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Antonín Panenka had to be taken to the hospital (archive image)
Photo: Zaoralkova Jana / CTK Photo / imago images
The Czech Republic worries about its football hero Antonín Panenka.
The 71-year-old is in serious condition in the hospital in the intensive care unit, said FK Bohemians Prague on its website.
Panenka, honorary president of the association, was connected to life support machines.
According to the association, a test for the corona virus was positive.
The midfielder immortalized himself in football history with the so-called panenka lifter in the 1976 European Championship final against Germany.
He lifted the ball into the middle of the goal on the decisive penalty kick and fooled Germany's goalkeeper Sepp Maier - Czechoslovakia became European champions.
Players like Zinédine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final or Andrea Pirlo in the 2012 European Championship copied the panenka lifter.
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The lob of his career: In 1976 Panenka shot Czechoslovakia to the European Championship
Photo: Karl Schnörrer / picture alliance / dpa
After his successful time at Bohemians Prague, Panenka moved to Rapid Vienna in 1981;
with the club he was twice Austrian champion.
After stints at other Austrian clubs, he ended his active career at the age of 45.
Icon: The mirror
ptz / dpa / Reuters
