Signed from: Slavia Prague (£3,500,000), July 1996
Debut: 2-2 draw vs Everton, August 21st 1996
League Record: 18 games (+14 as sub), 5 goals
Sold to: Benfica (£2,460,000), July 1998
I’m sure hardly any United fans had a clue who this guy was prior to the 1996 European Championships. There, the Czech scored a goal that got replayed countless times as his nation made it to the final, beaten in extra time by the Germans. It was enough to convince Fergie to stump up the cash on what surely must have been a transfer that was "taking a punt" rather than well-planned out.
In hindsight, he was a puzzling addition. As a right-winger, he was in competition with David Beckham, who had had a solid first full season the year before. Then, on the first day of 1996/97, young Dave scored from the halfway line at Wimbledon, a moment which helped propel him to superstardom.
Karel, meanwhile, was less prone to such spectacular moments, though if nothing else he was faster than Beckham. Despite a well-taken goal in our 4-0 spanking of Leeds, he never really established a regular spot. His ridiculous hair style perhaps didn't help endear him to the crowd too – a factor to which Maurone Fellani can relate to.
In his second season, his chances of a game dropped and he was let go to Benfica, to non-existent mourning from most supporters. He clearly wasn't that bad, as he subsequently went on to enjoy a lengthy career in Italy, Portugal and back in his homeland. 118 caps for the Czech Republic isn't too shabby either!
Interesting- do you think if he'd been able to match Beckham in other areas - crossing, dead balls etc- he would have been allowed to displace him on the field with all the corporate dosh riding on DB ?
ReplyDeleteAt the start of 1996/97 season, the whole Beckham "brand" was yet to take off. He wasn't (quite) with his wife and not even in the England team. If - big if - Pob had been a total star, history might have been different.
ReplyDeleteWorth noting a year before, Fergie wanted to bring Keith Gillespie back - Beckham only got his place because Keegan turned down the deal. His future looked bright alongside Neville, Butt and Scholes, but it was that Wimbledon goal that began his rise to what he became.