25/09/2023, Editorial Board
Sunday was significant, the 308th derby was played, and Monday is also festive. On September 25, Josef Bican, the best gunner in the history of football, would have celebrated his 110th birthday.
In the article, we will recall Bican’s achievements, statistics, Jan Andrejkovič, Pavel Kuka and in memoriam Rudolf Vytlačil remember the wonderful person and genius footballer. And we recap the events of the 308th derby, which was dedicated to the legend.
Commemorative events took place directly at the stadium and in front of its gates.
Josef Bican played 514 matches in Slavia, scored 1131 goals. He worked as a player in the first team with breaks for thirteen years, between 1937 and 1948 and between 1953 and 1955. Ten times he was declared the King of the Scorers in Slavia, and he became the league winner five times in the staple (1940, 1941, 1942, 1943 and 1947).
The legendary forward achieved his greatest success with the club in 1938, when the red and whites won the Central European Cup. He represented Czechoslovakia sixteen times and scored eighteen goals. In the years 1953-1956 he was a coach at Slavia. He died on December 12, 2001.
“Bican was not only exceptional, he simply had no competition. Mainly because he was an amazing shooter. But he wasn’t giving any force bombs, he wasn’t. His goals were brilliantly placed dunks. He was fast, a great header, he could kick with both left and right foot, nothing was a problem for him. He was a comprehensive footballer and he was exceptional in that, he had no weakness,” he says Jan Andrejkovičone of the two living Slavia players who played with “Pepi” for the A-team.
He also recalled common experiences Rudolf PrintedJosef’s famous teammate from Rapid Vienna and Slavia, later a world-renowned coach, as follows.
“Vienna memories were warm, but Pepi and I experienced the most beautiful period of our lives only in Slavia. The winning campaign in the Central European Cup in 1938 cannot be forgotten. Our well-being, cohesion, determination. Slavia had to win the cup. I have experienced a lot with football, and I dare to say: At that time, Slavia with Pepík Bican, Vlasta Kopecký, Vojta Bradáč and Ota Nožíř could not have been stopped by anyone.
Bican in numbers
Top scorer of all time 805 goals: announced by RSSSF (in 2021) Top scorer of the 20th century: announced by IFFHS (in 1997) Weekly Gunners’ Club Goal – badge number l: 447 goals 6x Czechoslovak League top scorer 5x Protectorate League top scorer 1x Top scorer of the Austrian League National team of Czechoslovakia 1938 – 1949: (14 games/12 goals) National team of Austria 1933 – 1936: (19 games/14 goals) National team of the Protectorate 1939: (1 game/3 goals) Longest streak in the highest competition in the world (according to IFFHS): 19 goals in 1939/1940 (1st round 3 September 1939 – 19th round 19 May 1940)
Explanations:
IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics)
RSSSF ( Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation)
Note:
Cristiano Ronaldo is still an active player, at the time of announcement (2021) he had officially recognized 758 goals. Prepared by: Stanislav Hrabě, Chairman of the Commission for History and Statistics of the FACR
308. derby pro Bicana
On the occasion of the 110th anniversary of his birth, a Josef Bican tile was added to the Walk of Fame in front of the Slavia Museum. The ceremony was attended by Josef Bican’s son Ivan, Slavia was represented by CEO Martin Říha, and both made a ceremonial toast together.
After an incredible 35 years, the legendary Bican book Five Thousand Goals has been reissued! The christening of the book about the best player in the history of Slavia took place at the playing surface during the pre-match studio, he baptized the publication in the studio Pavel Kukawho had several beautiful encounters with Bican.
“It was an honor for me when he handed me the trophy for the winner of the Bican Cup, that time we won it with Slavia and I was also named the best player and scorer. Then we met before one match at Slavia, and I still remember him saying to me, in his unmistakable slow diction: ‘You’re such a great striker, almost like me. Only with the difference that every chance you throw away, I have turned.’ Back then, before the match with Slovan Bratislava, it knocked my confidence a bit, today it’s just laughable. Every contact with such a legend, not only of Slavonic, but of European level, was a surreal experience for me as a boy. Later, we met a few more times at social events, Josef Bican was already at an advanced age. We always exchanged a few words, I had respect for him, just like the other players, and I value all these meetings.”
The new edition of the Slavist magazine HALFTIME is also dedicated to Josef Bican. The September issue features three exclusive texts about the cannoneer, totaling 28 pages. Out of respect, symbolism, the release of the new HT was set for Monday, September 25. More information can be found HERE.
You will also be able to reminisce about Bicana in the premises of the Slavia Museum. Guided tours take place on Monday 25 September and Tuesday 26 September. It always starts at 5:00 p.m.
A unique collection was also presented by the fanshop, you can find it at prozulisty.cz.
On the occasion of Bican’s birth, we have prepared a set of six wallpapers for your mobile phone and computer. On the wallpapers you will also find three of Bican’s originally black and white photographs, which are now also colored. You can download the wallpapers here.
