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Accumulated ailments do not allow him to demonstrate his ability to disrupt the opponent’s defenses in matches of the old guard. “Knee,” reveals the most serious. Nevertheless, he appears on the football pitch. Almost daily.
He takes care of the grass in the club 1.HFC (První Holický Football Club) Olomouc, which is located in Holice, a suburb of the Haná metropolis. In the summer, however, he is planning a big transfer – he returns to the scene of the crime, his big football performances, to Sigma. “The facilities are much better there,” he says, looking forward to the old workplace.
Substitute for Hugo Sánchez
Who wouldn’t want to play for the famous Real Madrid? Not even the star French forward Kylian Mbappé could resist the lure of “meringue”, despite the fact that his salary went down. Not to mention when the White Ballet showed interest in the Moravian native. He did not strengthen him, he did not go to Castilian pride. He didn’t even know about the interest.
It came quickly, surprisingly, but it also fell asleep right away. Sigma Olomouc played in the famous Santiago Bernabeu stadium in the rematch of the quarter-finals of the 1991/1992 UEFA Cup. The first match ended peacefully 1:1 (Pavel Hapal scored), everything was still open. Under the leadership of the legendary coach Karl Brückner, the Hanás were in form, they were not afraid of anyone.
In the 19th minute, Jiří Vaďura escaped on the left side and sent a breathless cross into the penalty area. The Olomouc attacker’s hairy head rose higher than goalkeeper Francisco Buy’s gloves. “But I only hit the post,” he still regrets years later that he didn’t score a goal against the best team in the world.
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In the VIP areas, however, the jump and the art of getting into the chance excited the top man of Real Madrid, the chairman Ramón Mendoza. After all, it was not unique for Kerber, in autumn he already made his mark on the continental stage against the Irish Bangor and the German giant Hamburger SV.
The idea was immediate. “Our chairman Jaromír Gajda was sitting next to Mendoza and he immediately received an offer for Milan,” recalls Jiří Kubíček, the sports director of the Hanác club at the time. “He wanted him on loan for half a year so that his naughty Mexican star Hugo Sánchez could be put under pressure to see the competition,” reveals the intention of the Spanish businessman.
Sánchez redeemed himself a little with a decisive goal in the 82nd minute, until then Real was constantly trembling for promotion, but the arrival of the Czech player was unreservedly cut off by the top representative of Sigma. “Jard Gajda emphatically said no,” says Kubíček. “I didn’t even know about it, I found that out much later,” sighs Kerbr over the wasted chance of life.
Lower German competitions
There was only one reason – the departure to the German Bayer Leverkusen for a high severance fee had already been agreed upon by the biggest personality of the Olomouc team, goal midfielder Pavel Hapal. “It was decided that we will not weaken the team any more, that no one else will go, even though there were offers,” reveals Kubíček’s policy.
German Bundesliga clubs were mainly interested in the tall striker, he caught the eye during the clashes with Hamburger SV, which Sigma eliminated in the 3rd round of the UEFA Cup. “We knew that our players would be noticed abroad only if we performed well on the European stage, so we couldn’t weaken the team,” explains Kubíček.
In the end, Kerbr also got a job abroad, at the age of thirty, he only had the German second division Fürth, then clubs from lower competitions. “When we evaluated the chance we deprived Milan of, we were ashamed…” Kubíček says.
Eagles, fly
He had a very strong emotional relationship with the native of Uherské Hradiště. He especially appreciated his direct Moravian soul. “A friendly nature and a heart in the palm of his hand,” Kubíček finds the most suitable words. Kerbr went all out in every fight, he never backed down. Stubbornness just oozed from him.
The number of fights took a significant toll on his body, he struggled with injuries and ailments throughout his career. “He was still treating something,” Kubíček recalls. But he could deal with it. “Milan had a personal therapist, maybe he was more of a sensitive person who knew how to kick him,” recalls the official from Olomouc. “He always yelled at him in the stands: Eagle, fly! And Milan went for it and scored a goal,” he admires the metaphysical connection.
Medal at mom’s
Nevertheless, Kerbr achieved great fame. Coach Dušan Uhrin Sr. nominated him to the silver team at the memorable EURO 1996 in England. “Olomouc played great football at the time, they finished second in the league behind Slavia, we also had experience from European cups,” Kerbr defends, explaining why teammates Karel Rada and Martin Kotůlek were selected together with him.
However, he watched the road to the finals only from the substitutes’ bench, he never got onto the pitch. “At least a minute,” he sighs even years later. “Who wouldn’t want to play in the European Championship, especially when they’ve been so successful?” he asks rhetorically.
However, this does not mean that he was stuck up, harboring some grievance. “Above all, I’m very happy that I was there,” he fondly remembers the English ride. He has a silver medal to commemorate her. Hiding at her mother’s house in Uherské Hradiště.
Other rare catches are jerseys from opponents. The Czech Republic encountered the heyday of Europe: Germany, Italy, France, Portugal. “I took Thomas Hassler’s jersey from the first match against the Germans in the basic group,” he says, looking at the gift from not only the 1996 European champion, but also the 1990 world champion.
He appeared in the Czech national team only twice, in the preparatory matches for EURO 1996 in April against Ireland (13 minutes) and in May against Austria (14 minutes). “The competition was great,” he almost apologizes for the fact that there were not many more entries.
Son in Slavia
The football family Kerbrů has a following, the 34-year-old son of the same name also enriched the Czech first league scene, playing for Sigma Olomouc, 1. FC Slovácko and especially Slovan Liberec in 180 matches and scoring 29 goals.
He also got to know foreign engagements, in January 2019 he transferred to the Cypriot Apollon Limassol. However, he soon got injured, had to undergo back surgery and terminated his contract. He transferred to Sigma Olomouc as a free agent.
However, health problems did not allow him to play fully, in the spring of 2021 he ended his playing career and moved to the coaching bench.
And he does well on it, gaining a reputation as an executive assistant specializing in standard situations. With this business card, he moved to Slavia Prague this winter, where he replaced Jaroslav Köstl, who headed to the national team. Coach Jindřich Trpišovský chose him purposefully. “They knew each other very well from Liberec, they are always inventing something,” Milan Kerbr, the elder, does not hide his pride in his offspring.
Milan Kerbr
Born on June 9, 1967, Uherské Hradiště
Jiskra Staré Město (1974-1976), Slovácká Slavia Uherské Hradiště (1976-1987), VTJ Tachov (1987-1989), Svit Zlín (1989-1991), Sigma Olomouc (1991-1997), SpVgg Greuther Fürth/ Germany (1997 -1999), SC Weisman/Germany (1999), SSV Reutlingen/Germany (2000-2002)
Czech national team: 1996 (2/0)
Achievements: silver from the 1996 European Championship in England
