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Jan Košek (football)

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Jan Košek ( Czech: Jan Košek ; 18 July 1884 , Turnov - 30 December 1927 ) was a Czech footballer who played as a striker . One of the strongest footballers in Europe in the early twentieth century [2] . The most famous Czech football player before the First World War [3] . During the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the club "Slavia" (Prague) was included in the symbolic team of all times [4] .

ФJan Koszek Jan Koszek Personal data Birth July 18, 1884

Turnov , Austria-Hungary Death December 30, 1927 (age 43) Position attacker Professional clubs * Years Club Games (goals) 1903–1904 Bohemia Slavia (Prague)  ? (?) 1904–1905 Bohemia Sparta (Prague)  ? (?) 1905–1914 Bohemia Slavia (Prague) 229 [1] (666) National team Years The national team Games (goals) 1906–1908 Bohemia Bohemia 3 (4)

  • Games and goals for professional clubs are

taken into account only in the national championship.

He is best known for his performances as a member of the Slavia club (Prague) and the Bohemia national team . He scored over 855 goals in his career, with an average of just under three goals per game.


The first steps Edit He was born in Turnov and came to Prague to study. The first known match with his participation took place in 1899: in the game of CHAFK - Letensky Circle (4: 5) Koshek played as a winner and scored three goals [5] . In the first years of his stay in the capital, he played in the teams of the Academic Gymnasium, the Leten circle "Victoria" and the club "Union Letna" [6] .


"Slavia" in 1903. Koshek's first year at Slavia. Ian far right in the middle row In 1903 he moved from Union to Slavia , which led to the loss of friendly relations between the clubs. In addition, Koshek continued to study at the Academic Gymnasium, played as part of the gymnasium football team. In this regard, he had to hide his name from journalists, avoid photojournalists, so he was part of "Slavia" under different names: Marcel, Kotzian, Zamostny, Ondrzycek [7] . Jan's most famous partners in Slavia's team were: strikers Indřich Baumruk , Josef Benda , Myroslav Vanek , Jan Stary , Karel Setzer-Blumer, goalkeeper Heida, defenders Rudolf Krummer and Richard Veseli , midfielder Antonin Presslerand other. 19-year-old Koshek immediately became the leader of Slavia's attack and scored 64 goals in his first year. In particular, he scored a lot in international matches: he scored 4 goals each for the German teams "Victoria" Cottbus (7: 0) and FC "Bonn" (10: 1), as well as the winner of the challenge cup to the Austrian club "Vienna Cricket" (4: 1) [8] . Another Austrian club , First Vienna (8: 2), scored 6 goals from Koszek (who played in that match under the name Ondrzycek ). Jan, 5, Kocian, scored 5 goals in the game against the Hungarian champions Budapest TK , four more goals were scored by another team scorer, Josef Benda , and the overall score of the match 12: 0 became a real sensation and caused a lively discussion in the Hungarian press.[9] . In October, the then strong Danish club Boldklubben 1893 arrived in Prague. The first game brought victory to the guests - 7: 9 (one ball was scored by Koshek). The next day, "Slavia" took revenge with a score of 5: 4, including thanks to two goals by Jan [8]

Koshek started the year 1904 effectively, scoring seven goals in the goal of the Union Club (Berlin) (13: 2) and six in the game against "First Vienna" (11: 0). In April, Slavia played two matches against England's strongest amateur club of the time , Corinth . In the first game, Koshek scored three goals, thanks to which his team led 4: 3. However, in the last 20 minutes of the game, Corinthians proved their class and scored four goals, securing a 7: 4 victory.

