Bernard Vukas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bernard Vukas

Personal information
Full name	Bernard Vukas
Date of birth	(1927-05-01)1 May 1927
Place of birth	Zagreb, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
Date of death	4 April 1983(1983-04-04) (aged 55)
Place of death	Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Left winger/Forward
Youth career
1938–1945	Concordia Zagreb
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1945–1946	Amater Zagreb
1946–1947	NK Zagreb
1947–1957	Hajduk Split	202	(89)
1957–1959	Bologna	45	(2)
1959–1963	Hajduk Split	65	(5)
1962–1963	Austria Klagenfurt	21	(1)
1963–1965	Grazer AK	23	(1)
1965–1967	Kapfenberger SV	32	(3)
Total		388	(101)
National team
1948–1957	Yugoslavia	59	(22)
Honours Men's Football Representing  Yugoslavia Olympic Games Silver 1948 London Team Silver 1952 Helsinki Team
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Bernard Vukas (born May 1, 1927 – died April 4, 1983) was a famous Croatian footballer who played for Yugoslavia. He was known for his amazing dribbling skills. Many people consider him one of the best players ever. In 2000, the Croatian Football Federation named him the best Croatian player of all time. He was also voted the best Croatian athlete of the 20th century in a big poll.

Playing for Clubs

Bernard Vukas started his football journey in the youth teams of Concordia Zagreb. After World War II, he played briefly for NK Amater Zagreb. In 1947, he joined Hajduk Split, where he became a legend.

Hajduk Split Success

Vukas played for Hajduk Split until 1957. During this time, he played 202 games and scored 89 goals. He helped Hajduk win the Yugoslav First League title three times: in 1950, 1952, and 1955. The 1950 championship was special because Hajduk won it without losing a single game. This amazing record has never been broken! In the 1954–55 season, Vukas was the top scorer in the league with 20 goals.

Time in Italy and Return

In 1957, Vukas moved to Bologna in Italy. He played there for two years. His time in Italy was affected by some health issues. He then returned to Hajduk Split in 1959. He played for Hajduk again until 1963, adding 65 games and 5 goals to his record.

Later Career

Vukas spent his final years as a professional player in Austria. He played for clubs like Austria Klagenfurt, Grazer AK, and Kapfenberger SV. Overall, counting friendly matches, Vukas played a huge total of 615 games for Hajduk Split. He scored an incredible 300 goals for the club.

Playing for the World's Best

Bernard Vukas was so good that he was invited to play in special international matches. On October 23, 1953, he played for a "Rest of the World" team against England. This match was held at Wembley to celebrate 90 years of the English Football Association. The game ended in a 4–4 draw. Vukas was a star, setting up two goals and earning a penalty kick.

Two years later, on August 13, 1955, Vukas was invited to play for the UEFA Team. This team represented the best players from Europe. They played against a "Great Britain" team in Belfast. Vukas scored three goals in that game, helping his team win 4–1.

Bernard Vukas sadly passed away from a heart attack on April 4, 1983, when he was 55 years old. To honor him, there are streets named after him in Split and Zagreb.

Playing for His Country

Bernard Vukas also had a great career playing for the Yugoslavia national team. He made his first appearance in June 1948 in a match against Albania.

International Achievements

He played a total of 59 games for Yugoslavia and scored 22 goals. Vukas was part of the Yugoslavian team in two FIFA World Cups, in 1950 and 1954. He also helped Yugoslavia win two silver medals at the Olympic Games. These were in 1948 and 1952. His last international game was in May 1957 against Czechoslovakia.

Images for kids

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  Statue of Vukas in front of Poljud stadium, Split