Ľubomír Moravčík
Moravcik (right) at the John Kennedy testmonial match in 2011
Personal information
Date of birth (1965-06-22) 22 June 1965
Place of birth Nitra, Czechoslovakia
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Slovakia (vice-president)
Youth career
Nitra
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1990 Nitra 119 (30)
1990–1996 Saint-Etienne 197 (31)
1996–1998 Bastia 33 (8)
1998 MSV Duisburg 5 (0)
1998–2002 Celtic 94 (29)
2002 JEF United Ichihara 2 (0)
2003–2004 Nitra
Total 432 (98)
International career
1987–1993 Czechoslovakia 42 (7)
1994–2000 Slovakia 38 (6)
Managerial career
2004–2005 Ružomberok
2005–2008 Slovakia U16
2008 Zlaté Moravce
2016–2017 ŠKF Sereď (assistant)
2017 Zvolen (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ľubomír "Lubo" Moravčík (born 22 June 1965) is a Slovakian football manager and former player. A creative midfielder renowned for his technical ability, he was capable of unleashing powerful, accurate shots, and pinpoint crosses with both feet.[1] He played for teams in Czechoslovakia and Slovakia, France, Germany, Japan, and Scotland. During his time at Scottish club Celtic, he made nearly 130 appearances, scoring 35 goals and winning two Scottish Premier League titles.

Moravčík also played internationally for Czechoslovakia (42 caps, seven goals) and Slovakia (38 caps, six goals). He was a member of the Czechoslovak team at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Moravčík began his career at Czechoslovak First League club Plastika Nitra, making his senior debut in 1983. He spoke about his early career in an interview with the Slovakian podcast, Podcast Výkrok: "I grew up in a very successful generation of Nitra, with whom we became champions of Slovakia in pupils, as younger teenagers we finished third and again became masters as older teenagers. But during my time in Shala, I never dreamed of the first league. However, when Nitra was on the verge of falling out, the club's management decided to give the young players a chance. And that meant my entry into the Premier League scene."[2]

Moravčík went on to make over 170 appearances for the club before departing in 1990 to join French Ligue 1 club Saint-Étienne, where he played over 230 matches.[3] He later moved to Bastia and then MSV Duisburg in Germany.[4]

On 27 October 1998, Moravčík signed for Scottish Premier League side Celtic for a fee of £330,000.[5] The move linked him up with fellow Slovak Jozef Vengloš, who was Celtic manager at the time.[6] Initially sceptical of the impact a player aged then 33 could have,[7] Moravčík became a hero in the eyes of the Parkhead faithful, forming an outstanding partnership with Henrik Larsson.[8] He made his Celtic debut against Old Firm rivals Rangers on 21 November 1998 and scored first two goals for the Hoops in what turned out to be a memorable 5–1 victory.[9]

He stayed at Celtic Park for a total of four seasons, winning two Scottish championships, one Scottish Cup and two Scottish League Cups. Former teammates Larsson, Chris Sutton and Stiliyan Petrov have all named him in their One to Eleven highlighting his two-footedness, his ability with both feet.[10][11][12] In 2015, Moravčík said of his time in Glasgow: "My favourite time, my most special time, was at Celtic. They said I was a 'gift from God' but it was the opposite – Celtic was a gift from God to me…Celtic is unique."[13]

Moravčík played what turned out to be his last game for Celtic on 21 April 2002, a 1–1 draw with Rangers in which he assisted Alan Thompson's equaliser and was substituted for Steve Guppy in the 72nd minute.[14] On 4 May, the day before the 2002 Scottish Cup Final against Rangers, he announced that he would leave the club after the final and join JEF United Ichihara in the J-League, a move that would link him up with Jozef Venglos, who first brought him to Parkhead in 1998.[15] He told the Daily Record: "I don't want to play in the last league game at Aberdeen [the following week] so I will be leaving Celtic and Scotland after the Cup final. Because I am going to Japan I will have to start pre-season training at the beginning of June and, before that, I need a holiday."[16] Moravčík spent the entire final on the bench as Celtic lost the match 3–2.[17]

International career

Moravčík is one of his country's most capped players, with a total of 80 appearances for Czechoslovakia and Slovakia between 1987 and 2000.[18] He played for Czechoslovakia at the 1990 FIFA World Cup finals in Italy,[19] where he was sent off against Germany in the quarter-final in Milan. Germany won the game 1–0.[20]

Post-playing career

Moravčík started a career in coaching as a manager of Slovak national U-17 team. He was later coaching FC ViOn Zlaté Moravce, the team from highest Slovak league – Corgoň Liga. He is now the vice-president of the Slovak Football Association and assistant of ŠKF Sereď.[21]

Moravčík also has an engineering degree from the Slovak University of Agriculture, which he gained whilst playing for Nitra. "I think getting a college degree in addition to professional sports is more complicated nowadays than when I studied," he said. "The communist regime was proud that the athletes growing up in its establishment had a university degree and were very accommodating. Athletes had individual study plans, various concessions, teachers sometimes turned a blind eye, and were proud to educate a representative of Czechoslovakia. Honestly, I was not an exceptional student, but I tried to come to school honestly and learn. Professors also appreciated my efforts and did not hinder me. Today, graduating from university is extremely challenging for a top athlete with multi-phase daily training, rehabilitation, training and matches. The athlete must define his priorities. I was lucky that, in addition to sports, they also provided us with education. Today is a different time, but I consider the completion of the graduation to be a necessary minimum, this can certainly be managed in addition to sports."[2]

