Grazie Pavel!

Ask any competitive athlete in any discipline what they think of second place, and they’ll tell you it’s kind of like being the first loser. This Sunday is our last game of the season and coincidentally our last chance at some form of self-redemption this year. However, what’s more important is that it’s Pavel Nedved’s last game of his career with the bianconeri.

Answers to questions about whether or not Juventus could have done better this season given the cards they were dealt with, will be left for another post in the future. For now, we speak about a man who’s work ethic should never be speculated upon.

Since his birth on August 30th 1972 in the Czech Republic, Nedved devoted every single aspect of his life to football. There simply couldn’t be any other explanation for a man who’s career has lasted this long. Incredibly, even at 36 he continues to be the hard-running midfielder we’ve fell in love with since he began wearing our colours back in 2001.

Let’s take a second or two to just talk about this man’s left foot shall we? How many times have we seen ‘top-flight’ players around the world running along down the left flank, get into the eighteen yard box, and blow the chance sky high cutting back inside to take it on their dominant foot? One too many my friends. Pavel Nedved doesn’t know the meaning of cut backs. In fact, he has a phobia about going anywhere but towards the net. Wait, did I mention he’s right footed? Anyways apart from his great left, he always had some of the deadliest touches in the game. 

It’s truly been something to behold seeing him crack-off a bomb with his left or right out there for so many years. It’s so beautifully veteran-like that it touches a football fanatic’s heart. I think I’ll miss that the most really. Here’s a little cracker from this season you’ll surely remember. I don’t know what’s better though, the fact that a brilliant Polish commentator called Pavel the “Czech-ski Express”, or that he hit this against those Roma fans who just adore Pavel in every way, shape, and form?

Those types of goals from him are legendary. Speaking of legendary, how can we forget about his hair? Unbelieveable. I’ve been going to Halloween parties as Pavel’s highlights on and off for four years now (sometimes I went as Tiago’s tampon). But seriously though, I’d be the envy of every girl there. Did you know each lock is cut to a length so they can never cover his eyes?

Nice try Swayze…

Of course in the end the legend has his regrets. His biggest, and most widely known, has been his quest to lift up that Champions League trophy one day. “I’d give up everything in my life for the Champions League, everything apart from my wife and kids of course,” Nedved noted. “Even the games of golf with Alex Del Piero and Mauro Camoranesi which I enjoy so much. I’m missing the Cup with the big ears, it’s the trophy which I desire the most. I’ll be delighted to end my career in Rome next May, the venue for the 2009 Final, in the city where my Italian adventure started. I want to lift that trophy into the capital sky.”

Well, we know how that one ended. Another year gone by and yet that space in his heart remains empty. No doubt that’s been a big part of Pavel’s commitment to a strong work ethic well into his later years- to one day raise that trophy he “desire[s] the most.” Now think about just how dissappointed he must feel for missing the 2002-2003 final against Milan at Old Trafford.

“I regret not playing in the Final, even if the outcome may still have been the same,” Pavel claimed. “That yellow card underlined just what kind of player I am. When I step on to the field of play I just give my all, without ever making any calculations. I lost the opportunity to win the European Cup and I didn’t know whether I would have got another chance.”

Anyone here think that game wouldn’t have gone differently had he been playing? Gianfranco, put your hand down. That year he was awarded the Ballon d’or for Europe’s top footballer. Enough said. But don’t feel too bad for the guy, scroll down:

UEFA Cup Winners Cup (1999)

UEFA Super Cup (1999)

Czech League (1993, 1994, 1995)

Czech FA Cup (1996)

Coppa Italia (1998, 2000)

Italian Super Cup (1998, 2000, 2002, 2003)

Italian Serie A (2000, 2002, 2003)

Italian Serie B (2007)

Czech Player of the Season (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 , 2003)


European Footballer of the Year (2003)

Italian Serie A Player of the Year (2003)

Italian Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year (2003)

Not bad old man, not bad at all. Football has opened many doors for Nedved, and true to his style, he probably opened a couple himself. He was a born leader who lead by example. He took every game seriously, and that sort of professionalism visibly rubbed off on his teammates making this decision that much harder to swallow. I was always happy to see him wear him the captain’s armband because of that. This Juventino will certainly miss Nedved very very much. Forget about trying to replace a Nedved. We shouldn’t even bother trying.

