Milan Baroš ended his playing career today. Before the match with Pilsen, Baník’s leadership said goodbye to him in a ten-minute ceremony, which moved the 38-year-old captain to tears, and at the end, the owner of the Ostrava club Václav Brabec removed Baroš’s number 27 from the Baník number line forever.
For his icon, Baník composed a three-minute band from video messages from his former teammates. Pavel Nedvěd, Tomáš Rosický, Jan Koller, Petr Čech and former Liverpool partners Vladimír Šmicer, Jamie Carragher, Harry Kewell, Djibril Cissé and many others sent their greetings. Baros couldn’t help but shed tears.
“It was really very emotional for me. I knew something was coming up, but I didn’t expect it. I know the boys very well, I had a good years with them. I was very pleased that they wished me so well at the end of my career. Huge thanks to those who mainly prepared the video, and of course to all the fans, “ said Baroš after the match.
He was said to be more nervous on Saturday. “It was worse yesterday when everyone wrote to me and congratulated me on my career. It was worse than today. I wanted to enjoy it and I think it worked. I had emotions in that video.” he claimed.
However, his farewell was missing a full house, because due to coronavirus restrictions, only a limited number of spectators could come to the stadium. There were about four thousand of them, although under normal circumstances it would probably be sold out. “Too bad it couldn’t be full,” you complained.
Thirty-eight-year-old Baroš went into the game for the last twenty minutes. Also because he did not train until Friday due to health problems, which are also the reason for his end.
“I couldn’t stand it anyway. Even so, that was enough for me. I’m in training, but it’s not possible to train fully. I’m glad I at least got on the field,” said the Ostrava veteran, who could decide the match in style at the last minute in style.
That’s when he got an ideal center on his head from Fill, but missed his head from a small lime. “It lacked a cloud in the sun. It was the only one, because the sun came into my eyes and I lost sight of the balloon. I rather just stuck my head in there and unfortunately I didn’t hit it.” said the 2005 Champions League winner.
His last match was watched from the stands by the whole family, including his father, who brought Baroš to football and in the beginning drove him to training every day from Vigantice, sixty kilometers away. After them, the Ostrava footballer headed for Wallachia after the match.
“My retirement is starting, so I’ll probably go buy a chagan,” he smiled. “But no, I’m going to see my family now and I’m not planning anything special. I’ll go to a normal non-football life and see how long it takes me to miss football and return to it in some role.” said Baroš, who has an offer from Baník for further cooperation.
