Happy Birthday Pavel!!

39 years of Czech Fury, who would have known, his attitude to his work could be summed up in two words: hard work. There was never a more hard working midfielder than Nedved and that is how he has always managed to remain in the hearts of Bianconeri fans everywhere. His outlook on his performance was that of always improving, he was always looking to make himself better and lift his team. He also had a never- say- die attitude that could turn every situation into the perfect opportunity to win the game.

He was brought to Juventus to try and replace Zidane in 2001, and he did that with ease, becoming a regular in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons in which Juve won the League. In 2003 he was influential in Juventus' progression to the Champions League final against Milan, however, sadly he was forced to miss the final due to a build up of yellow cards. It was visible how much being in the final meant to him as he was seen crying afterwards, I think everyone was thinking about what could have been if he had been at the final, and that yellow card has haunted him ever since. Juve were beaten on penalties and had to watch as Milan lifted the Trophy with the "big ears". That year Nedved won The European Football of the Year Award for his inspirational performances. But everyone knows what trophy he really wanted, eventhough he won the Ballon D'or, you get the feeling that a Champions League winners medal would have meant a whole lot more, because it is a celebration of the whole team, and Nedved was all about the club. He proved this even more when he decided to stay with the club even after they were demoted to the second division. Whereas a number of big names "jumped ship", he stayed and helped her get back to where she belonged. This type of commitment and dedication has endeared him to the Juve faithful. Even through this act of loyalty to the club, his future was still in the midst of rumour. In 2008-09 it was rumoured that he might leave the Turin club for Japanese side: Jubilo Iwata, but he remained loyal to the club that  he spent so many years with when he signed a one year extension ending in June 09.
It was made painfully visible that he could not keep putting his body through the constant knocks that were inevitable in the mordern game, and so he finally hung up his footballing boots at the end of the 08-09 season.

He may have retired his footballing boots but it was apparent that his love for the club did not die, he returned to the club as a Director and a Member of the Board. Throughout his illustrious career, I think the greatest tragedy was that he never got his hands on the Champions League trophy, but who knows, maybe he can help the current squad win it and help instil the never- say- die attitude that he had in abundance.