František Plánička

Plánička's achievements are remarkable for a player of his era. He won eight Czechoslovak First League titles with Slavia Prague, a record of domestic dominance that spanned a decade. His Mitropa Cup victory in 1938 placed Slavia among the elite clubs of Central Europe. Leading Czechoslovakia to the 1934 World Cup final was the pinnacle of his international career, and his courage in playing through a broken collarbone in that match has become part of football folklore. His perfect disciplinary record, never receiving a yellow or red card in 16 years, is a unique distinction that underscores his sportsmanship. Plánička was the first Czechoslovak captain at a World Cup and his 73 caps stood as a national record for decades. He is consistently ranked among the greatest goalkeepers of the 20th century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics.