Miroslav Votava

Borussia Dortmund

Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, Votava started out at local FK Dukla. However, his parents left the country during the Prague Spring, settling first in Australia then West Germany, in Witten. He began playing professionally with Borussia Dortmund in 1974, with the club in the 2. Bundesliga. Scoring three goals in 22 games in his first season in the Bundesliga, Votava was an undisputed starter onwards. He only missed three matches from 1977 to 1982, although he failed to win any silverware.

Atlético Madrid

Votava subsequently moved to Atlético Madrid for 58 million pesetas. He was instrumental for the Colchoneros during his three-year spell, always finishing in the top four in La Liga and also lifting the Copa del Rey in 1985.

Werder Bremen

Votava returned to West Germany aged 29, signing with SV Werder Bremen where he would spend a further 11 campaigns and rarely missed a game. He helped the side to the 1991–92 edition of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and two league titles (to which he contributed a total of 65 matches and five goals). On 24 August 1996, aged 40 years and 121 days, he became the league's oldest scorer in history, netting in a 2–1 loss at VfB Stuttgart; the record lasted until 16 February 2019, when Claudio Pizarro (aged 40 years and 136 days) scored against Hertha BSC. As he was understandably slowing down, Votava left Bremen during the 1997 January transfer window, joining second-tier VfB Oldenburg and retiring at…

Votava chose to represent West Germany internationally, and made his debut on 21 November 1979, playing 15 minutes in a 3–1 friendly away victory over the Soviet Union. He appeared in a further four internationals, including UEFA Euro 1980's group stage match against Greece (0–0) as the national side won the tournament.

Atlético Madrid

Copa del Rey: 1984–85 Werder Bremen

Bundesliga: 1987–88, 1992–93 DFB-Pokal: 1990–91, 1993–94; runner-up: 1988–89, 1989–90 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1991–92 DFL-Supercup: 1988, 1993, 1994 West Germany

UEFA European Championship: 1980