Václav Danek
Encyclopedia
Václav Daněk is a retired Czech football
player. He played 22 matches for Czechoslovakia
and scored 9 goals. In total, he scored 197 league goals in 402 games (200/99 Ostrava, 41/12 Dukla, 144/83 Innsbruck, 17/3 Le Havre).
In his country he played for Baník Ostrava and witnessed the golden era in the club's history, contributing to two Czechoslovak First League
championships. His strong temper made him not to be picked for the Czechoslovakia
roster that made to quarterfinals in the 1990 FIFA World Cup
, when he was a the peak of his career in Austria, playing for FC Tirol Innsbruck
because of discrepancies with coach Jozef Vengloš
who preferred players like Tomáš Skuhravý
, Ivo Knoflíček
and Stanislav Griga
.
Despite all these, he was selected Best Player in the Austrian league and finished top scorer three years in a row which allowed him to finish third in 1991's European Golden Boot
contest sponsored by the French football magazine "France Football
".
After the World Cup in Italy, where the Czechoslovakian team amazingly performed very well, Vengloš was replaced by Milan Máčala
who gave Vaclav full confidence, making him the team's new standard bearer and first pick-up choice for the offensive.
Maybe his best achievement with the Czechoslovakian
national team took place during the UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying match against Spain
in 1991. A few days prior to this crucial match Danek's baby son was badly injured in an accident and had to be hospitalized what made Václav to declare himself forfait for this match.
The following days, all other three Czech strikers were injured during trainings or in their league matches, what left Macala completely forward-less. The coach decided to call Daněk just hours before the match, and he received a "YES" as an answer.
Without any previous training and/or tactical coaching advises, Vaclav played the game. With Spain leading 2-1, he scored twice in the second half against Andoni Zubizarreta
and was the Man of the Match
of an amazing comeback and victory of his nation.
When asked why he did finally play the game, although his son being at the hospital he declared "My country and my coach needed me and here I am".
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player. He played 22 matches for Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
and scored 9 goals. In total, he scored 197 league goals in 402 games (200/99 Ostrava, 41/12 Dukla, 144/83 Innsbruck, 17/3 Le Havre).
In his country he played for Baník Ostrava and witnessed the golden era in the club's history, contributing to two Czechoslovak First League
Czechoslovak First League
The Czechoslovak First League was the premier football league in the Czechoslovakia from 1925 to 1993, with the exception of World War II. Czechoslovakia was occupied by German forces who formed Gauliga Sudetenland and Gauliga Böhmen und Mähren leagues on occupied territories...
championships. His strong temper made him not to be picked for the Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
roster that made to quarterfinals in the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
, when he was a the peak of his career in Austria, playing for FC Tirol Innsbruck
FC Tirol Innsbruck
FC Tirol Innsbruck was an Austrian association footballclub from Innsbruck, Tyrol which existed between 1993 and 2002, when bankruptcy was declared....
because of discrepancies with coach Jozef Vengloš
Jozef Vengloš
Dr. Jozef Vengloš is a former Czechoslovak football player and coach. He has a Doctorate in Physical Education, as well as specialising in Psychology...
who preferred players like Tomáš Skuhravý
Tomáš Skuhravý
Tomáš Skuhravý is a Czech former football player.At club level, he mostly played in the Italian Serie A in the early 1990s with Genoa, being signed from Sparta Prague, forming a prolific partnership with Uruguayan Carlos Aguilera...
, Ivo Knoflíček
Ivo Knoflícek
Ivo Knoflíček is a Czech football coach and a former player. He played for Czechoslovakia, for which he played 38 matches and scored 7 goals. At the club level, he played mostly for SK Slavia Praha....
and Stanislav Griga
Stanislav Griga
Stanislav Griga was a Czechoslovak football player and later a football manager. He played 34 matches for Czechoslovakia and scored eight goals....
.
Despite all these, he was selected Best Player in the Austrian league and finished top scorer three years in a row which allowed him to finish third in 1991's European Golden Boot
European Golden Boot
The European Golden Shoe, formerly known as the European Golden Boot, is an association football award presented each season to the leading goalscorer in league matches from the top division of every European national league...
contest sponsored by the French football magazine "France Football
France Football
France Football is a French bi-weekly magazine containing football news from all over the world. It's one of the most reputable sports publications in Europe, mostly because of their photographic reports and accurate statistics of the big European Cup matches, and extensive coverage of the European...
".
After the World Cup in Italy, where the Czechoslovakian team amazingly performed very well, Vengloš was replaced by Milan Máčala
Milan Mácala
Milan Máčala is a Czech football coach who coached various clubs in the Czech Republic and worldwide.He has previously coached in the area with the national teams of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, winning the Gulf Cup of Nations with the latter in 1996 and 1998...
who gave Vaclav full confidence, making him the team's new standard bearer and first pick-up choice for the offensive.
Maybe his best achievement with the Czechoslovakian
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
national team took place during the UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying match against Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
in 1991. A few days prior to this crucial match Danek's baby son was badly injured in an accident and had to be hospitalized what made Václav to declare himself forfait for this match.
The following days, all other three Czech strikers were injured during trainings or in their league matches, what left Macala completely forward-less. The coach decided to call Daněk just hours before the match, and he received a "YES" as an answer.
Without any previous training and/or tactical coaching advises, Vaclav played the game. With Spain leading 2-1, he scored twice in the second half against Andoni Zubizarreta
Andoni Zubizarreta
Andoni Zubizarreta Urreta is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.The all-time most capped player for the Spanish national team for several years, he played with individual and team success for Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona , appearing in more than 950...
and was the Man of the Match
Man of the match
In sport, a Man of the Match or Player of the Game or Man of the Series award is given to the outstanding player, almost always the one who makes the most impact, in a particular match or series. The term was originally used more often in cricket before being adopted by other sports. This can be a...
of an amazing comeback and victory of his nation.
When asked why he did finally play the game, although his son being at the hospital he declared "My country and my coach needed me and here I am".