One of the leading players of the English club Gilbert Smith commented on the game:

"Heyda played well in the goal, Baumruk on the flank constantly beat our defender, but the best of all - Cats. He would look dignified in the game against our best professionals if he thought more about interacting with partners. Slavia practices a lunge-kick game. This is the best team I've ever seen on the continent " [10] . In the same year, 1904, Koshek experienced a severe family tragedy: he lost both his parents and his sister. Supported football club "Sparta", which helped complete the study [11] . As a part of "Sparta" Cats played less than a year. Because of the conflict within the club "Slavia" left two leaders - Krummer and Baumruk , also switched to "Sparta" [9] . Having received such reinforcement, "Sparta" for a while took away from "Slavia" the unofficial title of the best team in the country [11] .


In the autumn of 1905, Koshek returned to Slavia . Earlier in the club returned from Krummer Baumrukom [12] . That same year, the team was led by Scottish coach John William Madden , who will lead Slavia until 1930. With his appearance, the training process in the club changed significantly, and the approach to the game became much more professional and modern [13] . The arrival of Madden and the return of Koshek immediately gave Slavia the somewhat lost status of the strongest football team in Bohemia and one of the strongest in Europe. In September, Jan became the protagonist of a principled friendly match between the national teams of Budapest and Prague . Koshek scored three goals, and the Prague team won away with a score of 4: 3 [14].


1906-1907. International successes of "Slavia" Edit Very good for the team was the 1906, when it gained 39 victories in 48 matches, with a total difference of scored and missed 340: 62 [9] . The greatest success was the first victory in the history of Czech football over the English professionals - the team "Southampton" with a score of 4: 0, three of which were on the account of Koshek. Although the day "Southampton" took revenge with the same score, the result of the first game became a sensation in Europe [9] . Jan also excelled in two other memorable matches of the year, when Slavia drew with Scottish champions Celtic (3: 3) and, with record audience support, competed with future English champions Newcastle (2: 3). 4) [15]. Koshek scored a lot in other international matches of the year. Here is a list of some of his productive actions in matches with the strongest rivals: 7 and 3 goals respectively in the matches of "Slavia" against the Dutch national team (8: 0 and 5: 0), 6 goals scored in Budapest by the Hungarian IOC (9: 1), 5 in Berlin to the local "Victoria" (7: 2), all 4 goals of his team in a difficult away match against another German club "Karlsruhe" (4: 3). Jan scored 3 goals for Austrian "First Vienna" (3: 0), scored in every match with the leading Hungarian clubs - "Ferencvaros" (5: 5, 2 goals), MAK (11: 1, 5 goals), BTC (7: 2, 2 goals), MTK (6: 2, 3 goals) [15] . Another important event of the year was the appearance of a young scorer in SlaviaJosef Belka . The team's line of attack was very strong and stellar: the extreme veteran strikers on the right were Indřich Baumruk and on the left Miroslav Vanek (the team leaders at the time in the number of matches played), in the central axis experienced Josef Benda , Jan Stary-Jeni and Jan Košek at that time he scored more than 200 goals in the club), as well as the younger Josef Belka and Tsybor Maly [16] .

In 1907, Slavia continued to play a large number of international matches, most of which they won, confirming their status as one of the strongest teams in continental Europe. Most matches were played against clubs from Austria and Hungary . For the first time the team played against the Italian club - "Torino" , winning two confident victories 9: 1 and 6: 2. Slavia lost only four matches a year - twice to Hungarian MTK (0: 1, 0: 2) and English to Woolwich Arsenal (5: 7, 2: 4). Also this year, "Slavia" won its biggest victory in the history of the derby over "Sparta" - 9: 1. Belka scored five goals in this match , and Koshek scored two.

1908-1909 Edit In 1908, FIFA , at the request of Austria-Hungary , the Czech soccer federation ruled from among its members, which led to a significant reduction in the number of international friendlies "Slavia" [17] . In the years 1908-1909 the teams played a total of only about forty matches (previously carried out as many games in one year), and internationally primarily met with British teams of different levels [18] . In 1909, the Football Association organized the first ever trip of the Bohemian national teamto England. Bohemia, which included 9 players of "Slavia", played four matches with amateur English teams, three of which lost and only one drew. On the way back, the team rehabilitated a bit with two victories over clubs from France (in particular, in the match with Lille , in which Koshek scored 7 goals and ended in victory with a score of 15: 4), but this did not save players from the wrath of football union members. At a special meeting, all Slavia players were expelled from the national team, and Koshek and Karel Kotouch were disqualified for a year due to a conflict with representatives of the football union that took place during the trip. After the appeal, the club's representatives still managed to cancel the disqualification, thanks to which Ian soon managed to return to the game. [9].


