Václav Daněk

(Redirected from Vaclav Danek)

Václav Daněk (born 22 December 1960)[1] is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a forward. He played 22 matches for Czechoslovakia and scored nine goals. At club level in total, Daněk scored 197 league goals in 402 games.[2]

Václav Daněk
Personal information
Date of birth (1960-12-22) 22 December 1960 (age 63)
Place of birth Ostrava, Czechoslovakia
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Baník Ostrava
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1979–1983 Baník Ostrava 104 (34)
1983–1985 Dukla Prague 41 (12)
1985–1989 Baník Ostrava 96 (65)
1989–1991 FC Swarovski Tirol 56 (44)
1991–1992 Le Havre AC 17 (3)
1992–1995 FC Tirol Innsbruck 88 (39)
International career
1982–1991 Czechoslovakia 22 (9)
Managerial career
2003 FK Drnovice
2004 FC Vítkovice
2004–2005 Dukla Banská Bystrica
2005–2006 FC Vítkovice
2007–2008 Fotbal Fulnek
2010 FC Hlučín
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Daněk scored the first goal on his debut for Baník Ostrava in a 6–0 victory against Orduspor at the 1979–80 UEFA Cup. This witnessed the golden era in the club's history, contributing to two Czechoslovak First League championships.[3]

International career

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After the 1990 FIFA World Cup, where the Czechoslovak team performed perfectly, Vengloš was replaced by Milan Máčala who gave Daněk his full confidence, making him the team's new standard bearer and first pick-up choice for the attack.

His best achievement with Czechoslovakia took place during the UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying against Spain in 1991. A few days prior to this crucial match, Daněk's infant son was badly injured in an accident and had to be hospitalized, which made Daněk declare himself unavailable for the match. Without any previous training or tactical coaching advice, Daněk played the game. With Spain leading 2–1, he scored twice in the second half against Andoni Zubizarreta and was named Man of the Match of an amazing comeback and victory of his nation.

The following days, all other three Czech strikers were injured during training or in their league matches, which left Máčala completely without forward. He decided to call Daněk up just hours before the match, to which the latter agreed.

Style of play

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His strong temper contributed towards him not being picked for the Czechoslovakia squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 1990 FIFA World Cup, when he was at the peak of his career in Austria, playing for FC Tirol Innsbruck. Despite this, Daněk was selected Best Player in the Austrian league and finished top scorer three consecutive seasons which allowed him to finish third in the 1991 European Golden Boot contest sponsored by the magazine France Football.

Personal life

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Daněk's has two children,[4] including Jan, who played football in the Czech First League in the 2000s.[5] After retiring from professional football, Daněk began construction of an indoor swimming pool in Brušperk in 2015.[6] He lives in Brušperek and occasionally appears on TV as co-host.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Pavlis, Zdeněk (5 July 2024). "Bronzovou kopačku nedostal, o ryzím zlatu nevěděl. Kanonýr Daněk nejen o Innsbrucku, Happelovi a Venglošovi". Sport.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic | Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  3. ^ Seidl, Jiří (12 August 2022). "Můj život s Baníkem II: Poháry jsou věc prestiže. Kanonýr líčí zážitky z Evropy". Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech). Mafra. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  4. ^ Hrabě, Stanislav (15 August 2022). "Co hledal, našel. Střelecká legenda Baníku Ostrava sehnala povolání snů". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech). Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Síň slávy Dukla Praha 1948–2009: Václav Daněk". Dukla Prague (in Czech). Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  6. ^ Nohavica, Jakub (1 October 2020). "Fotbal? Spokojenost našel Daněk u bazénu. Jsem pánem svého času, těší legendu". Deník (in Czech). Vltava Labe Media. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  7. ^ Nohavica, Jakub (22 December 2020). "Fotbalová legenda Baníku má kulatiny. Václav Daněk oslavil 60. narozeniny". Deník (in Czech). Vltava Labe Media. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
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