Those who claim him to be malicious or soft have certainly misjudged his game. Nedved has been a great asset to this club and one of the best examples of what it means to be a bianconeri. On Sunday playing in his final game against his former team, you can guarantee he’ll have an enormously respectful sending off. Grazie Pavel, thank you for all the wonderful memories. This Sunday there should be nothing more important than Nedved. A player who never played for second place. 

IERI… OGGI… DOMANI… SEMPRE JUVE!!!

NEDVED (again)

It has been such a longtime that a Juventus legend has bid farewell to the crowd, I didn’t remember how hard it would be. I won’t lie to you all, when the Olimpico rose to its’ feet to applaud him, I teared a bit. When the Gladiator music was playing during his lap of honor, they were free-flowing.

We all know his hard work and dedication; the stories of him as a child, running after practice when the lights were turned off are well known. Naturally left-footed, you would have never known because as a kid he practiced so much to make them both equally brilliant. This is the player who runs everyday, regardless whether there is training or not.



When Pavel was first signed from Lazio to replace Zidane, there were a lot of eyebrows raised. Could this man ever replace the legendary Zizou? (yes) But at age 29, people questioned the decision to spill out €41 million on the Lazio midfielder. After 8 seasons, 4 scudetti, a Ballon d’Or, a Serie B title, and 357 games played with 65 goals and countless assists…money damn well spent.

His long-range efforts for which he is famous for was not a secret. When we first signed him, Moggi said “we bought him solely to stop him from scoring goals against us.” We all know the story of his legendary 2002-2003 season, where he singlehandedly carried us to the final only to be cruelly denied a place in it because of a yellow-card suspension. His goals against Barcelona at Camp Nou, against Real Madrid in Turin, it is not a stretch to say had he been in the final, a different outcome was very likely.

Pavel always wanted to win that trophy, so when Juve was demoted to Serie B, you might forgive the Czech Fury for considering his position at Juventus, given his 33 years. But there was none of it. Pavel was one of the first to come out and unequivocably say that he was staying. There was no wavering, no attempts to get out, no complaints. Few expected Juve to return to the Champion’s League so quickly, and Pavel’s exit will long live in my memory. Playing with a broken rib, Pavel kept trying to soldier on but after a collision with Anelka, he could do it no more. The chorus rang out the first time he went down to the ground…and the 2nd. As he lied on the ground in pain, the stadium was drowned out by deafening chants of “PAVEL PAVEL NEDVED! NEDVED.” Ranieri asked Pavel to wait a few minutes to give Salihamidzic time to warm up, and as Pavel gingerly walked around the pitch, the chants continued. He left the Champion’s League pitch for the last time, to a round of applause and continued songs from the Drughi.

In an interview after the game, Pavel said he would stay in Turin with his family. He said he enjoyed life in Turin, and he wanted his children to grow up watching Juventus first-hand. I always found Pavel’s devotion to his family and his wife refreshing from all the stories of WAGs. You see, Pavel married Ivana when he was 21, back when he was still living in Prague and a footballing unknown. The two met when Pavel was 15 and Ivana was 13. He’s said he would give up everything, including his beloved golf rounds with Alex and Mauro to win the Champion’s League, but never his family, who are the primary motivation for his retirement. His children are named Pavel and Ivana as well, as he has said, it is so when he and his wife die, there will still be a Pavel and Ivana who love each other. A great man on and off the pitch.

Enjoy your retirement, Pavel. You have certainly deserved it.

