He scored 55 goals in the national team, won the Czech, German and Belgian leagues and has a bronze medal from the European Championship, he experienced great battles in front of full stands, yet he will feel a little trepidation at the snowy stadium in Bedřichov on the last day of January. “I’ve been involved in football all my life, not cross-country, so there will be some nervousness,” admitted the 202-centimeter-tall striker, who is graduating from CT Jizerská 10.
“Two years ago we already agreed that I would try it. The year before last I promised to participate, but the race was not held due to the lack of snow and last year I couldn’t. It was only this year that I finally found the time and I’m very happy about it. Although I signed up as a srab only for the ten-kilometer race, because I’m really a beginner cross-country skier. But I like challenges and I like to try different sports, so now it’s time for cross-country skiing,” said Koller.
“I’ll see how I can handle it. If I feel good, next year I promise to do 50,” said Koller, who is preparing for the race in Šumava.
“As a child, I sometimes cross-country skied, during my football career. I only came back to them during covid, when I bought cross-country skis and went skiing. But I haven’t done it again for two years. Since I have a cottage in southern Bohemia, I want to try it here in Kvilda before the Jizerská 50, so that I can get a feel for it and be ready for the phenomenal holiday of cross-country skiing,” the native of Smetanova is happy Lhoty to the Jizera Mountains.
“I’ve never been there, it will be a really big premiere for me, but I’m really looking forward to the atmosphere,” explains the 52-year-old former international.
How often does he get to play football now? “I don’t really play football anymore. At my age, it hurts and it’s demanding for the whole ninety minutes. I’m only part of the team of legends Borussia Dortmund and we have two matches in March. One in Dortmund against Benfica Lisbon and then against Liverpool at Anfield Road. I’m looking forward to that, but otherwise I prefer other sports, mainly padel, which I play a lot now, then tennis, hockey, floorball, slopes, in the summer cycling… I rather like ball sports, but when some challenge, so I always go to try it,” he admits.
Now a cross-country challenge awaits him. “Mainly to finish, I don’t have excessive expectations. I want to enjoy it above all, the result doesn’t matter,” he adds.
Koller is another of the famous footballers who were lured by the legendary race held as the Peru 1970 Expedition Memorial. For example, David Lafata, the top scorer of the independent Czech league, completed it twice, who completed the route three years ago in 5:18:21. He crossed the finish line together with his then companion Bořek Dočkal. Jablonec defender Filip Novák, goalkeeper Petr Pižanowski and Luboš Loučka have also participated in Lauf in the past.
The 59th Jizerská 50 takes place in Bedřichov from January 29 to February 1. Eight races will take place over four days, the main one of 50 kilometers with a sold-out capacity of 4,800 runners will be run on Sunday, February 1.
