The main prize was presented together with the first man of Czech football by the legendary midfielder and today the manager of the Czech national football team, Pavel Nedvěd, who made his way into the world of big football from Pilsen. And at Thursday’s gala evening, he was happy to remember it properly. He also mentioned the legendary youth coach Josef Žaloudek, with whom he lived in Nýřany.
“I have been connected with Pilsen since the beginning of my career. I received the best foundations here, not only in football, but mainly in life. Thanks to coach Žaloudek, whom I fondly remember, I had the best school,” said Pavel Nedvěd, for which he received the applause of the packed hall of the Parkhotel in Pilsen, as well as the subsequent words of praise addressed to Viktoria.
“When I look at Pilsen today, I have only words of admiration and thanks. Viktorka fantastically represents Czech football in Europe,” said the last Czech holder of the Ballon d’Or for the best European football player, paying tribute to the club from which he bounced back to a spectacular career.
And somewhat symbolically, together with FAČR chairman David Trunda, he handed over the main prize for the best older teenager of 2025 in the Czech Republic to its player Jiří Maxim Panoš, who was the first in the history of the poll to defend his first place.
The squire dedicated the award to his late grandmother
However, the talented teenager from Pilsen is currently with the other Viktoria players at the game center in Benidorm, Spain, so Štěpán Havránek, head coach of Viktoria Plzeň’s youth team, accepted the award for him. “He loves football, especially attacking. He can be creative on the pitch, he is an interesting footballer who has the gift of being a player with a difference,” Štěpán Havránek tried to highlight what makes Panoš special.
The squire sent greetings from Spain to those present. “I’m sorry that I can’t attend the gala. I value this award very much and I would like to dedicate it to my grandmother, who recently left us. I know that she would be very proud of me,” the 18-year-old footballer sent a touching message to Pilsen from the Mediterranean Sea.
Panoš was not the only Pilsen player awarded during the Our Football Gala, Jiří Zápotocký reigned supreme among the talented futsal players, who dethroned his twin brother Jaroslav. Both defend the colors of Interobal, on whose bench coach Marek Kopecký, already a five-time winner of the poll, became famous. Former football player Jiří Skála was among the coaches evaluated in the youth category.
Koubek admitted that Pilsen is destined for him
A number of personalities were also among the presenters, the new national team coach Miroslav Koubek received a thunderous applause upon his return to Pilsen, who right at the start praised the winner in the category of the younger youth of Slavist Matouš Srba. He also reacted to his fateful connection with Victoria.
“Apart from Kladno, I worked in Pilsen for the longest time in my coaching career, I was here three times. I will always have Viktoria in my heart,” confessed the 74-year-old coach Miroslav Koubek, who now faces another challenge. In March, he will try to lead the Czech national team to the United States through the pitfalls of a draw at the World Championships.
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Source: FAČR
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The prize for the best younger teenager was presented by national team coach Miroslav Koubek at the 24th Gala Evening of Our Football in Pilsen’s Parkhotel.
The award for the best women’s football coach was symbolically handed over by Karel Rada, the multiple winner of this poll, talented players were also awarded by another student of Pilsen football, Vítězslav Lavička, or representative Kateřina Svitková, who interrupted her career due to pregnancy. At least Pavel Šulc sent a greeting from Lyon, France, who recalled the years spent at the 33rd Primary School in Pilsen-Skvrňany.
It was a great evening that will be remembered for a long time…
