Lubo Moravcik was the “Gift from God” delivered to an appreciative Celtic support by Dr Jo Venglos, who sadly passed away yesterday, aged 84.
On 27 October 1998 Celtic signed a Gift from God, Lubo Moravcik. Was it Hugh Keevins who wrote about it being embarrassing that we didn’t sign the former Motherwell and Rangers striker but instead opted for signing a Dud Czech. Lubo quickly proved Keevins completely wrong as usual but even for him this was one almighty gaff.
“I don’t know what I find more laughable; the fact that Celtic cannot find £500,000 from their biscuit tin to sign a proven talent like John Spencer, or the fact that they then spent £300,000 on one of Dr. Jo’s old pals, the unknown Lubomir Moravcik!” Hugh Keevins wrote in Sunday Mail in November 1998.
Quickly Moravcik was thrown into his first Old Firm encounter against league leaders and strong favourites to win the game, Rangers. That was the day Lubo really arrived in Glasgow but it was the former Rangers striker Derek Johnstone who warned the then Celtic manager Josef Venglos about throwing this unknown (to Johnstone) player into this game.
🗓️ ✨ #OnThisDay in 1998, we signed Lubomir Moravcik! 🙌#CelticFC 🟢⚪️ pic.twitter.com/78uwL3dqs3
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) October 27, 2020
Jim Traynor (remember him!) was at the time heading up the sports output at Daily Record and also had a prime time football phone-in on the ever impartial BBC Scotland. He had his say on the player Celtic signed on this day in 1998.
“If anything the signing of Lubomir Moravcik at a cut price has merely caused them further embarrassment.” Traynor said, again quoting from Celtic Wiki.
“Josef Venglos will live to regret his decision to play this unknown Slovakian ahead of Mark Burchill in such a vital Old Firm Game.” Derek Johnstone said, as reported on Celtic Wiki.
Lubomir Moravcik scored twice that day as Rangers were destroyed 5-1. The club played U2’s The Sweetest Thing as the happy fans exited the stadium.
“My favourite time, my most special time, was at Celtic….They said I was a ‘gift from God’ but it was the opposite – Celtic was a gift from God to me…Celtic is unique.” Lubo Moravcik recalled back in 2015, as reported on Celtic Wiki
“I left the club in 2002 but I haven’t been forgotten. When I am on holiday in Spain, playing golf, the Celtic supporters approach me and ask for a photo or to talk about Celtic. It still amazes me.
“As a kid growing up I wanted to play in the World Cup for my country. I was then lucky to play in an Old Firm game. We beat Rangers 5-1 at Parkhead in 1998 under Dr Venglos. When the Champions League started in 1992 I wanted to play in it for a club. Celtic gave me that opportunity.
27th October 1998, Lubo Moravcik signs for Celtic.🙌 pic.twitter.com/EK5pzahAse
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe_7) October 27, 2020
🗓 ON THIS DAY: In 1998, Celtic sign Lubo Moravcik from MSV Duisburg for a fee of £300,000. pic.twitter.com/nGV9izCoFi
— celticbible (@celticbible) October 27, 2020
When Celtic signed Lubo 22yrs ago like everyone else had never heard of him….. What a sining what a player one that could change a game with a moment of his magic 🍀🍀 pic.twitter.com/BdM4QnLqO5
— Steviebhoy (@stevie75bhoy) October 27, 2020
On this day in 1998, Lubomir Moravcik signs for Celtic. “My favourite time, my most special time, was at Celtic….They said I was a ‘gift from God’ but it was the opposite – Celtic was a gift from God to me…Celtic is unique.” pic.twitter.com/USsCYTOxIm
— CelticLisboa (@CelticLisboaa) October 27, 2020
“My favourite time, my most special time, was at Celtic…They said I was a ‘gift from God’ but it was the opposite, Celtic was a gift from God to me…Celtic is unique.”
