80 years ago, Slavia won the Mitropa Cup
11.9.2018, Redakce
On 11 September 1938 Slavia won the most valuable trophy of its entire history. The Mitropa Cup, Central-European forerunner of today’s Champions League.
Slavia managed to defeat favourites of the game Ferencváros FC 2-0 in Budapest (after a 2-2 draw in Prague a week earlier). Vytlačil and Šimůnek scored for the red-whites. The game was attended by 36.000 fans.The red-whites were determined to win the competition for the very beginning. Slavia were nicknamed “the crown princess” of the competition as they took part every year (12 seasons) but never won (making it into the semi-final and final several times). They hired 3 athletic and fitness coaches on the beginning of the season, goalkeeper František Plánička – injured during the 1938 World Cup – worked as goalkeeper coach.
The red-whites started the second game in Budapest better and Vytlačil could score their first just 2 minutes into the game, after 27 minutes Šimůnek did not convert another Slavia chance. On the other side goalkeeper Bokšay – Plánička’s successor – denied megastars of that time Sárosi and Toldi in their big chances. On 57th minute Bican passed ball to Vytlačil who opened the score, Šimůnek added second from a counter-attack with his header following Vytlačil’s cross. Slavia captain Ferdinand Daučík could thus finally collect the silver trophy.
Slavia line-up: Bokšay – Černý, Daučík – Průcha, Nožíř, Kopecký – Vacek, Šimůnek, Bican, V. Bradáč, Vytlačil
Coach: Jan Reichardt
