2023-12-01 00:11:54
From the Green-Whites in Prague to the Green-Whites in Vienna
Nowadays, a footballer of his stature would have ended up at one of the world clubs in the continent’s top leagues at the latest after this exclamation mark, but back then, players from the CSSR were only allowed to move abroad at the age of 32 (and had to have played at least 45 international matches).
In January 1981 we moved to the “West” and the destination was Vienna, more precisely Hütteldorf! The vice president at the time, Fritz Grassi, who died a few months ago, was the driving force behind the commitment, as can be read in the book “100 Years – 100 Stars,” which was well worth reading and was written by Peter Linden and Peter Klöbl in the anniversary year of 1999. And “Tonda”, as he was called back then, also made green and white history. In the 1982 championship title game – the 5-0 win against Wacker Innsbruck – he scored a dream goal that decades later was named the most beautiful goal in Bundesliga history. A year later he also became champion with Grün-Weiß and cup winner in the last three of his five seasons for Rapid. He was part of the team that reached the European Cup final in 1985, but had to miss the final against Everton in Rotterdam due to an injury.
In 1999, the likeable Czech, who scored 17 goals in 59 international matches for the CSSR, was elected to the Rapid team of the century. He was president of his parent club Bohemians Prague (also with green and white colors) for years after his playing career. Speaking of the president: Austria’s Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen received a gift from his Czech counterpart Petr Pavel during his “inaugural visit” to Vienna in the summer that has a lot to do with Antonin Panenka – this can now be admired in the Rapideum (more here).
Antonín Panenka will be our guest of honor at the Allianz Stadium at the last home game of the year (December 9th from 2:30 p.m. against RB Salzburg). We are all really looking forward to seeing one of the biggest stars to ever wear the green and white jersey has worn. On his last visit, Antonín Panenka, who scored an impressive 77 goals in 172 competitive games for Rapid between 1981 and 1985, was lucky! In the then brand new Puma jersey with the number 8, he was happy about a 2-1 home win for his green and white team against Sparta Prague from the capital of his Czech homeland!
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag – Happy Birthday, Sir Antonin!
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