Srnička: Czech & England Mourn Football Legend

Srniček collapsed four days before Christmas Day when he was out for a leisurely jog at home in Bohumín. He died nine days later. A whole crowd of relatives, friends and well-known faces from the football world came to his funeral – for example, Pavel Nedvěd or Srniček’s former substitute from Newcastle, Steve Harper, were not missing.

The then-Spartia goalkeeping coach coincidentally left just days after returning to the northern English region of Tyneside to present his biography Pavel is a Geordie.

The title of the book refers to a chant of Newcastle fans. It began to reverberate through the stands in the famous 1992/93 season, when the Magpies advanced to the Premier League and literally crushed their opponents on their way to the top flight.

“Tall, agile, acrobatic and often unorthodox. Srniček quickly became a favorite character among fans and players,” the authors of the medallion in the Newcastle Hall of Fame, in which the Czech goalkeeper has a special place, remember him.

The autobiography of Pavel is a Geordie is certainly not a boring read. Srniček experienced a lot in his short life and accomplished even more.

He was born as the son of a woodcutter, his mother Bernadette is from France, thanks to which he also had a French passport. He first grew up in football in Bohumín, from where he transferred to Ostrava. At Bazale, he made a double for the legendary Luďek Miklošek, then stood in the goal himself. And he shone in the first season.

“I really like to remember the moments when we were in the office and Pavel opened the door. There was a huge personality in it. He started singing and his voice could be heard as far as Ostrava Poruba,” described his former teammate Dušan Vrťo in the Baník club video.

“If he wasn’t a great goalkeeper, he would certainly have applied himself in a singing career. I experienced as many concerts with him at Bazaly, which many professional singers don’t,” agreed goalkeeper Jiří Pavlenka, who experienced Srnička as a talented fifteen-year-old goalkeeper.

Srniček experienced his best years in Newcastle, for which he played a total of 190 matches. But he also caught on in West Ham, Sheffield Wednesday or Portsmouth, he also had experience in the Italian and Portuguese leagues.

He then caught 49 matches in the national team. He has the European silver medal from England, even though Petr Kouba didn’t let him into the goal back then. After an unsuccessful play-off to participate in the 2002 World Cup, he was replaced by the young Petr Čech at the national team meetings.

“I remember Pavel very fondly. When I started in the national team, he was the first teammate who took care of me. A guy like a mountain with a big heart, with a big smile. It’s incomprehensible that he is not with us,” added his national team partner Marek Jankulovski.

After the end of his playing career, Srniček started training. In Baník, with the youth national teams, the last four years of his life then at Letná.

“In Pavlov, we lost not only a great person and friend, but also an excellent coach who did a huge amount of work for Sparta. We thank you for everything, Pavlov,” said the then CEO Adam Kotalík.