Style of play

A free kick specialist, Moravčík was reminiscent of the old-fashioned inside forward. He was also known for his ability to use both his left and right legs. "It's easy, always notice which foot the player is leading the ball," he told Podcast Vykroč in November 2021. "I never led the ball with my left foot. Yes, I knew how to move it and kick it with my left hand. Through targeted long-term training, I improved my left leg so that I did not distinguish at all when kicking and passing, whether by kicking with my left or right foot. But I always led the ball right."[2]

Henrik Larsson said, "For me, [Moravčík] is one of the best players I ever played with. Still to this day I don't know if he was right-footed or left-footed."[22]

Moravčík's two-footedness has also been praised by Pavel Nedvěd.[23]

Personal life

He acquired French nationality by naturalization on 5 November 1996.[24]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Plastika Nitra 1983–84 First League 9090
1984–85 244244
1985–86 294294
1986–87 First League 277277
1987–88 243243
1988–89 306306
1989–90 29142914
Total 1723817238
Saint-Étienne 1990–91 French Division 1 377377
1991–92 324324
1992–93 345345
1993–94 334334
1994–95 274274
1995–96 347347
Total 1973119731
Bastia 1996–97 Division 1 216216
1997–98 122122
Total 338338
MSV Duisburg 1998–99 Bundesliga 5050
Celtic 1998–99 Premier League 146300000176
1999–00 308104140399
2000–01 2795131534014
2001–02 236103060336
Total 942910110215312935
JEF United Ichihara 2002 J1 League 200010-30
Career total 45098101112153486104

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[25]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Czechoslovakia 198710
198830
198981
1990121
199162
199261
199361
Total426
Slovakia 199462
199580
199651
199730
1998103
199900
200060
Total386

Honours

Bastia

Celtic

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Waddell, Gordon (7 January 2018). "Lewis Morgan hoping Celtic fans are reminded of two-footed hero Lubo Moravcik". Daily Record. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Jelenik, Jaroslav; Kolek, Michal (17 November 2021). "Moravčík: Nikto ma nechcel. A potom za mňa Španieli núkali milión dolárov" [Moravčík: Nobody wanted me. And then the Spaniards demanded a million dollars for me]. sportnet.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "Saint-Etienne-Lyon: The derby seen by Lubomir Moravcik, the former glory of ASSE". News in 24 Sports English. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  4. ↑ Arnhold, Matthias (22 April 2020). "Ľubomír Moravčík - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga". RSSSF.com. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  5. ↑ Celtic Football Club [@CelticFC] (27 October 2020). "#OnThisDay in 1998, we signed Lubomir Moravcik!" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 December 2021 – via Twitter.
  6. ↑ Corr, Matt (28 January 2021). "Fondly Remembering Jozef Venglos – "Dr Jo. We knew who you were"". The Celtic Star. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  7. ↑ Record Sport Online (7 November 2018). "Hugh Keevins on THAT Lubo Moravick verdict". Daily Record. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  8. ↑ Moore, Paul (11 August 2020). "Henrik Larsson Has Some Lovely Things To Say About Celtic Cult-Hero Lubo Moravcik". Balls.ie. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  9. ↑ Sutherland, Jonathan (17 April 2020). "Moravcik's remarkable Old Firm debut". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  10. ↑ "🍀🍀 Henrik Larsson Best 11 🍀🍀". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  11. ↑ "One2Eleven - Chris Sutton". SKY Sports. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  12. ↑ "One2Eleven - Stiliyan Petrov". SKY Sports. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  13. ↑ Stewart, Catriona (25 March 2019). "Lubo Moravcik: 'Celtic was a gift from God to me'". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  14. ↑ "Celtic vs. Rangers - Football Match Summary - April 21, 2002". ESPN.com. 21 April 2002. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  15. ↑ "Moravcik to leave Celtic after final". The Irish Times. 4 May 2002. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  16. ↑ "Moravcik in final salute". BBC Sport. 4 May 2002. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  17. ↑ "Moravcik goes to Dr Jo". BBC Sport. 7 May 2002. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  18. ↑ Mamrud, Roberto (22 April 2020). "Lubomir Moravcik - International Appearances". RSSSF.com. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  19. ↑ Ľubomír Moravčík – FIFA competition record (archived)
  20. ↑ "Germany - Czechoslovakia live - 1 July 1990". Eurosport. 1 July 1990. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  21. ↑ s.r.o, SPORT SK, s r o & Ringier Axel Springer Media (August 2016). "Ľubomír Moravčík sa vracia k futbalu, opäť bude trénovať". Šport.sk.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ↑ "Celtic FC - Henrik Larsson speaks about Lubo Moravcik". 28 March 2017. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  23. ↑ FC, Celtic (11 May 2020). "They Played At Paradise... Pavel Nedved". Official Celtic Football Club Website | celticfc.com. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  24. ↑ "JORF n° 0260 du 7 novembre 1996 - Légifrance". www.legifrance.gouv.fr. p. 16312. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  25. ↑ Ľubomír Moravčík at National-Football-Teams.com
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