ýubomÃÂr MoravÃÂÃÂk (born 22 June 1965) is a Slovak football manager and former player. A creative midfielder renowned for his technical ability, he was capable of unleashing powerful, accurate shots, and pinpoint crosses with both feet. He played for teams in Czechoslovakia and Slovakia, France, Germany, Japan, and Scotland. During his time at Scottish club Celtic, MoravÃÂÃÂk made 129 appearances, scoring 35 goals and winning two Scottish Premier League titles.
At international level, MoravÃÂÃÂk played for Czechoslovakia (42 appearances; seven goals) and Slovakia (38 appearances; six goals). He was a member of the Czechoslovak team at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
MoravÃÂÃÂk began his career at Czechoslovak First League club Plastika Nitra, making his league debut on 16 October 1983 against FK Teplice. He spoke about his early career in an interview with the Slovak podcast, Podcast Výkrok: "I grew up in a very successful generation of Nitra, with whom we became champions of Slovakia in pupils, as younger teenagers we finished third and again became masters as older teenagers. But during my time in Shala, I never dreamed of the first league. However, when Nitra was on the verge of falling out, the club's management decided to give the young players a chance. And that meant my entry into the Premier League scene."
MoravÃÂÃÂk went on to make over 170 appearances for the club before leaving 1990 to join French Ligue 1 club Saint-ÃÂtienne, where he played over 230 matches. He later moved to Bastia and then MSV Duisburg in Germany.
On 27 October 1998, MoravÃÂÃÂk signed for Scottish Premier League side Celtic for a fee of ã330,000. The transfer linked him up with fellow Slovak Jozef Vengloà ¡, who was Celtic manager at the time. Initially sceptical of the impact a then-33-year-old footballer could have, MoravÃÂÃÂk became a hero in the eyes of the Parkhead faithful, forming an outstanding partnership with Henrik Larsson.
MoravÃÂÃÂk made his league debut in a 6âÂÂ1 victory against Dundee United on 7 November 1998. The same year on 21 November, he scored his first two goals against Old Firm rivals Rangers, which ended in a memorable 5âÂÂ1 victory.
MoravÃÂÃÂk stayed at Celtic Park for a total of four seasons, winning two Scottish championships, one Scottish Cup and two Scottish League Cups. In 2015, MoravÃÂÃÂk said of his time in Glasgow: "My favourite time, my most special time, was at Celtic. They said I was a 'gift from God' but it was the opposite â Celtic was a gift from God to me... Celtic is unique." He played his last game for Celtic on 21 April 2002, a 1âÂÂ1 draw with Rangers in which he assisted Alan Thompson's equaliser and came off as a substitute for Steve Guppy on the 72nd minute.
On 4 May 2002, the day before the 2002 Scottish Cup final against Rangers, MoravÃÂÃÂk announced his departure from Celtic to join JEF United Ichihara in the J-League, a move that would link him up with Jozef Vengloà ¡, who first brought him to Parkhead in 1998. MoravÃÂÃÂk told the Daily Record: "I don't want to play in the last league game at Aberdeen [the following week] so I will be leaving Celtic and Scotland after the Cup final. Because I am going to Japan I will have to start pre-season training at the beginning of June and, before that, I need a holiday." He spent the entire final on the bench as Celtic lost the match 3âÂÂ2.
MoravÃÂÃÂk only made three appearances for JEF United Ichihara due to an ankle injury. After failing to recover, MoravÃÂÃÂk announced his retirement from football on 6 September 2002.
MoravÃÂÃÂk made a total of 80 appearances for Czechoslovakia and Slovakia between 1987 and 2000. He debuted for the former national team on 11 November 1987 in a 2âÂÂ0 friendly victory against Wales and scored his first goal in a 3âÂÂ0 victory against Switzerland during the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification. MoravÃÂÃÂk played at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, where he was sent off against Germany in the quarter-final in Milan. Germany won the game 1âÂÂ0. His debut for the newly-established Slovak senior squad occurred on 30 March 1994 in a 2âÂÂ1 friendly victory against Malta.
MoravÃÂÃÂk began his managerial career with Slovak national U-17 team before being appointed coach of FC ViOn Zlaté Moravce, the team from highest Slovak league, Corgoà  Liga. He is also vice-president of the Slovak Football Association and assistant of à  KF SereÃÂ.
MoravÃÂÃÂk also has an engineering degree from the Slovak University of Agriculture, which he gained whilst playing for Nitra. "I think getting a college degree apart from professional sports is more complicated nowadays than when I studied", he said. "The communist regime was proud that the athletes growing up in its establishment had a university degree and were very accommodating. Athletes had individual study plans, various concessions, teachers sometimes turned a blind eye, and were proud to educate a representative of Czechoslovakia. Honestly, I was not an exceptional student, but I tried to come to school honestly and learn. Professors also appreciated my efforts and did not hinder me. Today, graduating from university is extremely challenging for a top athlete with multi-phase daily training, rehabilitation, training and matches. The athlete must define his priorities. I was lucky that, in addition to sports, they also provided us with education. Today is a different time, but I consider the completion of the graduation to be a necessary minimum, this can certainly be managed in addition to sports."
A free kick specialist, MoravÃÂÃÂk was reminiscent of the old-fashioned inside forward. He was also known for his ability to use both his left and right legs. "It's easy, always notice which foot the player is leading the ball," he told Podcast VykroÃÂ in November 2021. "I never led the ball with my left foot. Yes, I knew how to move it and kick it with my left foot. Through targeted long-term training, I improved my left leg so that I did not distinguish at all when kicking and passing, whether by kicking with my left or right foot. But I always led the ball right."
Henrik Larsson said: "For me, [MoravÃÂÃÂk] is one of the best players I ever played with. Still to this day I don't know if he was right-footed or left-footed." MoravÃÂÃÂk's two-footedness has also been praised by Pavel NedvÃÂd.
MoravÃÂÃÂk acquired French nationality by naturalization on 5 November 1996.
Bastia
Celtic
Individual