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Personal
Fullname: Lubomír Moravcík
aka: Lubomir Moravcik, Lubo Moravcik, Lubo, ‘A Gift from God’
Born: 22 June 1965
Birthplace: Nitra, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia)
Signed: 27 Oct 1998
Left: 1 June 2002
Position: Central Midfielder
Squad No.:
Debut: Celtic 6-1 Dundee, League, 7 Nov 1998
Internationals: Czechoslovakia; Slovakia
International Caps: 42 caps; 37 caps
International Goals: 7 goals; 6 goals
Biog
| “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 (2015) |
Born in Nitra, Slovakia Lubomir Moravcik was in the veteran stage of his career when he was brought to Celtic Park in November 1998 by then boss Josef Venglos.
The signing of the midfielder from German side Duisburg for just £200,000 was met with indifference from the Celtic support and howls of derision from a Scottish media who were soon made to look rather foolish indeed.
Aged 33 when he arrived in Glasgow, Lubo had played most of his club football in France and despite being highly rated there and in his homeland he was very much an unknown outside of those spheres and in Scotland too. At one point he was to make a high profile move to Marseille until injury struck and hampered his career progress.
So he arrived in Glasgow, with something to prove to many. That would all change when Lubo made his debut in a 6-1 demolition of Dundee at Celtic Park on 7th November 1998. The Slovakian midfield ace displayed an array of sublime touches and suddenly the Celtic support sensed that here was a very special talent.
The magnificence of Lubo was confirmed in the sweetest fashion just a fortnight later when he scored twice and inspired his new club to a 5-1 thrashing of old rivals Rangers at Parkhead. The legend that is Lubo was born.
Lubo seemed to have it all. Quick feet, wonderful vision and an eye for goal. Equally comfortable with his left or right foot Lubo possessed a level of skill not seen at Celtic Park – or in Scotland – for many years. His tricks and flicks were a joy to watch but in addition to being a supreme football entertainer Lubo had a real cutting edge to his game and was much more than just a show pony.
Truth is that despite his talents there were many a game where he just drifted, and during the dark season under Barnes/Dalglish, he may have been a bright spark amongst most of the gloom back then but he was just as culpable for the poor results and performances as many others.
Despite his abundance of ability Lubo had never won a major trophy in his long career but that was to change at Celtic with the Slovakian playing a major part in securing honours for the Bhoys and re-establishing the side as the dominant force in Scotland.
It might have been the pragmatic skills of inspirational manager Martin O’Neill which ultimately toppled Rangers from their perch but it was the skills of Lubo and Henrik Larsson which ensured they did it with panache and style.
Nowhere was this better illustrated than at Ibrox on 29 April 2001. Celtic had already sealed the Championship and Rangers had made it known they were determined to show the Bhoys that they were really still top dogs. Lubo slaughtered them in their own backyard. He scored two wonderful second-half goals in a 3-0 triumph in which during the second 45 minutes the Lubo inspired Celts to simply and mercilessly destroy their vastly outclassed rivals.
Celtic won the treble and the next season – Lubo’s last in the Hoops – retained the league as Lubo finally had a chance to parade his skills on the biggest stage – the Champions League. He didn’t disappoint but even he couldn’t prevent Celtic’s unlucky exit from the group stage.
In many ways, he was underused in his last season with some arguing that Martin O’Neill did not know how to use flair players. Nevertheless, Lubo’s entry onto the pitch was usually at vital stages in order to hold the ball, slow the tempo and retain possession.
Lubo left Celtic in the summer of 2002 for JEF Ichihara in Japan after four years, 129 appearances and 35 goals. While at Celtic Park he won two league titles, a Scottish Cup and two League Cups.
But even the most impressive of statistics can never do justice to the skills of Lubo. He was a joy to watch and the memory of his performances will live long in the minds of the Celtic support.
Playing Career
| Club | From | To | Fee | League | Scottish Cup | League cup | Other | ||||
| Celtic | 27/10/1998 | 01/06/2002 | £300,000 | 75 (19) | 29 | 9 (1) | 1 | 8 (2) | 2 | 11 (4) | 3 |
| Duisburg | 01/08/1998 | 27/10/1998 | No appearance data available | ||||||||
| Bastia | 01/08/1997 | 01/08/1998 | No appearance data available | ||||||||
| Totals | £300,000 | 75 (19) | 29 | 9 (1) | 1 | 8 (2) | 2 | 11 (4) | 3 | ||
| goals / game | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | |||||||
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
Honours with Celtic
Scottish Premier League (2)
Scottish Cup (1)
Scottish League Cup (2)
Player Pictures
Articles
Quotes
“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 (journo), Sunday Mail; Nov 1998 (How wrong can any journalist be?)
“[I] said every word of it, wrote every word of it… Regret every word of it…. But the role of a columnist is to give an opinion in a forthright manner and I was 100 percent wrong. I came here of my own free will today to confess my sin. I know there is no absolution as I’ve been doing penance for the last 20 years.”