Lubo, Lubo, Lubo 🙌 #OTD in 1998: We signed the Magician ✍🍀
— 🍀 Celtic1967.com 🍀 (@Celtic1967_com) October 27, 2020
Today a heartbroken Lubo, remembers Dr Jo Venglos. Speaking to Glasgow Times the Celtic legend passed on his condolences to Dr Jo’s family and remembered the impact Venglos has had on his own career.
“My condolences go out to Dr Jo’s family and their loved ones. I am deeply saddened by the news as I have known him for almost 35 years,” Lubo said. “I was told of his sad passing yesterday. It has left me heartbroken. Last night I sat and watched footage of us together during our days in football and the many happy moments we shared.
“But I hardly slept last night. I was still awake at 4am thinking about him and his family. I also got to know his wife, Eva, and she is a lovely woman. She has made me feel warm and welcome, part of the family. They are all such lovely people. It has been my privilege to have Dr Jo in my life, both as a footballer and as a person. He enriched my life in many, many ways.”
Lubo went on to tell his story about how Dr Jo played such a significant role in his career in football. “I was first introduced to him in 1988 at the start of the World Cup qualification campaign for Italia ’90. He was the manager of the Czechoslovakia national team. We spent two years together and qualified for the tournament.
Really sorry to hear of the passing of Jozef Venglos.
A top coach and a gentleman who during a challenging period of transition earned the affection and respect of the Celtic support.
He left us with great memories and great players.
RIP Dr Jo pic.twitter.com/PmjEvJQCnN
— Celtic Wiki (@TheCelticWiki) January 27, 2021
“It was in the build up to that tournament that I had one of the most important conversations of my life, something that changed me as a footballer and as a person. We had lost to Egypt at home in a preparation game for the World Cup. I drove home in the car with Dr Jo that day. It was a one hour journey. At that point I was still playing for Nitra in my home country.
“He explained to me what I needed to do to become a better footballer, what I needed to do to bring more maturity and consistency into my game. He reminded me of the sacrifices I was going to have to make to get to the very top. He knew I was capable of so much more and didn’t want to see my talent go to waste.
“It was a turning point in my life. I was only 24 and that open and honest guidance from Dr Jo was exactly what I needed at that time. I got my move to St Etienne and enjoyed some fantastic times there. I then moved to Bastia and from there to MSV Duisburg in Germany and things didn’t go very well,” Lubo admitted.
Indeed he was even thinking about chucking football all together at that time before receiving an invitation to join Dr Jo over in Glasgow. “To be honest, I was thinking about giving up football at that stage. I was not happy in Germany. I was 33 and didn’t think I had much of a future in the game.
“But Dr Jo met me in a hotel in Bratislava after I played for Slovakia against Portugal. He was the manager of Celtic and asked me if I wanted to join him and play for a massive football club. Dr Jo trusted my ability and told me it would be perfect for my career and make me fall in love with football again. He assured me it would be a successful move. Well, he was right.
Jo Venglos, 1936-2021 RIP
Celtic manager 1998-99“He is the finest man I haver ever met in my life. That’s quite an accolade. The most decent, honourable, full of integrity, warm, friendly, supportive.”
Jock Brown (General manager)Biog https://t.co/O3g7Nezx1M#CelticAtoZ pic.twitter.com/Xm07zXrDvE
— JoeBloggsCity (@joebloggscity) January 27, 2021
“Celtic was exactly what I needed. I enjoyed many happy times at the football club and even now, 23 years on, I still have a fantastic relationship with the club and the supporters. So, again, he saved my career and I went on to enjoy many successes in Scotland, including the Treble in 2001 under Martin O’Neill and a few goals against Rangers.
Moravcik added: “I have been extremely fortunate to have Dr Jo in my life. He was a great person, a great teacher and a great mentor. He was well mannered and humble. An extremely intelligent and educated man, he had a positive influence on many footballers and coaches. He had the ability to deliver messages in a precise and professional manner. That;s why he was highly regarded by UEFA and FIFA.
“I will miss him very much as will the game of football.”
