# Vlastimil Kopecký

Vlastimil Kopecký (14 October 1912 – 30 July 1967) was a Czech football player. He played 26 games for Czechoslovakia, scoring eight goals. He was a participant in the 1934 and 1938 FIFA World Cups.

## Club career

There were rumours that Kopecky was to transfer to Slavia Prague or Sparta Prague from Rapid Vinohrady in early November 1931. However in mid-November, Rapid announced that he was not to do so. Playing for Slavia Prague, he scored 252 league goals in 325 matches (1932-1950). He twice scored five goals in a single match for Slavia. He is the second highest Czech league goalscorer in history, only Josef Bican has scored more goals in the Czech league.
He suffered a heart attack on the pitch in a friendly match against SK Hlinsko Old Boys. Slavia Prague Old Boys won 4-2, but in the midst of the game, Kopecký collapsed to the floor and František Plánička tried to revive him. Kopecký was already gone, a second attempt to revive him at a polyclinic in Hlinsko, but again it was too late.

## Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season, and competition. Official games are included in this table. :
| Club | Season | Czech First League | Czech First League | Czech Cup | Czech Cup | Mitropa Cup | Mitropa Cup | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Rapid Vinohrady | 1930/1931 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| Rapid Vinohrady | 1931/1932 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Slavia Prague | 1931–32 | 5 | 5 | 2+ | 3+ | 4 | 3 | 6+ | 6+ |
| Slavia Prague | 1932–33 | 18 | 10 | 2+ | 1+ | 2 | 2 | 21+ | 13+ |
| Slavia Prague | 1933–34 | 15 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 16 |
| Slavia Prague | 1934–35 | 16 | 11 | 2+ | 4+ | 5 | 3 | 23+ | 18+ |
| Slavia Prague | 1935–36 | 25 | 16 | 3+ | 1+ | 4 | 1 | 32+ | 18+ |
| Slavia Prague | 1936–37 | 21 | 28 | 1+ | 0+ | 2 | 0 | 24+ | 28+ |
| Slavia Prague | 1937–38 | 18 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 26 | 10 |
| Slavia Prague | 1938–39 | 21 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 24 |
| Slavia Prague | 1939–40 | 22 | 25 | 1+ | 1+ | 0 | 0 | 23+ | 26+ |
| Slavia Prague | 1940–41 | 20 | 21 | 8+ | 14+ | 0 | 0 | 28+ | 35+ |
| Slavia Prague | 1941–42 | 21 | 18 | 6+ | 10+ | 0 | 0 | 28+ | 28+ |
| Slavia Prague | 1942–43 | 14 | 13 | 4+ | 4+ | 0 | 0 | 18+ | 17+ |
| Slavia Prague | 1943–44 | 24 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 20 |
| Slavia Prague | 1944–45 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| Slavia Prague | 1945–46 | 16 | 10 | 3+ | 0+ | 0 | 0 | 19+ | 10+ |
| Slavia Prague | 1946–47 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 6 |
| Slavia Prague | 1947–48 | 9 | 2 | 1+ | 1+ | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 |
| Slavia Prague | 1948 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 5 |
| Slavia Prague | 1949 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 5 |
| Slavia Prague | 1950 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 5 |
| Slavia Prague | Total | 327 | 263 | 41+ | 41+ | 28 | 10 | 396+ | 314+ |

## Style of play

Josef Bican commented on his and Vlastimil's relationship on the field; "We understood each other perfectly: we were, as it were, connected mentally. Whenever Vlasta had the ball at his feet, I felt what he was going to do with it, and he felt the same when I had the ball. It was simple and logical. I knew that he would handle the ball in the way that was most beneficial for the team at that moment, and I arranged accordingly. He was the best technician I ever met. We passed without even looking.

## Honours

* Czechoslovak First League: 1932–33, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1936–37, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1946–47, 1948
* Czechoslovak Cup: 1940–41, 1941–42, 1944–45
* Central Bohemian Cup: 1932, 1935, 1941, 1943, 1944
* Liberty Cup: 1945
* Mitropa Cup: 1938