Josef Masopust facts for kids
Masopust with the Ballon d'Or in 1962
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 9 February 1931 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Střimice, Czechoslovakia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 29 June 2015 (aged 84) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Prague, Czech Republic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.77m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1945–1950 | ZSJ Uhlomost Most | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1950–1952 | ZSJ Technomat Teplice | 54 | (10) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1952–1968 | Dukla Prague | 386 | (79) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1968–1970 | Crossing Molenbeek | 43 | (9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 483 | (98) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1954–1966 | Czechoslovakia | 63 | (10) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams managed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1973–1976 | Dukla Prague | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976–1980 | Zbrojovka Brno | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980–1984 | Hasselt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984–1987 | Czechoslovakia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–1991 | Indonesia U19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992 | Zbrojovka Brno | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1996 | FK Pelikán Děčín | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Josef Masopust (born February 9, 1931 – died June 29, 2015) was a famous Czech football player and coach. He played as a midfielder, which is a player who helps both in defense and attack. Josef was a very important player for the Czechoslovakian national team. He helped them reach the final of the 1962 FIFA World Cup.
Josef Masopust played 63 games for his country and scored 10 goals. In 1962, he was named the European Footballer of the Year. This award goes to the best football player in Europe. In 2003, UEFA (the European football organization) chose him as his country's "Golden Player." This meant he was the best player from his country in the last 50 years. The legendary player Pelé also named him one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in 2004. Many people think he was one of the best midfielders ever.
Contents
Playing for Clubs: Josef's Football Journey
Josef Masopust started his football career at a small club called ZSJ Uhlomost Most. When he was 19, he joined ZSJ Technomat Teplice. This is where he played his first top-level game.
In 1952, Josef joined a special army football club called ATK Praha. This club later changed its name to Dukla Prague. With Dukla, Josef had amazing success. He helped them win the league championship eight times! They also won the national cup three times. Dukla Prague even reached the semi-finals of a big European competition, the 1966–67 European Cup. They lost to the team that won the cup, Celtic.
After playing for Dukla for many years, Josef moved to Belgium in 1968. He joined a team called Crossing Molenbeek. He was a player and a coach there. He helped them get promoted to the top league in Belgium.
Josef Masopust as a Coach
After his playing career, Josef Masopust became a coach. He coached Dukla Prague, his old team. He also coached Zbrojovka Brno and helped them win a league title in the 1977–78 season.
From 1984 to 1987, he was the coach of the Czechoslovakian national team. He led them in 27 matches. Later, he coached the Indonesian national Olympic football team from 1988 to 1991.
Josef's International Football Career
Josef Masopust played his first international game for Czechoslovakia in October 1954. It was a friendly match against Hungary. He helped his country qualify for the 1958 FIFA World Cup. However, they were knocked out after a play-off game.
In 1960, Czechoslovakia won the 1955-60 Central European International Cup. They also finished third in the 1960 UEFA European Football Championship. They lost to the Soviet Union in the semi-final but beat France for third place.
The 1962 FIFA World Cup Final
In 1962, Josef Masopust led the Czechoslovakian team to the 1962 FIFA World Cup Final. They played against Brazil, a very strong team. Josef scored the first goal in the final game! But Brazil came back and won 3–1.
Even though they lost, Josef's performance in the World Cup was amazing. Because of this, he was named the European Footballer of the Year in 1962.
Josef also played for special teams made up of players from all over the world. In 1963, he played for the "Rest of the World team" against England. In 1965, he played for a "European International XI" in a farewell match for the famous player Stanley Matthews. Josef's last international game was in May 1966 against the Soviet Union.
How Josef Masopust Played Football
When Josef Masopust started playing, he was a "left half." This meant he played on the left side of the midfield. By the time of the 1962 World Cup, he played as a "centre half," which is a central midfield position.
Josef was known for being a very hard-working player. He was great at controlling the ball. He used his skills to win the ball back from opponents and to dribble past them. He was also an excellent passer. He might not have been the best at tackling, but he was very smart. He could guess what his opponents would do and stop their passes.
Even though his team often played a "no-risk" style, Josef still managed to score 10 goals for his country. For his club, Dukla Prague, he scored 79 goals in 386 games. Many of his teammates at Dukla also played for the national team. This helped them understand each other very well on the field.
Josef Masopust's Legacy
Josef Masopust is remembered as a true football legend. A statue of him was built outside Dukla's Stadion Juliska in June 2011. This shows how important he was to the club and to Czech football.
Death of a Legend
Josef Masopust passed away on June 29, 2015, at his home in Prague. He was 84 years old. While the exact reason for his death wasn't shared, Czech Television said he had been sick for a long time.
Honours and Awards
Josef Masopust won many awards and titles during his career.
Dukla Prague
- Czechoslovak First League: 1953, 1956, 1957–58, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1965–66 (8 times)
- Czechoslovak Cup: 1960–61, 1964–65, 1965–66 (3 times)
- International Soccer League: 1961
- American Challenge Cup: 1962, 1963, 1964
Czechoslovakia National Team
- Central European International Cup: 1955-60 (Winner)
- UEFA European Championship Bronze: 1960 (Third Place)
- FIFA World Cup Runner-up: 1962 (Second Place)
Individual Awards
- Ballon d'Or: 1962 (Best European Player)
- UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1960
- FIFA World Cup Silver Ball: 1962 (Second Best Player at the World Cup)
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1962
- World Soccer World XI: 1962, 1964
- Czechoslovak Footballer of the Year: 1966
- UEFA Czech Golden Player: 2003
- FIFA 100 (One of the 125 greatest living footballers chosen by Pelé)
- UEFA President's Award: 2014
Images for kids
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Masopust with the Ballon d'Or in 1962
