This Day in History: 2023-04-27

Nr. 446

CZECH STAR MOVES ON (1968)

Handshakes signalled the winding down of the glittering playing career of one of Czechoslovakia’s greatest players. Josef Masopust was leaving the country where he had been the midfield general at club and international level for almost two decades. After handshakes all round, Masopust, who fans said «slalomed» through defences, settled in Belgium as the player-coach of Molenbeek. He quickly established his coaching credentials by taking the team into the Belgian First Division. Masopust had previously spent his club career with Dukla Prague and played 63 times for his country, including the 1962 World Cup final defeat to Brazil.

Josef Masopust of Czechoslovakia. In the same year that he reached the World Cup final, he was named European Footballer of the Year.