European club football rarely fails to produce a spectacle, from Celtic Park in the Champions League to stadiums across the continent.
These nights capture the imagination of a club’s supporters. They can be the most exciting matches on the calendar, and fans often save their biggest projects for unveiling on the European stage.
Slavia Prague fan groups clearly put in a lot of effort on Thursday night for their home match against Ajax in the Europa League, celebrating one of their greatest-ever managers at Fortuna Arena.
Johnny Madden took charge of the Czech side for 25 years in the early 1900s, winning three league titles and a clutch of cups during a golden age of success and development.
Ahead of kick-off against the Dutch side, fans unveiled a massive banner with his portrait, surname and the caption: “The legendary coach of the legendary club.”
Johnny Madden played in Celtic’s first-ever match
Dumbarton-born Madden is part of the history of Celtic, too. Although a Dumbarton player at the time, he lined up as a forward in the club’s first-ever match – a 5-2 ‘friendly’ defeat to Rangers.
He officially joined the Bhoys in August 1889 and went on to score an impressive 49 goals in 118 appearances during an eight-year spell that resulted in three league titles.
It was the most successful period of his career as a player before he went on to feature for Dundee and Tottenham Hotspur.
After hanging up his boots, he embarked on his famous coaching career at Slavia Prague, bringing new tactics and ideas to the country. He was such a revolutionary that, to this day, he’s dubbed the ‘Father of Czech football’.
Celtic and Slavia Prague links were celebrated in 2017
His legacy in Prague has endured. He remained in the city his entire life, even after retiring in 1930.
As evidenced by Thursday night’s banner, he is still firmly part of the club’s culture.
Prior to a friendly between Celtic and Slavia Prague in 2017, manager Brendan Rodgers and several Slavia officials paid tribute to Madden at a ceremony in front of the stand at Fortuna Arena that bears his name.
Supporters also visited his grave to commemorate his role as part of Celtic’s very beginning.
It’s fantastic to see Madden so prominently celebrated by their fans again, with new pictures proudly doing the rounds on social media and fan forums, educating new generations about his history in the game and trailblazing career at two iconic clubs.
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