MY GREAT LOVES
RUDI SKACEL won two Scottish Cups at Hearts and has now retired from football to focus on another dream double.
The Jambos hero hung up his boots at the weekend after helping FK Pribram, formerly known as Dukla Prague, retain their top-flight status in Czech football.
Skacel, 39, hopes to continue with a career in the game but it’s twin daughters, 22-monthold Skye and Isabella, who will command his attention for now.
The former Czech striker had two spells at Tynecastle, winning the Cup against Gretna in 2006 and Hibs in 2012, and also played for a season at Dundee United and Raith.
As a kid he was devoted to his boyhood heroes Slavia Prague, a club he served three BY GARY RALSTON times, but admits the Jambos have joined them in his everlasting affections.
Indeed, he ranks his successes under George Burley and Paulo Sergio as the greatest honours in a career that also yielded domestic success in his homeland, seven caps for his country and spells with Marseille, Hertha Berlin and Southampton.
Skacel said: “I remember all my clubs with pleasure but my best memories are from my two spells with Hearts.
“In both periods I was top scorer at the club and we challenged at the top of the league. These were nice times.
“Two clubs are really in my heart – Slavia Prague and Hearts. We won two Scottish Cups at Hearts and I scored plenty of goals there. I felt I really belonged to the club.
“From the moment I arrived at Tynecastle, everything went the right way.
“But you can’t stop time. I’ve played professional football for 20 years so the end was coming closer and closer.
“I had already thought about finishing my career on several occasions, so I was preparing for it – and now the right moment has arrived.
“I certainly will not play on in the lower levels of the game. I told myself I wanted to finish at the highest level possible. I played for two decades.
Skacel was on the bench over the last fortnight as Pribram drew 3-3 with FC Brno in their two-legged relegation play-off, retaining their place in the top league courtesy of superior away goals.
Skacel was signed for Hearts by Burley on loan from Marseille in 2005 before the move was made permanent later that season by Vladimir Romanov.
The Lithuanian-based tycoon cashed in on Skacel within 12 months when he sold him to Southampton for £1.6million.
Skacel scored in the penalty shoot-out victory over Gretna at Hampden in 2006, then scored another 31 goals over two seasons when he returned to Gorgie in 2010.
He said: “The last two years were more than I could have expected. We qualified for the Czech top division with Pribram 12 months ago and now my story has ended after helping the team keep its place in the competition.”