20 years without our Rudi Cvek

He was beloved both as a teammate and as a coach, equally loved by colleagues and fans, emotionally talked about by his "students" from different generations, whether he coached them in the first team or in the football school... This Friday, November 28, marks 20 years since our dear and unforgettable Rudolf Cvek, former popular defender of Maksimir and favorite of Dinamo fans, left us forever. Dinamo's delegation laid a wreath and lit candles at Cvek's final resting place at the Mirogoj cemetery in Zagreb.

Popular Rudo was a member of the golden generation that won the Cup of the Fair Cities in 1967, a competition that later evolved into the UEFA Cup, today's Europa League. Some reporters valued him so much that they considered him - perhaps the best right back in Europe. More moderate ones considered him - the best back in Yugoslavia. He shone in tandem with Branko Gračanin, with whom he formed perhaps the best defensive pair in the former country, similar to earlier Rudolf Belin and Mirko Braun. He was characterized by excellent technique and speed, lightning-fast transformation from defense to attack which he did calmly and routinely.

However, he had to end his career at the age of just under 24. At the peak of his form, just when he was playing his most beautiful football, when the media treated him as the best defender in the entire league and when he had an open spot in the national team's starting lineup, Cvek suffered a serious knee injury after which he spent two years trying to find a way to return to the field.

He injured his meniscus in the return match of the 3rd round of the Cup Winners' Cup against German Schalke in Gelsenkirchen in the spring of 1970. He managed to play only in a cup match against Metalac from Zagreb in November 1971, marking the end of his career.

Cvek was born on November 17, 1946 in Novi Marof, went through Varteks' football school, and made his debut for the first team at the age of 19. He was at Dinamo from 1965, playing 155 competitive matches.

He was a member of the famous generation that in 1967 signed the biggest success in the club's history, winning the Cup of the Fair Cities, and with the blues he also reached the Yugoslav Cup two years later.

Later, he dedicated himself to coaching, especially working with young players. He spent most of his coaching career in Dinamo's football school. For example, Cvek was actually the first coach of current Dinamo president Zvonimir Boban when he joined the blue team at the pioneer level.