PotD: A Czech Farewell....Nedved The Legend

It has been such a longtime that a Juventus legend has bid farewell to the crowd, I didn’t remember how hard it would be. I won’t lie to you all, when the Olimpico rose to its’ feet to applaud him, I teared a bit. When the Gladiator music was playing during his lap of honor, they were free-flowing.

We all know his hard work and dedication; the stories of him as a child, running after practice when the lights were turned off are well known. Naturally left-footed, you would have never known because as a kid he practiced so much to make them both equally brilliant. This is the player who runs everyday, regardless whether there is training or not.



When Pavel was first signed from Lazio to replace Zidane, there were a lot of eyebrows raised. Could this man ever replace the legendary Zizou? (yes) But at age 29, people questioned the decision to spill out €41 million on the Lazio midfielder. After 8 seasons, 4 scudetti, a Ballon d’Or, a Serie B title, and 357 games played with 65 goals and countless assists…money damn well spent.

His long-range efforts for which he is famous for was not a secret. When we first signed him, Moggi said “we bought him solely to stop him from scoring goals against us.” We all know the story of his legendary 2002-2003 season, where he singlehandedly carried us to the final only to be cruelly denied a place in it because of a yellow-card suspension. His goals against Barcelona at Camp Nou, against Real Madrid in Turin, it is not a stretch to say had he been in the final, a different outcome was very likely.

Pavel always wanted to win that trophy, so when Juve was demoted to Serie B, you might forgive the Czech Fury for considering his position at Juventus, given his 33 years. But there was none of it. Pavel was one of the first to come out and unequivocably say that he was staying. There was no wavering, no attempts to get out, no complaints. Few expected Juve to return to the Champion’s League so quickly, and Pavel’s exit will long live in my memory. Playing with a broken rib, Pavel kept trying to soldier on but after a collision with Anelka, he could do it no more. The chorus rang out the first time he went down to the ground…and the 2nd. As he lied on the ground in pain, the stadium was drowned out by deafening chants of “PAVEL PAVEL NEDVED! NEDVED.” Ranieri asked Pavel to wait a few minutes to give Salihamidzic time to warm up, and as Pavel gingerly walked around the pitch, the chants continued. He left the Champion’s League pitch for the last time, to a round of applause and continued songs from the Drughi.

In an interview after the game, Pavel said he would stay in Turin with his family. He said he enjoyed life in Turin, and he wanted his children to grow up watching Juventus first-hand. I always found Pavel’s devotion to his family and his wife refreshing from all the stories of WAGs. You see, Pavel married Ivana when he was 21, back when he was still living in Prague and a footballing unknown. The two met when Pavel was 15 and Ivana was 13. He’s said he would give up everything, including his beloved golf rounds with Alex and Mauro to win the Champion’s League, but never his family, who are the primary motivation for his retirement. His children are named Pavel and Ivana as well, as he has said, it is so when he and his wife die, there will still be a Pavel and Ivana who love each other. A great man on and off the pitch.

Enjoy your retirement, Pavel. You have certainly deserved it.

Managemen Ratings

oooppss i'm forget it on my last 4 post

MANAGEMENT:

CLAUDIO RANIERI- 6: He had to go at the end of the season, no doubt, but with some average players in the squad (Poulsen, Tiago) and a hell of an injury crisis, he managed to do pretty well. In March, we were in the Coppa semis, 2nd place within striking distance of Inter, and the Champion’s League round-of-16. Then it all came apart, quickly. My chief complaints with him was the way he never seemed to get pissed about poor performances, and some of his strange team selections, ie- not enough tinkering/rotating, and not playing Giovinco. Give him some credit for giving Marchisio a very good run out.

ALESSIO SECCO- 6: Amauri, Giovinco, Marchisio, Manninger, good. Mellberg, De Ceglie, average. Knezevic, Chimenti, Poulsen, fail.