PROFILE Baros ready for the big stage
Friday 9th November 2001
By Peter Williams
For most 20-year-olds, the thought of stepping out in front of 50,000 baying Belgians at the King Baudouin II stadium in a World Cup play-off this Saturday would send shivers down the spine.
But for Banik Ostrava striker Milan Baros, it is just another step in a career that is progressing at a remarkable pace.
The Czech Republic squad travel to Belgium without their talismanic striker Jan Koller, who is suspended for both legs of the play-off. But coach Jozef Chovanec is confident he has sufficient back-up in the forward department to see off the Belgian threat and book his country's place in Japan and South Korea.
Chovanec must choose between Baros and Kaiserslautern star Vratislav Lokvenc to lead the attack against Belgium and, while the latter may possess the experience, the former is likely to get the nod after bursting onto the international scene in some style in the last six months.
Baros turned 20 less than a fortnight ago, but he regularly shows maturity beyond his years.
The stocky striker signed for Liverpool for £3.2 million in the summer, but will continue to play on loan at his former club Banik Ostrava until he has notched up enough international appearances to qualify for a work permit.
Liverpool fans may see the young forward as the ideal understudy to Michael Owen, but the confident Baros will be anxious to play more than a bit-part role at Anfield.
Baros possesses many similar qualities to Owen. Like Owen, he rarely squanders a chance in front of goal and, while Baros will not score too many goals from outside the penalty area, he has a remarkable knack of being in the right place at the right time.
Owen certainly shades Baros in the speed stakes, but the Czech star is no slouch and is much harder to shake off the ball than Owen. The olive-skinned hit-man has a muscular build and is unlikely to be ruffled by physical nature of the Premiership.
He won his first international cap in April, coming on as a second-half substitute in a friendly match against Belgium. The international novice took little time to adapt to his new surroundings, earning a draw for his team when he crashed home his first goal in a Czech Republic shirt eight minutes from time.
The player Baros replaced when he came off the bench was the experienced Pavel Kuka – a poster of whom still adorns Baros' bedroom wall.
Ironically, it is Kuka's long-term injury that has enabled Baros to cement his place in the Czech squad. A pacy and tenacious front man, Baros has grabbed the opportunity with both hands and has already notched up four goals in six internationals.
At club level the 2000-01 season was not a successful one for Baros. Ostrava only just avoided relegation and the 'Ostrava Maradona' – as he is known by his team-mates – registered just five goals in the league.
Under new coach Josef Jarabinsky, Ostrava are beginning to do justice to their potential this season and lie fourth in the table behind three Prague teams. Baros, meanwhile, has almost doubled last season's goal tally and is currently top of the Czech scoring charts.
By opting to join Liverpool, Baros has bucked the trend set by top Czech players, who in the past have invariably joined Sparta or Slavia Prague before moving abroad.
During the 2000-01 season, Banik owner Alois Hadamczik stamped a £1 million price tag on Baros' head. That move ruled the Prague giants out of the bidding – much to the annoyance of the then Sparta coach Ivan Hasek – and after negotiations with a series of top European clubs, including Internazionale and Juventus, Liverpool got their man.
Baros admitted that Liverpool's Czech link helped him make the decision. "For me, it will be excellent to play with Patrick [Berger] and Vladimir [Smicer] on a regular basis," he explained.
"I've always admired the English league and I used to say to myself that it would be quite something if I could play in it. It would be like a dream come true," added Baros.
The 20-year-old could see another dream come true in the very near future. If the Czechs live up to their billing as favourites to beat the Belgians, Baros could find himself jetting off to the Far East next summer.
While the 2002 World Cup could be the last chance for a talented generation of Czech footballers, Baros is sure to be carrying the hopes of Czech football on his shoulders for some time to come.
Related
Friday 9th November 2001
By Peter Williams
For most 20-year-olds, the thought of stepping out in front of 50,000 baying Belgians at the King Baudouin II stadium in a World Cup play-off this Saturday would send shivers down the spine.
But for Banik Ostrava striker Milan Baros, it is just another step in a career that is progressing at a remarkable pace.
The Czech Republic squad travel to Belgium without their talismanic striker Jan Koller, who is suspended for both legs of the play-off. But coach Jozef Chovanec is confident he has sufficient back-up in the forward department to see off the Belgian threat and book his country's place in Japan and South Korea.
Chovanec must choose between Baros and Kaiserslautern star Vratislav Lokvenc to lead the attack against Belgium and, while the latter may possess the experience, the former is likely to get the nod after bursting onto the international scene in some style in the last six months.
Baros turned 20 less than a fortnight ago, but he regularly shows maturity beyond his years.
The stocky striker signed for Liverpool for £3.2 million in the summer, but will continue to play on loan at his former club Banik Ostrava until he has notched up enough international appearances to qualify for a work permit.
Liverpool fans may see the young forward as the ideal understudy to Michael Owen, but the confident Baros will be anxious to play more than a bit-part role at Anfield.
Baros possesses many similar qualities to Owen. Like Owen, he rarely squanders a chance in front of goal and, while Baros will not score too many goals from outside the penalty area, he has a remarkable knack of being in the right place at the right time.
Owen certainly shades Baros in the speed stakes, but the Czech star is no slouch and is much harder to shake off the ball than Owen. The olive-skinned hit-man has a muscular build and is unlikely to be ruffled by physical nature of the Premiership.
He won his first international cap in April, coming on as a second-half substitute in a friendly match against Belgium. The international novice took little time to adapt to his new surroundings, earning a draw for his team when he crashed home his first goal in a Czech Republic shirt eight minutes from time.
The player Baros replaced when he came off the bench was the experienced Pavel Kuka – a poster of whom still adorns Baros' bedroom wall.
Ironically, it is Kuka's long-term injury that has enabled Baros to cement his place in the Czech squad. A pacy and tenacious front man, Baros has grabbed the opportunity with both hands and has already notched up four goals in six internationals.
At club level the 2000-01 season was not a successful one for Baros. Ostrava only just avoided relegation and the 'Ostrava Maradona' – as he is known by his team-mates – registered just five goals in the league.
Under new coach Josef Jarabinsky, Ostrava are beginning to do justice to their potential this season and lie fourth in the table behind three Prague teams. Baros, meanwhile, has almost doubled last season's goal tally and is currently top of the Czech scoring charts.
By opting to join Liverpool, Baros has bucked the trend set by top Czech players, who in the past have invariably joined Sparta or Slavia Prague before moving abroad.
During the 2000-01 season, Banik owner Alois Hadamczik stamped a £1 million price tag on Baros' head. That move ruled the Prague giants out of the bidding – much to the annoyance of the then Sparta coach Ivan Hasek – and after negotiations with a series of top European clubs, including Internazionale and Juventus, Liverpool got their man.
Baros admitted that Liverpool's Czech link helped him make the decision. "For me, it will be excellent to play with Patrick [Berger] and Vladimir [Smicer] on a regular basis," he explained.
"I've always admired the English league and I used to say to myself that it would be quite something if I could play in it. It would be like a dream come true," added Baros.
The 20-year-old could see another dream come true in the very near future. If the Czechs live up to their billing as favourites to beat the Belgians, Baros could find himself jetting off to the Far East next summer.
While the 2002 World Cup could be the last chance for a talented generation of Czech footballers, Baros is sure to be carrying the hopes of Czech football on his shoulders for some time to come.
Related
