Golden football generation: Jan Šimák was a generational talent

He was said to have more football talent than Pavel Nedved or Tomáš Rosický. The native of Tábor wanted to conquer the football map of Europe like a true Hussite. His ego was his obstacle. Talent vs. uncontrolled lifestyle. He traded the Bundesliga for the lower Czech competitions. All this characterizes Jan Šimák.

His football career started at Sokol Mezno, continued in Tábor and České Budějovice. In 1996 he was a member of the now defunct club FK Chmel Blšany, where he played with another youngster Petr Čech. He played a total of 99 matches and scored 16 goals. Then followed foreign engagements.

The offensive central midfielder caught the eye of Hannover 96, followed by a transfer to big club Bayer Leverkusen, who played the Champions League final a year before his transfer, losing to Real Madrid.

However, the astronomical €6.5 million transfer fee did not help him into the starting line-up. He had disputes with teammates and coaches. He was again a guest at Hannover, and left Leverkusen as a free agent for Sparta in 2004.

He played two seasons for the Prague club and won two domestic titles. Then he tried again in Germany. Other destinations were Stuttgart, Mainz and Jena.

Great expectations were overshadowed by a bad lifestyle, spending money, alcohol and wild parties. Šimák decided to return to Tábor. In the Czech Republic, he also changed several clubs. For a short time he worked for the Austrian USV Atzenbrugg-Heiligeneich. He finished his career in TJ Sokol Lom.

He said himself that he wasted his football career. Huge potential is not enough if you don’t work properly. Leverkusen fans still see him as the biggest disappointment according to a local poll.

He won silver in the Czech Republic’s jersey at the European Under-21 Championship. He also played in the Sydney Olympics in the same year. He made only one start for the national team against Slovakia. Also because he did not fit into the tactics of the national team.

We’ll never know how far he could have gone. The aforementioned Pavel Nedved made it to the Ballon d’Or. Tomas Rosicky tried to do the same. Arséne Wenger said of him that few players could match him in ball technique. He, too, aspired to be the best footballer in Europe, but then came the protracted injuries.

Jan Simak did not imitate these two legends. Although he didn’t break through, in a way he hasn’t been forgotten. He became a synonym for the national team of extraordinary talent and a little diligence in one.

Source: Wikipedia