Legendary Czech goalkeeper Luděk Mikloško passes away, remembered for pioneering England career

Luděk Mikloško, the celebrated Czech goalkeeper who earned 42 caps and featured in the 1990 World Cup, has passed away. He became the first Czech to establish a career in England, signing for West Ham after a trial and a two-month work-permit wait, and later playing for Queens Park Rangers. Over twenty years he appeared in more than two hundred Premier League matches and added sixty games in the lower division. Following his playing days, he spent nine years coaching West Ham’s goalkeepers, then returned home to scout for Sport Invest and manage player recruitment at Baník. Known for his straightforward manner and distinctive Moravian dialect, Mikloško is also noted for his record of 142 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal, placing him sixth on the all-time list.