Hugh Keevins admitting his error to Celtic TV on 20th anniversary of Lubo’s signing (respect to him in this) (Nov 2018)
“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, Lubomir Moravcik scored twice as Rangers were destroyed 5-1. (1998)
“Lubomir is 33 and hasn’t won a lot in his career.
“He had the chance to go to Japan but he knew that signing for Celtic was a better move.
“I’m 100 per cent sure he is a more stable character than any of the Three Amigos – or all of them put together!”
Chairman Fergus McCann on Lubo (1998)
“If anything the signing of Lubomir Moravcik at a cut price has merely caused them further embarrassment.”
Jim Traynor (journo) on Celtic buying Lubo, another journo wrong (1998)
“He is the type of player that makes people come to watch football.”
Rangers midfielder Ronald de Boer on Lubo Moravcik, 2002
“Tell him I was never a zero!”
Lubo through an interpreter to a Scotland On Sunday journalist who after the Classic 5-1 victory over Rangers in 1998 asked him “How does it feel to go from being a zero to a hero?”
“I was fortunate to play at Celtic Park in the same game as Lubo, but not fortunate with the way he played against us!”
Pavel Nedved (Juventus)
“Yes my time at Celtic is over, but this is not a time to be sad I would be sad if I had never played for Celtic.”
Lubo Moravcik
“Football went on here before me and it will go on long after me.”
Lubo Moravcik
“Martin had clear ideas. He would tell me: ‘Lubo, I do not want to see you come back and take the ball from the centre-backs and play the easy pass. I want you near the penalty box to make passes and score goals. This is your job for the team.’” He added: “Martin was clear with me: ‘If you do that, I kick you up the bum’.”
Lubo on manager Martin O’Neill (2010)
“My favourite time, my most special time, was at Celtic. I spent more than three and a half years there and I couldn’t have asked for more. People appreciated me and, maybe, some fans even loved me. They said I was a ‘gift from God’ but it was the opposite – Celtic was a gift from God to me.
“Celtic is unique. 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.
“The most memorable occasion was when I played against Juventus in the Champions League. We won 4-3. Martin O’Neill gave me my first start in that tournament. I made the most of the moment. I was subbed near the end and I will never forget the standing ovation I received from the Celtic supporters. I am very lucky.
“I was never a big goalscorer during my career. I scored some nice ones but there isn’t really one that sticks out for me. It really is hard to choose. I enjoyed setting up my team-mates, whether it was with my right foot or my left foot. I know Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton and John Hartson appreciated it. That made me feel happy.
“We had great success under Martin. The club had had a difficult couple of years for different reasons but we had good players and he got the best out of us. He transformed Stiliyan Petrov and Johan Mjallby.”
Lubo reminiscing on his 50th birthday (2015)
“You wonder where he has been hiding all these years. Lubo is the most-two footed player in Europe, his talent is amazing. His contribution to the Treble-winning team was absolutely immense and I was delighted that he signed for one more season to play in the Champions League.“He remains one of the most gifted footballers I have ever seen or worked with and considering I played with many excellent players at club and international level, I cannot pay him any greater compliment than that. In only a short period of time at Celtic Park he has become as big a hero as any of the Lisbon Lions of 1967. He must have done something special to have warranted such acclaim.”
Martin O’Neill (2015)
“One of the greatest 10’s in football.”
French World Cup winner & legend Zinedan Zidane on Lubo Moravcik
“It’s always nice to be out on the pitch but when you play Rangers and you manage to beat them 5-1 that’s a great experience and I’m happy for Lubo that he made his derby debut that way because it always makes it a little bit easier.’“I don’t think you could ever replace Lubo, even if you had loads and loads of money to spend. It’s going to be hard to replace him, almost impossible I think, because you don’t get players like that around very often.”
Henrik Larsson (2015)
“I don’t think there was ever a more skilful player in my time at the club. He’s the most talented two-footed player I’ve ever played with and it’s incredible the things he could do. He’s a great player and a great entertainer.“You don’t get a higher compliment when someone like Zinedine Zidane says he is probably one of the best No.10s that he had ever seen.”
Paul Lambert (2015)
“For most people it would understandably be Henrik, who was a fantastic player, but in my opinion it would be have to be Lubo Moravcik. He was a very special talent.”
Bertie Auld on the best Celtic player he’s seen outwith the Lions (2015)
“Everyone always talks about the weather but I don’t care. I didn’t come here for the weather, I came here to play football, which was absolutely fantastic. And for that I thank everyone for their support. People were really nice to me.”
Lubo Moravcik
“I didn’t know anything about him to be honest, but it only takes one practice to see just…wow, he has something. Still, to this day, I don’t know if he’s left-footed or right-footed! That’s crazy! I’ve never seen a player hitting the ball as sweetly with both feet.The vision he had to see the game, see runs was just fantastic. He’s most definitely one of the best players I’ve ever played with. Also, he’s a great guy. I bump into him every now and then and it’s always a pleasure to speak with him.”
Larsson on Lubo (2020)