1910. The first victory in the Cup of Mercy Edit In the spring of 1910, Slavia played 21 matches, none of which they lost, and showed a goal difference of 120: 20 [9] . Most of these matches were played with England's amateur teams.

At the end of May, the team won the Cup of Mercy , the actual Bohemia Cup of the time. In the previous four draws, the club did not play, preferring international friendly matches. In the bowl of a double play "Slavia 2", but the deficit matches the high-level representatives of the club forced to pay attention to this trophy [17] . The debut in the Cup of Mercy was a triumph for Koshek's team: in the semifinals the team defeated "Sparta" (5: 1), and in the final another Prague club - "Laughter" (5: 2) [19] . Ian scored a goal in each of the matches.

The only defeat of the season "Slavia" suffered in October when the club lost AFA English "Ipswich" with 1: 3 (the only goal in the account Kosheka) [20] .


1911. Performance record for the season Edit 1911 was the most productive career Kosheka - the year he scored 135 heads [21] . He scored 8 times in a friendly match with Sparta Kladno (11: 0) and 7 times in a game with Olimpia Stare Misto (9: 0), scored 4 goals in the derby with Sparta , which ended in a big victory with a score of 9 : 2 [22] . One goal, but victorious, was scored by Ian in the goal of the strong Scottish "Aberdeen" . With a score of 2: 2 Koshek in the 82nd minute of the match sent the ball into the goal with a long shot from the turn from 30 meters. Later, Yang himself called this goal the best of all 666 scored in the "Slavia" [22] .

In the final Cup charity against the club "Colin" (4: 1) Koshek scored three goals and brought the team a second consecutive victory in the tournament [23] . The team also won another domestic tournament in 1911 - the Silver Cup. On the way to the final, Slavia beat Sparta (3: 1), Vrsovice (2: 1, the winning goal on Koshek 's account) and in the final , Victoria Zhizhkov (4: 2, Koshek scored two goals) [ 22] .

1912. The third success in the Cup of Mercy and failure in the championship Edit In 1912 Koshek scored 68 heads and once again became the top scorer of his team [24] . Together with the team for the third time in a row he won the Cup of Mercy . In the final, "Slavia" with a score of 4: 3 winning "Victoria" (Žižkov) [25] .

Sparta won the first draw of the Bohemian Championship . Decisive was her unexpected and confident victory over "Slavia" in June with a score of 4: 0. Two goals scored in this match former player "Slavia" Josef Belka , at the end of the year will return to the club [22] . Another goal was scored by the young Jan Vanik , who will also play for Slavia for many years to come.

1913-1914. End of career

On February 23, 1913, Jan Koszek scored his last goal at that time as a member of Slavia against Bubenech (3: 2). And on March 29, the footballer announced the end of his playing career. He was 29 years old and had 804 career goals in 296 matches.

However, in 1914, Cats returned to the game. Slavia lacked players and they asked to play their veteran. During the year, Jan played 6 matches and scored 8 goals, the last of which against the Austrian team "First Vienna" (7: 0) [26] .

According to football statisticians, Koshek has 812 goals in 302 matches. Of those in the "Slavia" - 666 goals in 229 games, averaging almost three goals per game [6] .


Jan Košek regularly played in the national team of the Czech Football Union - the national team of Bohemia , as well as in the football team of the city of Prague. In particular, it is known that in 1903 he defended the colors of the national team of Prague in a game against the national team of Budapest , which ended in defeat 1: 2 [27] . Many national team matches were played against club teams, national teams or for other reasons were not included in the official registers.

The Bohemian national team played a number of matches under the auspices of FIFA in 1906-1908. Cats took part in three of them and scored four goals. On October 7, 1906 , in Prague, Bohemia drew 4-4 with Hungary , and Jan scored a goal in the 88th minute to set the final score. Three more goals were scored by Slavia's partners: Stary had two and Baumruk had one [28] (according to other sources, Koshek had two goals [29] ). A year later, on October 6, the teams met again in a friendly game in Prague, but this time the Bohemian team won 5: 3 [30] . Jan scored three goals and Josef Belka scored two more(According to Hungarian sources, four goals were scored by Koszek and one by Belka [31] ). Koszek played for the third time in an official match for the national team on April 5, 1908 against Hungary in Budapest , which ended in defeat with a score of 2: 5 [32] .

In 1908, FIFA ruled Bohemia from among its members, because the team could not take part in the Olympic Games in 1908 , where she was to meet in the 1/4 final with the national team of France [33] . After that, the matches of the national team of Bohemia lost their official status.

In 1909, the Bohemian team with Koshek went on tour to England, where they played matches with the teams of the English Football Association (AFA 1:10), the Eastern County (Estern County 2: 2), as well as the clubs "Corinthians" (0: 5). ) and New Crusaders (1: 8). On the way home, the team also played against French clubs Lille (15: 4, seven goals for Koshek) and SA Paris (4: 2) [34] .

In 1911, Koshek became a winner of the European Amateur Championship in Roubaix, France . The composition of the team includes nine players "Slavia" and two leading players "Sparta" - Josef Belka and Vaclav Pilate [23] . Slavia coach John Madden coached the team . Just before the trip to France, Bohemia defeated the team of Brussels [35] with a score of 6: 1. For Koshek scored two goals, and Pilate rich [36] . In RoubaixBohemia defeated the French team with a score of 4: 1 (two goals scored by Pilate, one each Cat and Squirrel) and the amateur team of England with a score of 2: 1. In the decisive match, the British took the lead after 60 minutes, after which Koshek on 70 minutes to level the score, Otto rich gave the Czech team ahead, but its goalkeeper Karel Pimmer 83 minutes, blocking a penalty [36] .


Koshek was a very strong athlete and a fast player who always played on the edge of attack. He had a very strong blow from his left foot, thanks to which he scored many goals with long shots [6] . Due to the high speed, he could break away from any defender and complete the attack with a shot from any position. At first, Yang was only livonohym player, and pull right in December was due to coach John Madden , who was able to make his assailant a versatile player [38] .

There were legends about Koshek's speed. In 1905 he ran for 11 seconds stometrovku [39] . Senior athlete "Sparta" Rudolf Rudl would drag Jana in athletics when he was without any preparation defeated the strongest sprinters in the club competitions in running for 100 yards, 100 m and 200 m [11] .

Cats did not often beat and played little on the team. On the contrary, the team played on Jan, using his speed and strong shot from any distance. Koshek interacted best with striker Jan Stary , whose subtle and sharp passes he scored many goals. Also, many goals scored after Yang passes and transfers of the right wing attacker European level Yindrzhyha Baumruka [38] .

Czech journalist and historian Ferdinand Shejnost called Jan Koszek the best footballer he has ever seen. In the book he wrote:

"I traveled the world and saw the game of hundreds of players from all over the world, including English professionals. But nowhere did I see a striker who could be compared to Jan Koszek. As Caruso was as a tenor, so was Cat as a footballer. When making their passes Pilate - it was a whirlwind, but Koshek - it was lightning " [6] .

After his playing career, Jan Koshek for many years worked in senior positions at the club "Slavia" [40] .

He died December 30, 1927 at age 43 after a long illness [39] .

Son of John Kosheka playing hockey on the position of defender in the 1930s played a part of the team of Czechoslovakia [3] .



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