Andrej Kvašňák

Andrej Kvašňák
	Kvašňák at the 1970 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Date of birth	19 May 1936
Place of birth	Košice, Czechoslovakia
Date of death	18 April 2007 (aged 70)
Place of death	Prague, Czech Republic
Positions	Attacking midfielder; forward;
Youth career
1947–1951	OŠPZ Košice
1951–1956	VSS Košice
Senior career*
Years	Team
1956–1958	Dukla Pardubice
1958–1959	Jednota Košice
1959–1969	Sparta Prague
1969–1971	K.R.C. Mechelen
International career
1956–1959	Czechoslovakia B
1960–1970	Czechoslovakia
Medal record
Men's football
Representing Czechoslovakia
FIFA World Cup
	* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Andrej Kvašňák (19 May 1936 – 18 April 2007) was a Slovak football player. Born in Košice, he played for Czechoslovakia, for which he played 47 matches and scored 13 goals.^[1] He is usually considered one of the best Czechoslovak footballers.

Club career

Kvašňák played domestically in the Czechoslovak First League for Dukla Pardubice, Jednota Košice and Sparta Prague. He scored a total of 83 goals in the league in 251 appearances across his spells with all clubs, and won two league titles, both with Sparta.^[2] From 1969 he played for Racing Mechelen in the second tier of Belgium, before leaving in 1972.^[3]

Although often listed as a forward, he was in fact normally an attacking midfield schemer, forging a partnership in the centre of the park with Josef Masopust at international level. Well known for his technique and passing ability, he was also a prolific goalscorer and fine header of the ball.

International career

Before breaking into the senior team, Kvašňák played nine matches, scoring once, for Czechoslovakia B between 1956 and 1959. He made 47 appearances for Czechoslovakia between 1960 and 1970, scoring 13 times.^[2] One of his goals was a penalty against Hungary in a qualifying playoff for the 1970 World Cup.^[4] Kvašňák was a participant in the 1960 European Nations' Cup, where Czechoslovakia finished third, the 1962 FIFA World Cup, where Czechoslovakia finished second, and also in the 1970 FIFA World Cup.^[2] He retired from international football following the 1970 World Cup, at the age of 34.^[3]

Later life and death

Kvašňák settled in Prague after his football career, but did not go into coaching. Instead he was a longstanding employee of the Prague Public Transport Company [cs].^[3] Kvašňák died at age 70 in Prague's Bulovka Hospital after contracting lung cancer.^[5]

References

↑ "Rok 2007: Odišli Kvašňák, Schrojf, či Krejčí". sportweb.pravda.sk (in Slovak). Our Media SR. SITA. 31 December 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
1 2 3 Jeřábek, Luboš (2007). Český a československý fotbal – lexikon osobností a klubů (in Czech). Prague, Czech Republic: Grada Publishing. p. 107. ISBN 978-80-247-1656-5.
1 2 3 "Slovaak Andrej Kvasnak overleden". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Mediahuis. 18 April 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
↑ "Legendární fotbalista Andrej Kvašňák zemřel". idnes.cz (in Czech). Mafra. 18 April 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
↑ Petr, Pavel (18 April 2007). "Zemřel legendární fotbalista Andrej Kvašňák". irozhlas.cz (in Czech). Czech Radio. Retrieved 23 June 2025.