Antonín Panenka. A name every footballer knows – whether they play in Prague, Manchester, or Barcelona. He’s not only a legendary Czechoslovak midfielder, but the creator of an unforgettable moment: the chipped penalty in the final of the 1976 European Championship. That single kick changed history and forever linked Panenka’s name with world football.
The Football Mozart From Vršovice
Antonín Panenka was born in 1948 in Prague. As a child, he started kicking a ball at Bohemians Prague, where he gradually developed into a midfielder with excellent technique and outstanding vision. He defended the green-and-white colours of the Kangaroos – the club symbol of Bohemians – for over 15 years and became their icon. Besides Bohemians, he also played for Austria’s Rapid Vienna, with whom he won two league titles, and for VSE St. Pölten.He played 59 matches for the national team and scored 17 goals. The highlight was undoubtedly the 1976 championship in Yugoslavia. It was there, in the shootout against West Germany, that he scored the decisive penalty in a way the world had never seen before – with a gentle lob down the centre of the goal. This moment entered history, and the “Panenka-style” penalty has since been repeated on football pitches around the world.
A Star With Poise And Charm
Panenka was not a player who dazzled with speed or strength. His weapon was composure in decisive moments and perfect ball control. Even after ending his playing career, he remained in football as a coach, official, and above all as the president of the Bohemians 1905 club.His contribution to Czechoslovak and world football was recognised in 2021, when he was inducted into the UEFA Hall of Fame. Even at an older age, he remains full of energy, active and always brimming with humour – often joking with journalists and fans about his famous penalty.
In The Footsteps Of Antonín Panenka
o follow Panenka’s story, head to Vršovice in Prague, where you’ll find the Ďolíček stadium – home of Bohemians Praha 1905. That is where Panenka spent most of his career.Panenka lives in a small village near Benešov in Central Bohemia, where he enjoys peace and nature. Locals often see him out walking or having a beer at the village pub. If you go there, you can also visit nearby Konopiště Chateau, associated with Archduke Franz Ferdinand d’Este, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, whose assassination triggered the First World War.
