Ivo Viktor

Ivo Viktor (2012)

Ivo Viktor (born May 21, 1942 in Křelov ) is a former Czechoslovak soccer player and current soccer coach . He is a living legend in the Czech Republic. Since 1975 a youth tournament called "Pohár Ivo Viktora" has been played every year. The best goalkeeper of a football season in the Czech Republic receives the Ivo Viktor Prize ( Cena Ivo Viktora in Czech )

Player career

Ivo Viktor started in the goalkeeping position at the age of 14 at Spartak Šternberk . In 1960 he moved to Železárny Prostějov , 1961 to RH Brno and 1962 to Spartak ZJŠ Brno . From 1963 until the end of his career in 1977 he played for Dukla Prague . "Víta", as Ivo Viktor was also called, played a total of 316 first division games. In 1966 he was used for the first time in the Czechoslovak national team , 62 more games followed, 17 of them as captain .

Viktor became Czechoslovakian champion with Dukla in 1964 and 1966 , and Czechoslovak cup winner in 1965, 1966 and 1969 .

Viktor was named Czechoslovak Footballer of the Year five times in 1968, 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976. With Czechoslovakia he became European champion in 1976 , and he was also voted the best goalkeeper of the tournament. This year he came third in the European Footballer of the Year election .

In 1977 he was forced to end his active career because of problems with his back muscles .

Coaching career

After 1977 Viktor worked as a goalkeeping coach for Dukla Prague and the national team. In the 1990/91 season he took over as head coach of the Duklas team. He later worked for the Czech national team .

Today he still works with the Czech Football Association and runs summer camps for young goalkeepers. He also has his own soccer school for 10 to 14 year old goalkeepers at Meteor Prague .