vs. Celtic F.C., Chebana label, stitched crest, and number 11 verso, long sleeved

Note: Believed worn by Josef Vacenovsky.

Swapped with Bertie Auld; The Bertie Auld Collection.

Josef Vacenovsky was a Dukla Prague stalwart.

Over the course of twelve seasons (1957-69) he would tally 271 appearances, winning six league titles, four Czechoslovakian Cups, and four American Challenge Cups.

His tenure coincided with a period of domestic dominance for Dukla, a team that had only been founded as recently as 1948. Indeed, they had initially been formed under the control of the Czechoslovakian Army, Vacenovsky himself spending a period in the armed forces before becoming a full team member.

As swiftly as they burst onto the domestic scene, Dukla would begin to compete in Europe’s burgeoning knock-out competitions. This would include six European Cup appearances prior to 1966/67, reaching the quarter-final three-times.

They entered the 1966/67 competition resolute, fresh off the back of a domestic double and ready to challenge once more. The first two rounds proved relatively straightforward, the team scoring twelve and conceding two as they saw off Esbjerg and Anderlecht.

The quarters brought on a more difficult opponent however, the hotly tipped Ajax having just defeated Liverpool 7-3 on aggregate. This was the ‘Total Football’ team put together by Rinus Michels. The talismanic Johan Cruyff dominating the park.

A first leg draw took the game to Prague, giving Dukla the home advantage. Perhaps it didn’t seem that way when a Sjaak Swart strike put them 1-0 down in the 54^th minute. It would eventually take a penalty and an 87^th minute own goal to secure Dukla’s place in their first ever semi-final.

All was to play for as they travelled to Glasgow to take on Jock Stein’s Celtic. Dukla knew this and started with confidence, two early efforts forcing great saves from Ronnie Simpson. A Jimmy Johnstone strike in the 27^th minute put the home team ahead, though a goal on the stroke of halftime quietened the Parkhead crowd.
Willie Wallace would prove the hero during the second half, two goals securing a comfortable lead for the away game in Prague.

Despite this lead, Jock Stein knew he couldn’t gamble such a match, and, whilst he had built his reputation on playing beautiful attacking football, he made the decision to set up defensively. This would prove critical, the 0-0 draw securing Celtic’s place in Lisbon, Dukla bowing out in what remains their best European finish.

Those two ties and the Lisbon Lions were later recalled by Vacenovsky:

‘Celtic was a typically British team, playing consistently on the body, hard, and against Celtic we always had someone at our backs.’