored a dream goal that decades later was called the most beautiful goal in the history of the Bundesliga. A year later, he also became a champion with Grün-Weiß and a cup winner in the last three of his five seasons with Rapid. He was part of the team that reached the European Cup final in 1985, but missed the final match against Everton in Rotterdam due to injury.

In 1999, the popular Czech player, who had scored 17 goals in 59 international matches, was selected for the Soviet club. Century Express Team He was elected president of his parent club Bohemians Prague (also in green and white) for years after his active career. Speaking of the president: Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen He received it in the summer from his Czech counterpart Peter Pavel The gift that had so much to do with Antonin Panenka during his “inaugural visit” to Vienna – can now be admired at Rapideum (More here).

Antonin Panenka He will be our guest of honor at our last home match of the year (December 9 from 2:30pm vs. Red Bull Salzburg) at the Allianz Stadium. We are all really looking forward to seeing one of the biggest stars to ever wear the green jersey. White jersey. On his last visit he brought Antonin PanenkaWho scored an impressive 77 goals in 172 official matches for Rapid between 1981 and 1985, and he is lucky! Wearing his new No. 8 Puma shirt, he was delighted with his green and white team’s 2-1 win over Sparta Prague from the capital of his Czech homeland!

Happy birthday – Happy birthday, Sir Antonin!