The remarkable story of Celtic and Slavia Prague Legend Johnny Madden

“On 11 June 1865, John Madden was born in Dumbarton. Madden was a remarkable man with an amazing career. From the age of 19, he had spells with Dumbarton Albion, Dumbarton Hibs, Dumbarton, Gainsborough Trinity, Grimsby Town, Celtic in May 1888, then back to Dumbarton before re-joining Celtic in August 1889,” Lisbon Lion and club historian Jim Craig wrote on The Celtic Star.

“During the following eight seasons – apart from missing out on the first Scottish Cup win of 1892 – Johnny was there for all the major moments. After he retired, he went into the coaching side of the game and eventually ended up as coach of Slavia in Prague and was revered as the founder of modern Czechoslovakian football. He lived in Prague until his death in 1948, at the age of 83.”

Slavia Prague 1906 – Former Celtic Star Johnny Madden standing on the far left in this picture.

Courtesy of The Celtic Wiki

One of the most interesting, yet hardly known characters from Celtic’s history, is that Johnny Madden is a legend in what is now the Czech Republic.

He went on Celtic’s tour of Hungary which likely gave him his first taste of life in Eastern Europe, and after spells in England, he ended up in Czechoslovakia taking up the Slavia Prague manager’s post on 15 February 1905. His reign is seen as the great era for Slavia having begun when he took over.

He brought over new tactics and views on football from Scotland which helped to cement their progress.He was one of the first Scottish players to work as a coach on the European continent, and was said to be a disciplinarian who stopped players smoking and drinking before and after matches, while pushing them to train with gymnastic and athletic exercises.

He managed to set up an early golden age for the club for a long 25 years, where under Madden, Slavia won an incredible 134 domestic matches from a possible 169, and 304 internationals from 429 between the years 1905 and 1930.

Johnny was the first real Slavia manager, where before him there was only team captains who had something like managers’ rights. He won a local cup four times between 1908 and 1912, and more importantly he won the Czechoslovakian league title in 1925, 1929 and 1930. ‘Jake’ in his 25 yrs with Slavia is estimated to have managed his side to win 134 out of 169 domestic matches.

Celtic hadn’t forgotten him and a Celtic team which toured the newly formed Czechoslovakia in 1922 played Madden’s Slavia Prague side and lost 3-2 ( 25 May 1922). The match is said to have been quite brutal (a kicking match) which Slavia Prague won 3-2.

In 1930 he coached the Slavia Prague team in the Coupe Des Nations which was a counterweight tournament held in Switzerland to the World Cup in Uruguay, and got them to the final where alas they lost.

In June 1930 Madden retired from Slavia and professional football at the age of 66, though he remained in Prague for the rest of his life. Amazingly, he was still coaching teams from his wheelchair at 73.

It was said that he feared to return to Scotland as he may then lose his pension, so he had to spend the years in the Reich Protectorate of Bohemia (i.e. under German occupation) until it’s “liberation” by the Red Army in 1945.

Spending so long in the country with little outside sources, his English is said to have declined with age. He remains a hero in Prague, where he stayed having married a local girl. He passed away in April 1948 in Prague.

On the anniversary of his death the ‘Friends of Slavia’ put flowers on his grave on behalf of Slavia Football Club as a mark of respect and remembrance.

Slavia’s subsequent history was blighted by the tendency of the Communist state to use clubs as political pawns, by name changes and stadium switches. Often the priority has been to preserve their identity, but Madden’s name and legacy lives on.

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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