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Details
Title: Lubo – A Gift from God
Release Date: 2001
Review By: Kevtic Feb 2010
Review
Unlike the majority of player biog DVDs that normally only concentrate of their time at Celtic with only a passing nod to their time before joining the hoops this one takes us right back to Lubo’s formative years in his home town of Nitra in Slovakia (Then it was part of Czechoslovakia until independence in 1993). They must have broke the bank with this production as they send Lubo and a camera crew to Nitra to film where Lubo learnt his craft. The montage of goals from that time will be a familiar sight to Celtic fans as the Lubo drag back was there from day 1 and some of the goals from outside the box are just fantastic.
Lubo made his international debut after 2 seasons at Nitra and played in Italia 90 but was sent off in the quarter final defeat to eventual winners Germany. Lubo was to lead Slovakia in their first game on home soil after independence and he was to score in a game he feels very proud and a little sad about as his father died before the country had gained its freedom. The manager of the team that day was a certain Josef Venglos. Lubo's tells us his dream is to one day be national coach.
After 4 years in Nitra Lubo moved onto St Etienne in France where he played for seven seasons and going by the footage they loved him as much as we did. Lubo talks very fondly of his time in France and declares Platini as his football hero who was a former St Etienne player but he did have one regret, and that was not moving to Marseille when they made enquiries about him during his time at St Etienne, this was just before they won the European Cup. He became a massive fan favourite at both St Etienne and Bastia where he moved for a season in 1996. Watching the goals from his time in France you’re reminded that he doesn’t score many tap ins. He seems to do the spectacular as a matter of course.
Lubo then considered retiring after a move to Duisberg in Germany threatened to end his career early after injury. Fortunately for all Celtic fans Dr Jo Venglos brought him to Celtic Park amidst sniggering from the ignorant journalists of the time. In hindsight it is incredible to think we got Moravcik and Larsson for less than a million pounds.
Admittedly most Celtic fans didn't really know much about Lubo but he showed enough on his debut in a 6-1 win against Dundee (with Rab Douglas in goals) to make us sit up and take notice. A sublime cross onto Larsson's head with the outside of his right boot was just the start of the tricks and flicks that Lubo was to bring a support that idolised him almost from the off.
The game he will be remembered for though happened two weeks later with his first taste of the old firm derby and Lubo was to become a hunskelper from the off. 12 mins in and a Larsson dummy left Moravcik to dispatch a sweet left foot shot in to the net and a new Celtic hero was born. His reaction or lack of reaction was explained as him just not being ready for the occasion. He looked ready enough to me and when he bagged a 2nd we knew we had something special.
Celtic mounted one of their strongest league challenges for a number of years in 98-99 but a hamstring tear suffered by Lubo in Feb saw him sidelined for 3 months and it’s all ifs and buts but with a fit Lubo Celtic could have possibly won two in a row. In the March of 2000 after Barnes had been given the sack Celtic won the CIS Cup against Aberdeen. Incredibly this was Lubo’s first senior honour.
Martin O’Neill was his 3rd manager in as many years and although O’Neill played him more sparingly he probably produced some his best football for Celtic at this time. Lubo’s part in the 6-2 game should not be forgotten. It was his corner that finally led to the 1st goal, the 2nd from the head of Petrov also came from a Lubo corner and then his run into the box and cutback set up Lambert for number 3.
At the end of that season Lubo had picked up his first title at the age of 35 and 17 years as a professional. Before the season finished though he had a couple of pieces of magic still left to give. These both came in the 3-0 at Ibrox, his first was a cool finish after being slipped in by Larsson but goal number 2 was a thing of supreme beauty and my fav Lubo goal. A head flick by Maloney put Lubo clear on the left and as Ricksen came to close him down the whole stadium knew what was coming next as Lubo did his drag back then coolly slotted it over Klos’s right shoulder. A sublime bit of skill.
Lubo scored some great goals for Celtic and it would be hard to pick out a top 3 but I’m going to try. Coming in at No 3 was the goal he scored against St Johnstone at Celtic Park. He took a quick free kick and got the return and took a look up and saw main off his line and hit a perfect shot into the net at the back post. Anyone else you would have said it was a fluke but not Lubo. 2nd goal is a goal at Easter Rd when Lubo picks up a short free kick about 30 yards and hits a rocket across the keeper into the net. The keeper can’t quite understand how the ball ended up in that part of the goal. My favourite goal is the one mentioned above at Ibrox.
There is much to like about this DVD. The montage of great goals, hearing Lubo talk about his career, listening to Martin O'Neill lavish praise. Lubo was a very special player and this DVD does that fact justice. Although it doesn't quite run up to the end of Lubo's time at Celtic it is none the less one of the best biog Dvds Celtic have produced.
Product Details
Production year 2001
Running Time 98 mins
DVD Region – Region free
Release date 03/12/2001
Number of discs 1
Catalogue No. FHED1426
Studio – FremantleMedia Home Entertainment